I graduated with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical Engineering from Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Chennai. The combination of the best resources and diversity of schools where people of different cultures and lifestyles work together in a productive environment conducive to reach their full potential made me choose the United States as a destination for pursuing my higher studies.
Currently, I am pursuing my doctoral degree in chemical engineering at Michigan State University (MSU) — the pioneer land grant public university — located in East Lansing, Michigan. MSU is in close proximity to many nearby cities including Chicago, Detroit and Toronto. The university has a semester-based system and offers more than 200 academic programmes. Notably, physical sciences, engineering and business programmes are highly ranked and sought out.
Life in MichiganMSU has more than 50 international student organisations and a variety of resources to help you settle upon arrival. By living in Michigan, you will get a chance to experience the four seasons. Believe it or not, if you are lucky, you can see all the four seasons in one day. Personally, I don’t like the winter here. The fact that Mother Nature does not show any mercy and blankets the whole region with snow (more than 100 inches deep) and the prevalence of subzero temperature from December to March has indeed been a challenge for me. After you roll past the winter, the spring brings freshness to the air, and the pristine lakes and beautiful sceneries in the summer offers tons of outdoor activities such as trekking, kayaking, hiking, etc. These will take all the winter blues away. You always look for something new in every four months of the year.
The learning curveIn the first year of chemical engineering or any other doctoral programme, students are exposed to advanced topics in their respective field and classes primarily focus on problem-solving skills. Professors encourage teamwork and teach students how to think independently and help you through office hours if you have trouble understanding concepts. Students appear for the Ph.D. qualifying exams at the end of the first year and the department tests the understanding of the basics of their engineering discipline.
After passing the Ph.D. qualifier examination at the end of the first year, students intensely start working towards their Ph.D. thesis with their assigned supervisor. Typically, students complete their Ph.D. in four to five years in our department. Studying at MSU is truly an exceptional experience. Not only do I get a highly respected degree while developing my knowledge, but I also get the atmosphere and surroundings which allowed me to learn about myself and propel me to push my boundaries.
