#PAEabroad | Profiles, applications, rejects of PAEians doing Physics Abroad

Current University: Penn State University
UG Details: Mechanical Engineering, BITS Pilani K.K Birla Goa Campus, CGPA: 6.75
Research Experience: Summer research internship at International center for cosmology, Thesis at University of Wisconsin Madison, Adjunct Researcher at Penn state and Visiting researcher at ICTS Bangalore
Break Year After UG: Worked as an Adjunct Researcher at Penn state on Numerical relativity and then at ICTS Bangalore on Gravitational-wave astrophysics
GRE General Scores: Q-161, V-152, AW-2.5   GRE Physics Score: 780
Fellowship/Scholarship: $24000 TA + $4000 Fellowship

Current University: To be decided
UG Details: Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bhilai, CGPA: 7.99/10
Research Experience: Summer Intern at National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand. Worked on a project last semester under a prof from Dept of Physics in my college.
Break Year After UG: None
GRE General Scores: Q-167, V-147, AWA-4   GRE Physics Score: 870
Fellowship/Scholarship: €4000 Scholarship in Paris Physics Master, $14000 Scholarship at Missouri S&T

Comments/Advice: Take physics courses in UG as much as possible, especially for European universities, Stay Safe and Go Corona Go!!

Current University: To be decided
UG Details: BTech Mechanical Engineering, NIT SURAT, CGPA: 7.81/10
Research Experience: IUCAA, IISER-K, IITKGP, IASc Summer Intern and winter courses
Break Year After UG: None
GRE General Scores: NA   GRE Physics Score: NA 

Fellowship/Scholarship: Fee waiver and RA

Comments/Advice:
1. Profile vs CGPA: With 100% acceptance wherever I submitted the application except for one place due to their rigid curriculum rules, I can surely say that this was possible due to the strong research background and profile. As my CGPA doesn’t lie in the top ten students still, by the research work I was able to defend the low CGPA. Most of the institute gives equal weightage to CGPA and profile, In my case, I was able to score 100% in the profile while 70-80% in CGPA thus all over score allows me to enter into the top 10-15% student among the applicants of the same program.
2. Profile: 3 Research Internship, 8 Total Research papers at the time of application, Strong LOR, Realistic and visionary SOP.
3. Interview: I was interviewed in two programs, first for the Sorbonne University master program in fundamental modern physics. In this interview, they asked about my previous research establishment and checked the basics of quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics. (Quantum Mechanics questions were from first three chapters of Griffiths book and lasted for approx 1 hour). Second for NUS master program in material science. This interview was similar to the first one and the main questions were from nanotechnology, basics of solid-state physics, and physical properties of materials. I will say only one thing, at present if you are studying in any year of undergraduate keep focus on your research profile and start working with professors or independently from the very first day of your realization of going for higher studies in Natural Science and try to attend any conference with a poster or oral presentation at your earliest, this will give you the actual picture of academic and industrial research work.

Current University: Tokyo University 
UG Details: Civil Engineering, PDPU, CGPA: 8.9/10
PG Details: MTech (Structural Engineering), CEPT University,2019 – 3.9/4.3
Research Experience: 2 years of research under the Institute of Seismological Research Center
Break Year After UG: None
GRE General Scores: NA   GRE Physics Score: 910
Fellowship/Scholarship: $1400 pm

Comments/Advice: Its simple process here at the University of Tokyo. Submit your GRE Physics score, TOEFL score, and relevant documents. They are selecting based on your knowledge and specially SOPs. So if you want to enter here so make sure you have a tremendous amount of fundamental knowledge. Due to this COVID situation, I had to interact with my guide on SKYPE before my selection.

Akash Shivan 

Current University: National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
UG Details: B.tech ECE, Cochin university of science and technology 6.75/10
PG Details: MS microsystems and nanoscience, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan 3.7/5
Research Experience: NA
Break Year After UG: None
GRE General Scores: NA   GRE Physics Score: NA
Fellowship/Scholarship:
1. 5000 NT$ per month in MS
2. 10000 NT$ per month + no fees in PhD

Comments/Advice:
1. A Good recommendation letter will have a great value
2. Need to have a good grasp of basic concepts, this will be tested in the interview

Current University: TU Delft
UG Details: Mechanical Engineering, IIT Mandi, CGPA: 8.67/10
Research Experience: SPARK IIT Roorkee
Break Year After UG: None
GRE General Scores: Q-166, V-153, AW-3.5   GRE Physics Score: NA