By Deshan Mendis
Last updated on February 29, 2024
Arnav from India headed to the University of Illinois Chicago and earned his bachelor’s in biomedical engineering, with a research internship at Johns Hopkins along the way. He’s now at Harvard earning his PhD in engineering sciences!
Arnav from India started his higher education journey in the US as a biomedical engineering student at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). After completing his undergraduate degree — where he had extensive research experience — he was accepted into Harvard University’s PhD program in engineering sciences, where he is currently pursuing his postgraduate studies in engineering technology.
Arnav’s Journey from India to the US
Back home in Ghaziabad, India, working on Science projects inspired him to pursue opportunities at the best engineering programs abroad. He arrived at the University of Illinois in the summer of 2018 to earn a degree in biomedical engineering — and everything was new.
“I had never been to the US or to the West before that visit,” he said. “When homesickness hit me real bad, these people were experts in tackling it. For the entire summer semester, it was a very ‘good vibes’ kind of environment, and very comforting.”
Studying Engineering at the University of Illinois
Arnav’s goals included pursuing postgraduate studies, so he set up a strong foundation. His courses focused on the engineering topics that interested him most, and also provided opportunities for research projects.
“Initially I was a biological science major, and that was because I was afraid of math at the start,” Arnav said. “Then, I took a chance and registered for a math class in the summer, which changed the course of my career.”
UIC’s math, calculus, general physics, bioengineering, and neural engineering courses offer a well-rounded foundation in the field of engineering, with curriculum designed to equip students with essential industry knowledge and key skills to pursue further education or job opportunities across a variety of engineering disciplines. General education requirements give students the flexibility to tailor their courses to their personal interests or transition to a new field of study depending on their scores.
Based on his calculus scores, Arnav was inspired to take on more math-based subjects and eventually make the switch to biomedical engineering.
“I regained my confidence in math because it was so practical and the professor taught [it] practically, [so] I was able to get the concepts really well,” he said.
His courses went so well that Arnav started dreaming bigger: applying to a PhD program in engineering at Harvard University.
Applying to a PhD Program
Arnav first considered the possibility of attending an Ivy League school, like Harvard and MIT, in his junior year as a biomedical engineering student. Attending industry events and seminars gave him a better sense of the benefits of studying for a doctorate degree.
Arnav had the unique opportunity to work one-on-one with senior lecturers in the classroom, and also interned at Johns Hopkins University. From his connections at both UIC and Johns Hopkins, he had built strong professional relationships and received positive references by the time he graduated.
For the Harvard PhD application, “you are only allowed three reference letters, so I think you should be really careful in choosing your mentors,” Arnav said. “I was very confident in the professors [who] taught me and the mentors I did research with.”
Having successfully completed his application requirements and entrance examination, and with glowing recommendations, Arnav is now enrolled in a PhD in engineering sciences at Harvard University. He currently conducts in-depth research in engineering and applied science and has taken advanced courses in subjects including applied mechanics, biomaterials, data processing, and robotics.
Arnav’s Advice for International Students
As an international student with a strong academic track record and more than four years’ experience living and working in the US, Arnav finds the most value in building relationships and staying focused on one’s goals.
“I think it’s very important to find a community you like and spend time with your friends,” he said. “At the same time, it’s important to balance your academics and research goals if you’re going for a PhD.”
Arnav highlighted how important it is for students to keep exploring during their time studying abroad. “It’s a wonderful opportunity, and once you are here, you are exposed to a lot of things you can do and it’s up to you [to decide] what are the things you spend your time on,” he said. “I would recommend [students] to just make a plan of where [they] want to be after graduation or post-graduation and then work for that.”
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