Name :

Program : M.S.
Field of Study : Industrial Engineering
Term : Fall 2001

As I stand at the threshold of completing my undergraduate study, I find myself

confronting the biggest decision in my life. After carefully contemplating the various
career options open to me I have decided to pursue graduate study in the field of
Industrial engineering.

Ever since I can recall I have always been a kind of a person who would ask why are
things in the way they are. I have never been satisfied until I do not get a satisfactory
answer. Getting in to the roots of things and knowing all the facts about things has
been my habit. I believe this habit of mine is what prompted me to take a course in
Industrial engineering, which facilitated me to know about how things work. My
decision to embrace the fine profession of Industrial engineering has been the result
of other influences too. It is after careful consideration of many factors that I have
arrived at this conclusion. Science, mathematics or in fact, any area requiring
analytical thinking has never ceased to fascinate me. It is my firm belief that an
industrial engineering degree is ideally suited for undergraduate study because it
offers a wide knowledge based on which a strong academic career can be built.
I belong to a family, which has a history of successful entrepreneurs and engineers.
My late father and all of my uncles have been actively involved in application of
engineering skills for the development purpose. Taking big construction contracts
like building of overhead water reservoirs and dams for irrigation, involving resource
optimization and PERT, involving management of people and machinery in large
number have been the most important aspect of our family business. Looking at the
technical know-how that my elders possess and the management skills they have,
influenced me to take up Industrial engineering as my undergraduate course. The
diversities that Industrial engineering offers are amazing. Industrial engineers have a
touch of technical as well as the managerial skills, which fascinates me the most. It
is a strong belief in my family that the American education system has the best to
offer in the whole world. This belief arises out of the experience that my maternal
uncles have who have been working in the US since 20 years, as successful electrical
engineers.
I was always attracted by the variety of subjects taught in Industrial engineering. It
was in the third year of my undergraduate studies that I was introduced to the core
subjects of the course, which were methods engineering and operations research.
This gave me totally newer dimensions of how much in actual practice the
applications of the subjects we studied helped. This prompted me to try and apply
the techniques in actual practices of life to such an extent that I made a case study
on the shortest route method for transportation in the hundred kilometers area near
my town. In my final year I have subjects like Process Simulation Optimization and
Project Engineering Management. I have a special liking for these subjects specially.
In PEM I have learnt several techniques of Project Planning like CPM, PERT which I
have tried to use practically up to some extent. I have also learnt about several Time
and Cost control tools.
 I am an above average student, but I never felt stressed with the college
studies simply because of my inherent love for engineering. I had not restricted
myself to academics specifically during my college days. Knowing that this period is
the best for shaping oneself, I plunged into extra-curricular activities to be a more
full person. I was elected for the post of vice chairman of the local Jaycees wing
affiliated to the International Junior Chamber. I was involved in organizing quizzes,
seminars, social functions, industrial trips and individual development courses. It
was recognition of my hard work and sincerity that kept me going. During the
projects that we undertook as a big group of hundred members, I had to co-ordinate
the work of several subsidiary committees that were assisting the main committee.
My confidence level shot up and so did my knowledge about the several aspects of
event management.
It is my zeal to pursue managerial abilities that is responsible for my
decision to take up personnel management and grievance and disputes handling in
large scale industries as my project for this final year of my undergraduate studies. I
believe that a MS Program in Industrial Engineering will equip me with the
necessary skills, which will have a lot of applications.
I was first introduced to the Ohio State Mechanical engineering department when
I reviewed the publication by Dr Karen Shue and Dr Sherali on " Intelligent decision
making on motion planning and execution based on sensed data " in the August
edition of the journal " Automation Today " as a part of my term paper presentation.
On further perusal of the department website, I found that the research interests of
the faculty members in the robotics division match closely with what I aspire to
learn. Hence I feel that the Ohio State University would be the ideal school for me to
pursue my graduate studies.

I look forward to a mutually beneficial association. I thank you immensely for

considering my application.

I have done a thorough research on several aspects of US universities. In all of them

the basic infrastructure seems very strong. However, the faculty at UNIVERSITY OF
FLORIDA .University was superior to the other choices of mine. Besides, the courses
offered were the most compatible with my areas of interest. I look forward to have a
meaningful tenure in your institution, which would help launch a successful career
in research.