Profile Details:
University: University of Washington
Course: MS in Electrical Engineering
First Attempt
Chennai Consulate
Date: July 2017
Status: Approved
Counter No: 30
Visa interview Experience:
VO: Good Morning! Passport and i20 please!
Me: Hello and good morning. *passes the docs*
VO: So, which university are you going to?
Me: University of Washington, Seattle for an MS in electrical and electronics engineering specializing in robotics and control.
VO: How will you be funding your study?
Me: My father is my prime sponsor, additionally I have a secured loan of 40L from hdfc credila and a fixed deposit in my name for 15L.
VO: What does your father do?
Me: Told.
VO: How many universities did you apply to?
Me: 11.
VO: Eleven??! *raising eyebrows* How many did you get accepted to??
Me: Just one.
VO: *gives disconcerted look and stares at the i20* Then what all schools did you get rejected at??!!
Me: CMU RI, UCSD etc . But I did get waitlisted at Johns Hopkins and Oregon State University’s PhD programme.
VO: *confused now* PhD?? But it says MS for this case!?
Me: *A plain and firm* Yes!
VO: *Starts shaking his head and typing away, lets out a heavy sigh and continues typing for a while*
Me: *standing there in awkward silence expecting a reject any second.
VO: So, when did you graduate?
Me: 2016.
VO: What have you been doing since then?
Me: I worked for Reliance Industries Ltd as an instrumentation engineer from July to February and then joined IISc Bangalore and worked there from February to now.
VO: But you seem to be taking up and quitting jobs pretty fast, especially this one!
Me: Well, I want to pursue a career in academics and research and hence. It is my dream to become a professor in IISc…*cut me off with a seemingly “stfu” hand gesture!*
VO: *continues typing* So what is your father’s exact designation?
Me: Told.
VO: Ok! Your visa is approved! *Gives me a nod*
Me: *nodded back* Thank you.
Just be confident and honest guys! That’s very important! As you can see, I had quite a few things stacked against me but it all came through right in the first attempt! Honestly, I think they look at “how” you say things rather than “what” you say.
Note: Content in this article is taken from a public forum moderated by Yocket. Personal details which may reveal the identity have been removed in order to maintain annonimity.
