My name is Abdul Majid, and I’m currently studying Mechanical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in the United States as an international student on a merit-based scholarship. 

I completed my schooling at Neev Academy, where I pursued the IB Diploma Programme. My higher-level subjects were Physics, Mathematics AA, and Economics, while my standard-level subjects were English Language and Literature, Spanish Ab Initio, and Chemistry. Alongside IB, I took the SAT and IELTS for my college applications.

During MYP for grades 9 & 10, I followed the standard subject combination—Extended Math, Physics, Chemistry, English, Integrated Humanities, IDU, Visual Art, Personal Project, Hindi (Phase 2), and dropped Biology. This period helped me solidify my interests in technology, cars, photography, and engineering, and set the direction for my future studies.

I applied internationally, but only to universities in the United States, specifically on the East Coast. I was accepted into several universities and ultimately chose to attend Stevens Institute of Technology, where I received a merit-based scholarship of approximately $13,000 per semester.

Standardized Tests and Academic Background

My SAT score was a 1380 super score, and my IELTS score was band 8. As an international student, these scores met the requirements for my applications and visa.

One advantage of the IB curriculum was the academic preparation it gave me. At Stevens, I was able to skip my first-semester mathematics courses because I scored a 6 in Mathematics AA HL. This allowed me to move directly into higher-level math courses, which gave me both an academic advantage and some flexibility in my degree timeline.

The Application Process and Scholarships

The application process itself was fairly straightforward. I wrote the Common App personal essay along with a Stevens-specific essay, which focused on their institutional values and motto. There was no additional application required for my scholarship—it was entirely merit-based.

For extracurriculars, I intentionally kept my application broad. I included around ten main activities and mentioned a few additional ones where relevant. These ranged from research and community service to photography, social media management, and sports like swimming. Some of these activities were unrelated to my intended major, but I wanted to showcase my personality, adaptability, and range of interests rather than restrict myself to only engineering-related work.

Why I Chose Stevens and the US

I chose to apply only to the United States because I wanted an international experience while still staying relatively close to family. I have relatives based on the East Coast, particularly in New Jersey, so I focused my applications in that region.

I applied to universities across Connecticut, Boston, New Jersey, and New York. This included institutions like Northeastern, Boston University, Wentworth, University of Connecticut, NYU, RIT, RPI, Rutgers, NYIT, and Stevens. While I received multiple offers, Stevens stood out because of its strong engineering program, its location, and the way the university personally reached out to me during the admissions process. That personalized approach made a significant difference in my decision.

The Visa Process and How It Changed My Plans

The visa process was by far the most challenging part of my journey. Initially, I had committed to the University of Connecticut. However, due to new social media screening requirements for US visas, many visa counseling centers in India were shut down, making it extremely difficult to secure an appointment.

By the time I found a visa slot, it was late July or early August, while my university was expecting students by mid-August. Despite trying to negotiate late entry and attempting to expedite my visa appointment, I was unable to receive my visa in time. As a result, I had to forfeit my place at UConn for the fall semester.

Stevens became aware of my situation and offered me a seat for the same semester, allowing me to arrive one to one-and-a-half weeks late. That flexibility is the main reason I was able to enroll at Stevens. The changes in visa procedures completely altered my college plans, but Stevens’ support helped me recover from what could have been a lost academic year.

I did not use any agents during the visa process, as agents are not permitted for US visas. Instead, I relied on group chats, friends, and updates from peers to track visa slot availability. My school counselor also played an important role, especially in helping me secure my seat at Stevens.

Life at Stevens and Living in New Jersey

I’ve been at Stevens since the Fall 2025 semester, and after spending several months here, I’ve come to genuinely enjoy life on campus and in the surrounding area. Stevens is located in Hoboken, New Jersey, which has a vibrant atmosphere with restaurants, cafés, and social spaces along Washington Street. New York City is just a short commute away, and you’re dropped directly into Manhattan, which means there’s never a shortage of things to do.

That said, living in the US—especially coming from India—is expensive. Everyday expenses add up quickly, and maintaining an active social life requires budgeting and discipline.

Because of visa delays, I missed orientation and arrived after classes had already started. While that made socializing slightly harder initially, it wasn’t impossible to make friends. I didn’t have a roommate, but I connected with neighbors on my floor and gradually built a social circle. Joining clubs played a major role in this—especially South Asian organizations, football clubs, and photography clubs, where I found people with similar backgrounds and interests.

Academics and Classroom Experience

Academically, my transition from IB to Stevens was manageable. Some skills—like essay writing and structured academic work—were already familiar to me from IB. However, engineering-specific subjects such as 3D modeling, introductory coding, and applied engineering concepts were completely new.

The first half of the semester felt relatively comfortable, but the second half became more challenging as new concepts in math and engineering were introduced. That’s when I really had to focus and adapt to the academic rigor of the program.

Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

One of the most exciting opportunities at Stevens is the co-op program. A co-op allows students to work full-time for a company for an entire semester while remaining enrolled as a student. For international students, this is an excellent way to gain legal work experience, earn income, and build professional connections before graduating.

I’m also interested in joining the Baja Club, where students design and build an off-road vehicle to compete against other universities. It’s a hands-on experience that perfectly aligns with mechanical engineering.

High School Projects and Extracurricular Development

In high school, the most productive period for building my profile was the summer between Grades 10 and 11. During that time, I completed a social media marketing internship and also worked on an engineering-related project in the US with one of my cousins. We created optimized transport routes for a company, and my contribution to that research helped demonstrate early exposure to engineering problem-solving.

Another important part of my profile was my photography portfolio, along with personal engineering projects such as repairing objects and breaking down mechanisms to understand how they work.

In Grades 9 and 10, my IB MYP personal project focused on designing the most efficient Formula One track layout. I incorporated physics concepts, car dynamics, overtaking opportunities, and track conditions. This project combined my interest in motorsports with technical analysis and played a key role in shaping my interest in engineering.

Final Advice for Students Applying to Stevens

Stevens is a strong academic institution that genuinely cares about its students. While its social life may not be as vibrant as that of larger universities, it excels in engineering education and student support.

One factor students should seriously consider is the weather. Winters in New Jersey can be harsh, and the cold can affect productivity and mental health if you’re not prepared. This is something I underestimated during applications.

Overall, adapting to life at Stevens hasn’t been overly difficult. The university is supportive, proactive, and willing to help students when challenges arise—which is ultimately why I’m here today.