Dear Prospective Student

Thank you for your interest in our research group. It is truly a dynamic and exciting environment where cutting edge research gets done. It’s also a lot of fun. Our work is a blend of theoretical and experimental investigations that complement each other synergistically. I encourage you to explore the accessible pages on this website to learn more about the type of work we do here.

Of course, we are always looking for the best and brightest students to join us here at UIUC and, as such, we are heartened by your interest. However, this letter is intended to explain the constraints that I am under as well as the process that I try to adhere to in selecting new students. I receive, on average, about 3 requests per day from students inquiring about my research and, basically, if they can get financial support from me. This number peaks during November through January at a little higher value. A large number of these inquiries come from blanket e-mails sent by international students looking for a way into the U.S. This may not apply to you, the current reader. However, I feel it should help you understand which category a request you send me would likely be lumped into. If it’s coming from a personal recommendation of another faculty that I know, that would be quite different.

I do my best but it is practically impossible for me to respond to each and every e-mail that inquires about admission and financial aid. Moreover, the Mechanical & Industrial Engineering department at UIUC operates in such a manner that the individual faculty do not make graduate student admission decisions. We have a 6 person committee that reviews all the files and makes admissions decisions. It is after the decisions have been made that the faculty are able to see which students have been admitted and can then begin contact. Therefore, although I am genuinely happy that you show interest in my group, there is little that I can do as an individual faculty until after you’ve been admitted by the departmental committee.

Even after you have been admitted, my policy is such that I do not hire students without getting a chance to meet them and also have them meet with the rest of the students in our group. We have a pretty collegial lab environment and we try very hard to maintain that. Therefore, chemistry is a very important aspect in a candidate’s profile. This can’t be judged by a paper or electronic application file hence the need for you to visit campus. An alternative would be a personal recommendation from a colleague of mine at your institution whose opinion I’d trust. Obviously this puts some international students at a disadvantage. However, I’ve got enough foresight to not commit all my resources before the students show up for the fall semester. I do try and keep a spot or more open for outstanding international students and then meet with them once they get here to determine which students would be the best fit for our group.

If you like what you see on these pages, I would encourage you to apply to UIUC. I’ve visited a lot of other schools and can honestly say that UIUC is a great place to work and we like to think our group is a great environment in which to be a grad student. If you’re very bright, hardworking, personable, and fun there may be a good opportunity for you to engage in research with like-minded people. If you’re in the Illinois area, you are welcome to drop by for a firsthand look at the exciting research we’re doing here even before you apply or know whether you’re accepted. If accepted, I would strongly encourage you to visit UIUC. That’s by far the best way we can tell if there’ll be a match. If you can’t visit beforehand, I would encourage you to stop by and visit us once you come to campus to start your grad career. Then we can see whether or not there’s a mutually beneficial partnership we can initiate. I look forward to seeing you in the future.

Sincerely,

Andrew Alleyne