Personal Statement for XXXXXXX
Since my childhood,  I have the curiosity to discern how gadgets and machines worked and the concepts and fundamentals behind them.  To understand these  logics,  I  took an active interest and participated in many science fairs and workshops.  To satiate my curiosity,  I also watched many scientific programs and the Discovery channel on television.  During class proceedings in school,  I found myself drawn towards subjects that required in-depth analysis and logical thinking. This along with my interest in understanding machines and a percentile score of  99.57  in  AIEEE  (All  India  Engineering Entrance Examination) prompted me to opt for Mechanical Engineering at the undergraduate level at  Delhi  College of  Engineering  (now  Delhi  Technological  University),  one of the top engineering institutes in India. 
During my under graduation,  I utilized every opportunity  to acquire  in-depth knowledge  and a  firm grip over  the principles  underlying the courses of  Mechanical  Engineering.  The enriching pedagogic  sessions of  the highly  seasoned and  well renowned  faculty were  especially helpful. My curriculum included   Machine   Design, Mechanics of Solids,   Kinematics   and   Dynamics   of   Machines, Thermodynamics,  Fluid  Mechanics,  Industrial  Engineering  and  Heat  and  Mass  Transfer.
Among these,Machine  Design,  Mechanics  of  Solids,  and Kinematics  and  Dynamics  of  machines  were  of particular  interest  to  me  as  these  allowed  me  to  further  invigorate  my  interest  in  Mechanical  and structural designing and conferred the competence to address the challenging is
sues while designing . 
The  designing  of  various  mechanical  parts  like  gears,  bearings,  springs,  crankshafts  which  included the  application  of  Mechanics  of  Solids  and  Kinematics  and  Dynamics  of  machines  really  captivated me and I decided to pursue higher studies in the field.To  supplement  my  knowledge,  especially  practical  aspect,  I  took  multiple  industrial  trainings.  The first  training  was at  National  Thermal  Power  Corporation  in  Delhi for  four  weeks.It  is  a  coal-based power  plant.There  I visited  the  various  departments  of  a  power  plant  like  boiler  division,  turbine division,  condenser  division  and  coal  handling  division.  I  had  recently  undertook  a  course  in  power plant engineering  in my college and so I was able to relate to the  plant very well. I came to  know the  intricacies  of  power  production  and  the  problems  faced  during  the  process.  At  the end  I  underwent a test based on my  understanding of the  plant and secured excellent  grades. My second training was an eight  week  internship  at  the  design  department  of  National  Hydroe lectric  Power  Corporation (Pvt.) Ltd in  Faridabad where  I  did  a  project  on  the
mechanical  design  calculation  for  20  ton  load  on  a gantry  crane.  Here  based  on  the  magnitude  and  type  of  load  acting  I  designed  the  dimensions of various parts of the crane. 
I  further  enhanced  my  interest  in  mechanical  engineering  by  doing my  final year project titled  “Tip clearance pressurelosses in various profiles of turbine blade”. An analysis was carried out for flow of fluid over linear turbine cascade for 3 profiles : an  impulse profile , a 50 percent reaction profile and a 25 percent reaction  profile. The profiles had roughness of 50 grade emery paper applied  over suction and pressure surfaces of the blade, at different locations on the blade, name ly  leading edge, mid-chord region  and  tra iling  edge,  w ith  each  being  equal  to  one-third  the  chord  length  of  the  blade.  Using computer  programming,  results  were  obtained  for  the  tip  clearance pressure loss  and  total pressure loss  and  the  variation  was  analysed. 
For  each  profile,  depending  on  the  surface  roughness, the  exit angle  varied.Using  the  va lues  of  the  exit  angle,  dimensions  of  the  blade,  the  local  Reynolds  number and  exit  velocity  for  each  profile the  tip  clearance pressure  loss  and  total pressure  loss ,  a long  with 
coefficient of drag and coefficient of  lift were computed.
During  my  final  semester  of  under-graduation  I  got  on  campus  placement  in Tata  Steel  Limited,  a privately  owned  company  of  India,  which  I  joined  soon  after  my  graduation. I  underwent  training  for one  year  in  the  Jamshedpur  steel  plant  which  manufactures steel  for  the  automobile  and  construction industry. I vis ited  the various departments of the steel plant  like blast furnace, steel me lting shop,  hot and  cold  rolling  mills  and  apart  from  acquiring  the  basic  know ledge  of  steel  making  from  raw materials,  I  also  came  to  know  about  various  mechanical  equipments  required in  the  industry.
I  also underwent  a  two  month  disciple  specific  training  in  mechanical  engineering  in  which  I  was  taught about  bearings,  lubrication,  hydraulics  and  vibrations.Towards  the  end  of  the  training  period,I  did  a project in the  lime plant department of the Jamshedpur plant  in which I analysed the various modes of failure  of  axial blowers  and  recommended  solutions  for  increasing  the  life  between  two  consecutive failures.  
Working  on  this  project opened  up  my  mind  towards  the  vast  industria l  applications  of mechanical engineering. After  the  training  period  I  was  transferred  to  the  Kalinganagar  steel  plant  of Tata  Steel.  a  green  field project where I  worked  in  the  blast  furnace  department. Here  I  supervised  the  construction and erection  of various structures  like beams and girders in casthouse department and blower department. 
I also   supervised   the   erection   of various   mechanical   equipments   like   axia l   blowers,drilling machines,mudguns and  overhead travelling  cranes.  I  ensured  that  the  work  was  completed  as  per schedule.  I  also  rectified any errors made  while erecting and implemented them. Working  in  the industry not  only  helped  me  evolve  as  a  person  but  as  I  experienced,  it  also  imposed challenges  and deadlines. I also learned to work in a pressure environment. I  want  to  be  a  successful  professiona l  in  the  fie ld  of  structural and  equipment designing.  To accomplish this and to survive  in the highly competitive world of today, I need specialized training beyond  my  undergraduate  level  to  help  me keep  pace  with the latest  developments  in  the  field  of Mechanical  engineering.  An  internationally  reputed institute  like University  of  Houston 
will  provide me  with  the  required  skills  and  exposure  to  meet  these  challenges.  I  would  like  to  enroll  in  your university  for   higher  education  as   it   has  excellent   infrastructure,  well  renowned  faculty  and curriculum that suits me perfectly. I strongly believe that under the guidance of your highly competent and research-oriented faculty, I would be able to mold my career decisively for better. I am aware that University of Houston expects very high standards from  its students, I am very confident that with  my sincerity  and  dedication,  I  will  be  able  to  meaningfully  contribute  to  the  research  work  at  your university and live up to the expectations.  I  can  also  contribute  positively  to  the  student  community activities in the institution.  I  will also  be  adding  to  the  cultural  diversity  at  the  campus  and  aspire  to learn and acquaint myself with different cultures and lifestyles while studying in your institution.
I  firmly  believe  that  there  are  many  more  facets  of  life  other  than  just  technical  knowledge.  I  have always  enjoyed  participating  in  extracurricular  activities  and  used  these  opportunities  to  develop  my overall  personality.  In  school,  I  secured  Certificate  of  Merit   in  the  National  Talent   Science Examination  in 2000 and 3rd rank  in Patna in Young  Scientist Talent Test in 2005.I managed to clear the IIT-JEE in  my  first  attempt ,  an  entrance  exam  to  Indian  Institutes  of  Technology which  are  the premier  engineering  colleges  of  India.  These  exams widely  regarded  as  the  toughest examination  in India.
In college, I was part of the organizing team of „Innova-annual technical Fest‟ of Delhi College of Engineering  organized  by  the  student  branch  in 2009. This  opportunity helped  me  to  hone  my organizing skills and leadership qualities. Also, I  secured  first  prize  in  the  annual  cricket  quiz  held  in St.Stephens College in Delhi in 2009. In this way, I have developed my versatile and holistic skills and would like to continue  the  ame in your university as well.  My  contributions  to  the  university  would entail helping in organizing various technical and cultural events, working for a charity or volunteering for social work. 
I look forward for admission into your esteemed University for my chosen career.