From India to RIT: My Journey in the Sustainable Systems MS Program

My name is Darshita and I am from India.  I am writing to share a little bit about my experience in Rochester Institute of Technology's (RIT) Sustainable Systems MS program.

RIT was one of the top-10 schools for the program so that was one the reasons I chose to apply to RIT. The flexible course structure and the right variety of courses to address sustainability challenges aligned with my interests. I also liked the capstone alternatives and co-op opportunities that RIT gives for the MS program!

One of the best parts of the program is how it has been structured. Each course fosters independent, creative, and out-of-the-box thinking. I think this is very important, especially in this area which requires innovation to solve some of the most pressing challenges that we face and to anticipate future challenges and solutions. It has been a very fun process to work on research projects and assignments in my area of interest and have the right guidance from the instructors. The diversity of this program and hearing different perspectives in class has been such a good learning experience. Fun fact: I have classmates from 6 different countries!

Every class I've taken has had its own way of being intriguing and capturing my interest and here are some of my favorites. Fundamentals of Sustainability Science is one of the courses that builds overall understanding of sustainability and gives you the flexibility to explore your field of interest. Risk Analysis was interesting because it helped develop my understanding of how to quantify different processes and how regulations work in the real world. Economics of Sustainable Systems has built my understanding of the economic side of things and the in-class discussions with examples and anecdotes from current challenges were a very fun experience. Sustainability in Global South has been a very interesting class with great discussions and policy perspectives in the Global South countries.

Outside the program, I'm involved in the Student Government. I'm currently the Graduate Senator. I represent the graduate students at RIT.  Further, I have been involved in clubs on campus related to sustainability. I'm a member of Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) and the Student Environmental Action League (SEAL). These clubs have cool projects to work on and it's always amazing to implement into those projects some of the skills we are learning in the program.

If you have a passion for change and a self-driven focus to build solutions and work toward the challenges the world faces, then you should take a close look at the Sustainable Systems MS program. It is a program that requires a strong passion to make a difference which makes learning and working on projects even more rewarding. In the Indian context, India is one of the countries that is emerging and very driven towards moving development in a sustainable way. However, many challenges still remain. In fact, observing the degrading environment quality in my city was one of the reasons that got me thinking about this field.

If I could say one thing to any prospective student it would be that choosing RIT has been a very fulfilling decision for me; the opportunities, diversity, and the passion that each professor has for their class have made the journey even more awesome. If you're looking to embark on a journey to make an impact, choosing RIT would mean you're onto something great.

Whether you've started an application for another RIT graduate program or have yet to do so, I strongly encourage you to consider the Sustainable Systems MS program.  If you're convinced like I was that this is the right program for you, complete your application for graduate study and start your journey toward making a meaningful impact on the world!