When I decided to go to Graduate School, I was looking for a program which had both a very high academic reputation as well as one which offered international experience; I was also looking for something that would allow me to stand out from all the other potential candidates applying for future jobs. Thus, I felt like the GTL Double Degree program was a perfect fit for me. It also goes without saying that this program offered great opportunities to experience rich culture both within and externally to school. Who wouldn't choose this program!?

I spent 13 years overseas and always wanted to study in a large American university. GeorgiaTech is one of the top graduate engineering schools and has a global name attached to it. In this global world I believe that this is extremely important as I was not expecting to work all my life in France. Apart from the brand name and the fact that it is a school known worldwide, I was also looking for the flexibility given in American universities where it is possible to follow electives in other schools and discover new subjects not always available in French engineering schools.

"I joined the international development program PROGRESS at EADS in November 2009, and I am grateful to GTL for that. The career services have been very active, from informing students about the program and its procedure to promoting GTL profiles to EADS human resources and organizing with them a meeting day for 30 students at the Paris international Air Show.

The unique background I had obtained through the GTL double degree program, including a 1 year experience in the US, has then been decisive in the selection process at EADS."

Je souhaitais donner une dimension internationale à ma formation. La possibilité de terminer ma formation Supélec tout en commençant à suivre les premiers cours du Master Electrical and Computer Engineering de Georgia Tech sur le campus de Metz était au final une solution simple et efficace.

Finir mes etudes dans une universite americaine a ete un objectif tres tot dans ma scolarite, avant meme les classes preparatoires, avec l'idee initiale d'acrroitre ma mobilite professionelle. Quand j'ai choisi mon ecole, les partenariats avec les universites americaines a donc ete un facteur important.

I've chosen to achieve a Master at Georgia Tech for several reasons :

-First I am convinced that an international experience has a great interest in terms of career opportunities and personal achievement.
-I definitely wanted to get a double degree in a well known university.
-GTL makes it financially sustainable.
-Finally, the "Ecole des Mines de Nancy" is a partner school and therefore I could get a lot of feedback about GT.

I chose to participate in the GTL program having already spent a year in France as part of an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering degree. The opportunity to spend another year in France as part of my graduate studies was too appealing to pass up, and, in fact, played a part in my decision to attend Georgia Tech for graduate school. The time spent studying in Metz made for a unique and almost intimate environment, since there were relatively few students in each class- this promoted relationships both among the students and with the faculty.

"Could you introduce you and your background ?

I'm originally from Kansas City, MO USA. Earned a BSME from Purdue University in 2002. MSME from Georgia Tech in 2004 and Mastere Professionelle from ENSAM (French Grande École) in 2005. I participated in the Georgia Tech Lorraine program spending 2 1/2 years in Metz, FR.

Could you sum up briefly your professional career ?

I am currently working as a Process Engineer for Imerys in California and I am a former ENSAM-Georgia Tech double degree program participant. The relationship between ENSAM and Georgia Tech institutions is solid. The feedback I had on the education provided during the program were very positive. As a matter of fact, I was surprised by the choice given to me to become specialized in many various fields.

"I chose this school that enabled a double diploma of high value. Moreover I wanted to live in an english speaking foreign country to improve my English.
Experience of living in an american campus and see beyond clichés: Discovery of a culture, travels in the USA during week-ends and Spring Break.
On a professionnal point, English fluency is non as obvious as one may think."