I joined AUS back in 2012 when industrial engineering was just a concept. Having just opened the major that semester, there were no students or alumni to seek advice from. However, seeing that it integrated mathematics and engineering concepts, I decided to take the plunge and enroll in the program. After graduating, I realized that although it is a new department, we had a high standard of training and excellent opportunities to perform research at the undergraduate level, which put us in a competitive position for both the job market and higher education opportunities. Even though I was offered a position with a reputable, international company, I decided to continue my graduate studies and I am now studying at Masdar Institute on a full-grant scholarship to attain my Master of Science in Engineering Systems and Management.