What Students Say?
Likes
- I chose this college because of its reputation and high ROI. When moving to abroad, cost plays an essential role and it can sometimes be burdensome. Stony Brook University has one of the lowest tuition fees in United States and delivers exceptional quality of education. I particularly chose this program because I am interested in the fields of Machine Learning, Data Science and Software Development. Professors are experienced in their fields and publish in top-tier conferences and journals like CVPR and ICCV. These factors were more than enough for me to pursue my masters degree here.
- First of all, it is a beautiful, lush green campus far away from bustling cities. It provides you with a perfect setting to learn your interests and grow.
Dislikes
- The only thing I dislike about my university is their assumptions regarding us knowing many things. Some professors tend to skip some foundational things by saying that they assume that we have already learnt this stuff in our bachelor's and hence we know it. But this is not true. All the students tend to come from diverse colleges with a diverse curriculum.
- So, assuming that we know some topics beforehand and skipping them proves to be a hindrance while studying some advanced topics in the course. So here, self-studying plays a pivotal role because students must self-study many essential topics before jumping to the advanced things taught in the class. Apart from this, there is severe competition for everything here, ranging from course selections to on-campus jobs and housing selection. This can be stressful at times. So, apart from these two things, there is nothing that I dislike about my university.
My university experience has been incredibly rewarding so far. I've been exposed to new and exciting knowledge, thanks to supportive professors and a well-rounded curriculum, and I've had the chance to meet a diverse group of people, which has expanded my horizons and enhanced my personal growth.
Course Curriculum
The course syllabus is updated regularly. They consider state-of-the-art innovation and ensure students are updated with the latest innovations. Research experience is also excellent here, but it's only meant for those who are really into it because it can prove heavy.
Exams
My scores: GRE - 321/340 (Quant 170 Verbal 151 AWA 4.0) TOEFL - 116/120 (Reading 29 Listening 30 Speaking 30 Writing 27) Documents required - SOP, LOR, CV Key points in SOP - Memorable school experience in undergraduate field. List of noteworthy school achievements. Favorite school subjects and laboratory experiences. Exposure in school to undergraduate field, like workshops, seminars, etc. Reasons for choosing the undergraduate course. Describe the academic curriculum. List subjects of interest in your graduate field. Technical skills, software knowledge, and programming languages. Significant undergraduate projects. Learning outcomes from these projects. Mention any research or technical paper work. Internships or training with organization, roles, and achievements. Workshops, seminars, presentations, and industrial visits. Certificate courses, online courses, electives, and exchange program participation. Mention any academic backlogs. Extracurricular participation, including clubs, sports, and community service. Hobbies and accomplishments. Influential life factors. Details about master's or diploma programs pursued. Work experience details, including organization and achievements. Strengths and weaknesses. Handling personal, professional, or academic crises. Demonstrated skills like leadership, teamwork, time management. Reasons for choosing the graduate program. Suitability for the program. Specialization and interests in the field. Reasons for selecting areas of specialization. Expectations from the university and graduate program. Research interests and faculty members you want to work with. Ways you can contribute to the university and program. Short-term and long-term career goals. Reasons for studying in a specific country. Any additional information relevant to your SOP. Key points in LOR - Recommender's name, designation, place of employment, professional email-id Duration of acquaintance with the applicant Supervision of the student in lab sessions, projects, presentations, and activities Subjects taught to the student and in which semester Student's performance in those subjects Mention any special achievements (Awards, Cash Prize, Class Representative, Prefect, etc.) Student's strengths and weaknesses, with examples Student's participation in extracurricular activities and demonstrated skills Membership in college clubs or organizations, responsibilities, and performance Student's performance in class and class rank Supervision of any projects done by the student, with details Key points in CV - Education Academic Projects (Major) Academic Projects (Minor) Technical Skills Internships Certificates There are no specific rounds of interviews or university specific tests.
Placement
There is no official data regarding it but big names like Yahoo and HPE have visited the campus. Anyways in US, the placement system is different as compared to India. There are no on-campus placements and there are job fairs where you can try talking to company executives.
Internship
I am still in my first semester of masters so I am not eligible to undertake any internship.
Fees
For Fall 2023 intake students, tuition cost is $1200 per credit and one needs 31 credits to obtain masters degree.
Faculty
Faculty ratio varies depending on the course. Some courses are favorite amongst students which can lead to low faculty to student ratio while some courses are very heavy which students tend to avoid. Such heaving course have faculty to student ratio. All professors are very experienced and knowledgeable. All faculty members are approachable and they will answer you satisfactorily. Prof. Steven Skiena has left an incredible impact on me. He teaches Data Science Fundamentals.
Campus Life
Throughout the year, the university offers a wide range of activities and events. The research facilities are cutting-edge, and the libraries have extensive resources. High-speed Wi-Fi connectivity is readily available, and the institution provides excellent sports facilities. Additionally, numerous student clubs cater to a variety of interests, ensuring there is something for everyone within the university community.
Hostel
In the context of on-campus housing, I currently reside in a double-sharing single-bedroom apartment, for which I am charged a monthly rental fee of $970. There is also the option to select a double-sharing double-bedroom apartment, which entails a monthly rental cost of $770 per person. It should be noted that all these rental fees are quoted on a per-person, per-month basis. Additionally, the university provides a free bus system for students residing in on-campus housing. Alternatively, one has the opportunity to explore more cost-effective accommodations off-campus. However, in such cases, individuals may be required to make their own transportation arrangements.