What Students Say
Likes
- Strong research program
- Great mentors from multiple departments
- Strong alumni community that fosters growth and good attitude
Dislikes
- Poor commuting solutions if you are an international student with limited means
- Lack of funding for some of the projects/disciplines that may hinder growth
- Wary weather conditions that affect you in ways that you might not be prepared for
- University of Washington (Rejected)
- RISD (Rejected)
- MASSART (Accepted)
- Virginia Tech (Accepted)
- The reason why I got rejected from the colleges listed above is probably because I was trying to change streams when I applied for design and these colleges were offering more competitive courses that suited well for people who were already in the field or had some relevant experience. UW has a very focused HCI program, RISD is a hard-core design school. Both of these schools probably weren't suited for a novice designer like me.
- University of Houston offered me room to grow and discover myself as a designer as opposed to accept me as one. It was also a very good research-oriented approach to design which is more empathetic towards those who want to enter the design world.
- The admission process was very simple, first step of which is to apply online with all the required material (portfolio, GRE score, TOEFL score, recommendation letters, application fees and forms). Next was the most difficult interview that I ever had. They went through my portfolio in front of me through the call. They accepted me thereafter and then the regular process of applying to any other US college followed that involved the VISA process and paying the fees. There were no challenges as such except for the whole COVID backlash. Highlight was the interview because as nerve wracking it was, it was also something that gave me enough confidence that I can do it. GRE was just a formality, portfolio was the deciding factor. No minimum scores required.
- I applied for the FALL 2021 intake. I wanted to change disciplines and with COVID receding it was the right time to make the move. The admission (right from filling out the required forms and fees in the month of December) to getting an acceptance (March), it was a three month long process. I took the GRE and TOEFL in September, prepared my supplementary material by the end of December and applied then. Gave interviews in the month of February and then got acceptances in March. After which i began the VISA process.
Course Curriculum
The course is competitive to say the least. It is rigorous and one has to be dedicated to finish it. It is comprehensive for those who don't come from design background. The positive aspect is that the college has ties with a solid research faculty. There are 2-3 classes per day. Timings vary.
My class was the first one after COVID, it was only two students. I was the only Indian. The ratio is 4-1, it greatly affects the quality of education. The teaching is very hands-on and prototyping based.
Faculty
The faculty is helpful with getting students jobs on-campus. Of all the faculty, Jeff Feng and Elham Morshedzadeh stand out for me. George Chow as well. The faculty gets to spend time with each student and everyone knows everyone very well. My professors were my support system and they are still very helpful even after the course is finished. I appreciate all the help especially for my thesis. Mine was a compulsory thesis track, so it is very conducive for those who want to deep dive into academia.
Campus Life
There were a lot of events throughout the year. I could not attend any of them given the nature of design school work. Although the basketball games are worth the watch. Rodeo is a big thing to catch in houston. Occasional flee marts, famers market are a thing. Library, recreational center, gym all are available to use and students pay fees for these when they pay for tuition. SO make sure to use them as well. There are local badminton clubs you can go to and you will form groups when you get here. Whatsapp becomes a group-monger that can make you a part of a certain social circle. Night life does not exist here so dont come here looking for it. But once you make friends you can travel and make plans with them. Clinic is available on campus so it is convenient if any event arises.
Part Time Jobs
No off-campus offers unless it is an internship. On-campus a lot of opportunities are there ranging from gym to admin to RA/TA. The pay range is standard and starts with 10USD per hour. On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week while off-campus is 40 hours per week limit. It is easy to get employed on-campus but getting a RA/TA position is tougher than other disciplines. Less competition but tough because of funding.
Most indian students find part time on campus at the gym or other admin departments. The college has a portal through which the students can apply based on their current resume and work experiecne. It also depends on where you want to work. Some departments dont require a resume per se but require the ability to work there, for exmaple in the gym, you mght need to get mroe certifications before you actually start working.
Placement
The average salary is 80k USD annual. It is tough to get a job in the creative domain but it isn't impossible. You just have to be the best at what you do and have a backup option to go back to India work there as well. Be prepared for that as most of it depends on geopolitical issues at the moment. Elections decide a lot for us. But also network a lot, get published. Try other routes to sponsor yourself because visa sponsorship is a major hurdle in getting a job. You just have to try and it is a big gamble. Having said that, India doesn't have a great design scene but you can try Europe and other countries for employment.
Accommodation
Good old whatsapp group formed by our seniors helped us all find accommodation. We found roommates first and then we got on a call to look for apartments. All the facilities were looked for and the month rent did not exceed 400USD per month. Wifi and electricity not included. Electricity is around 200USD per month and Wifi is around 50USD per month. The challenge while securing the apartment was that no one told us that we had to get the electricity plan and insurance before getting the apartment. Lease application getting approved isnt a promise that you will get the apartment. You need to have these thigns in place before you get the keys. Look for accommodation close to the bus routes rather than the university. Bus routes will decide how easy your life is going to be in cities like Houston. Most of the indian students stay near the NRG stadium and that is the right thing to do if you have limited money to spend in the early years.
Exams
IELTS/TOEFL is a requirement, GRE is required only for some courses not all. Statement of purpose, LORs, resume, Portfolio (work sample) all were necessary, with GRE being just a recommended submission. It was not required for the next batch so I don't know what to say about that. Interview was a part of the process. My would-be professor took my interview. It greatly influenced my decision to attend this college as it was the only interview where my portfolio was discussed with me which kind of helped me realize that I can actually do this and I have it in me to be a designer after all. It boosted my confidence. The interview was about getting to know me through my portfolio, what I did and why i did.
Fees
The fees are charged semester-wise. The breakdown changed over the years, but averaged out it was 11000 dollars of tuition per semester. Living expenses were around 5k per semester. Rent = ~400USD, groceries = ~300USD, transportation = ~50USD. Other expenses are a personal choice. This breakdown is for those who live off-campus. Those who live on-campus pay at least 1000USD per month. Groceries and other expenses are almost the same.
Scholarship
I did receive scholarship for my academic performance from my third semester onwards and my research assistantship allowed me to pay in-state tuition (almost a 40% cut on the original cost). The eligibility criteria was being able to perform well, keeping my grades above a 3.0 GPA, and having the capability to get a RA/TA job that you apply to. My batchmates did not receive a scholarship that gave them a tuition rebate, but they received academic excellence scholarship amounting to 500USD/semester. If one gets 1000USD/semester they get a reduced tuition cost. They have numerous names for these scholarships as it depends on who is donating that year, but they all indicate that you have excelled in your courses. As it is a small program (max 10 people per year), i'd say less than 5% get the scholarship. But the best chance is to get a RA/TA job that guarantees a reduced tuition.
