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What Students Say
Likes
- - Top 15 in US for Computer Science
- - Good and experienced faculty for professors
- - College Town so student friendly
Dislikes
- - Very cold weather in winters
- - Not very great food options
- - Not near companies hub
Course Curriculum
10
- Difficulty depends on course but increases with year. It is very practical, unlike Indian colleges, and focuses on projects a lot.
- It covers core concepts and ideas and in-depth exams and projects make students apply themselves.
- Classes are typically scheduled throughout the day, with an average of 2-3 sessions daily, each lasting 60-90 minutes.
- The timings vary but generally fall between 9 AM and 5 PM, depending on the schedule for the semester.
- The average number of students in each class is around 300-500 for big classes, creating an environment conducive to interactive learning.
- Among my batchmates, there is a diverse mix of nationalities, with approximately 20–30% of the students being Indian.
Admission Experience
- I had applied for around 12–15 colleges globally :
- UW Madison: Accepted
- Georgia Tech-Rejected
- Purdue, Waitlisted, Rejected
- UIUC - Waitlisted - Rejected
- Rutgers: accepted
- Virginia Tech: Accepted
- ASU: Accepted
- Cornell: Rejected
- UBC: Accepted
- University of Toronto, rejected
- McMaster: Accepted
- I applied initially for mechanical engineering and I only decided to go abroad at the end of 11th grade so I did not have that much time to create a strong profile with extracurriculars.
- I ultimately chose UW Madison because of its good reputation and rankings in the computer science degree; it was nearby Chicago and a college town.
- I gave the SAT exam and also the TOEFL exam and submitted those scores along with common app essays and extracurriculars like typical applications.
- I also submitted grade 9-12 marksheet results.
- Overall admissions process was smooth; I got an acceptance letter by the end of March, and I signed it.
- I applied for the Fall 2022 intake, influenced by factors such as alignment with the academic calendar, broader opportunities for scholarships and internships, and the popularity of the intake, which offered a larger peer network and better access to resources. The full admission process spanned from November 2021 to April 2022. I began researching universities, preparing application materials, and finalising my list of target schools in November 2021. I submitted my regular decision application in December 2021. After months of waiting, I received my acceptance at the end of March 2022, completing the process by early April 2022.
Faculty
10
- The faculty-to-student ratio in my course is approximately 30:1, which is considered low and conducive to personalised attention.
- This favourable ratio enhances the quality of education by facilitating meaningful interactions between students and professors, allowing for tailored guidance and support.
- The teaching methodologies employed by the faculty are a blend of theoretical instruction and practical application. Lectures are complemented by hands-on projects, case studies, and collaborative assignments, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. This approach effectively prepares students for careers in the field by bridging academic concepts with real-world scenarios.
- Faculty can help get research opportunities, but I am not sure about job opportunities.
- Among the esteemed CS faculty, Professor Debra Deppler stands out for her exceptional teaching style and dedication to student success. Their ability to simplify complex topics and foster an engaging learning environment has left a lasting impact on my educational experience.
Campus Life
8
- UW Madison is the main one; there is UW Milwaukee, UW Eau Claire, etc.
- There are various top-class libraries and lecture halls, gyms, tennis halls, football grounds and stadiums and swimming pools indoors.
- There are concerts like Coldplay happening next year, events like Diwali from the Indian Student Association, and football (rugby) games between state colleges.
- There are lots of extracurriculars one can get involved in as a student; get coaching as well.
Part Time Jobs
- Undergrad students can become peer mentors for classes and get paid $17/hr.
- They can also work part time as assistants or in dining halls.
- Master students can become TA's and get tuition reimbursements.
- The maximum hours you can work per week are 20 part-time
- Minimum wage is 15/hr
- It is pretty easy to get opportunities on campus if one tries hard enough.
- I also worked for a few months; it was just boring and time-consuming.
- Part-time jobs range from 12 to 21 per hour, depending on the role. There are student job portals where you can find these open positions. It is pretty easy to find them; you just have to be proactive and make a good cover letter. The process is online and simple: answer some questions, upload a resume and letter, then wait for a simple interview or even a direct job.
Placement
8
- The average starting salary for computer science graduates is about $70,000, which is pretty decent. A lot of students focus on networking and try to convert their internships into full-time jobs. Campus career fairs are super helpful too since tons of companies come to recruit directly, and you get a chance to talk to them in person. For international students, though, things can be tougher because of sponsorship issues and how competitive the job market is right now.
Accommodation
Off Campus
8
- For the first year, I got the on-campus dorms; mine was the Ogg residence hall (pictures attached below). It had good rooms, kitchens, study lounges, and laundry facilities.
- It was right in front of the bus stop, gym, and dining hall.
- Other dorms were also nearby and some a little far.
- For years 2, 3, and 4, I am living in different apartments, which I found online and went through the application process for.
- The housing market is expensive here and rents are soaring. People are opting for luxury residences.
- Off-campus accommodations are within walking distance of classes.
- For future students, I would say find a few people and live in shared rooms to save money and start research early.
Exams
- There was no interview.
- You need a good SAT score
- Decent TOEFL/IELTS score
- For documents, you need LOR's from high school and transcripts from 9th-12th grade.
- You need a statement of purpose as well.
- The acceptance rate of my college would be around 30-40%.
- You need decent essays to get in along with moderate extracurriculars.
- It depends on the degree you are applying for.
Fees
- For my 4 year undergraduate course, the fee structure is breakdown as follows-
- $21,000 per semester so total = $168,000 for full course.
- You can pay per semester in 1 go or broken down in 3 parts over course of 3 months.
- For first year, living in dorm is compulsory and mess dining hall usage, so cost for that is around $9000.
- Monthly expenses include groceries, food, electricity bill etc and are around $300-$500.
- Bus is free for students so they get a pass, so no travel charges.
- Rent is around $1000-1500 per month for single bedroom, less if shared.
Scholarship
- There are no scholarships for international students to my knowledge, I dont know any people who got scholarship from the college itself, but private organization in their country sponser them and their expenses after a merit exam, like Indonesia and UAE students, not indian kids. You should come here if you can afford it or maybe take a loan. Scholarships are easy in lower level colleges in my opinion
