What Students Say
Likes
- There are a lot of student organization clubs/ groups and so some or the other event is happening on campus every now and then. For eg. The Indian Student Association (ISA) hosts a lot of Indian festival events which don't make you feel as if you’re missing out.
- The campus is extremely beautiful and lively. It’s not too big nor too small and hence its easy to navigate and commute from one class to another.
- I love the faculty here (for the most part). If you take a professor that has a good rating before enrolling into classes it is very beneficial. They are super helpful and adjusting with regards to syllabus, exams, and leaves. They are also super helpful if you struggle with something in class.
Dislikes
- The weather at Cincinnati is very unpredictable. It can literally be sunny one day and rain heavily on the other and so you always have to check the weather before stepping out.
- Apart from the things that happen around campus, there isn’t a lot to do in Cincinnati. It has some very good restaurants and few other things that might interest you but they surely get over visited and eventually it doesn’t seem like there’s much to do.
- Since Cincinnati is an old city, most of the off-campus housing that is affordable is very old houses and the newer ones are comparatively at the higher end.
Course Curriculum
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- The difficulty level of the Computer Science curriculum at the University of Cincinnati is generally considered challenging but rewarding. The program strikes a balance between theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring students develop a strong foundation in algorithms, data structures, and programming languages, while also gaining hands-on experience through projects, coding assignments, and internships. The mix of theory and practice allows students to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for real-world applications in the tech industry.
- Positive Aspects: Hands-on Learning: The curriculum is designed with practical exposure in mind, with a strong focus on lab sessions, project work, and coding challenges. This gives students a chance to work on real-world problems.
- Industry Connections: The program’s partnership with local tech companies offers opportunities for internships, co-ops, and networking, which helps bridge the gap between academics and industry.
- Supportive Faculty: Professors are often approachable and provide additional support outside of class through office hours and mentorship.
- Negative Aspects: Heavy Workload: The workload can be intense, especially during core courses that involve complex programming assignments and projects. Time management becomes crucial.
- Pace of Coursework: At times, the pace of the program can be overwhelming for students, especially when balancing multiple challenging subjects in one semester.
Admission Experience
- University of Florida- Accepted
University of Delaware- Accepted
University of Arizona- Accepted
SUNY Buffalo- Accepted
SUNY Stony Brook- Accepted
Drexel University- Accepted
University of Houston- Accepted
FIU- Accepted
University of British Columbia- Accepted
University of Maryland College Park- Rejected
Amherst College- Rejected - The reasons I suspect I got rejected is the extremely low acceptance rate in Computer Science major for both colleges.
- There are two main reasons I chose The University of Cincinnati. The first one is the co-op program that is offered by the college. I thought it was a great way to gain corporate exposure while still studying.
- The second major reason was the scholarship. As compared to all the other universities I got admitted into, this one offered the most significant amount which was a critical factor in making the decision.
- I was admitted to the Fall intake. For Fall, classes began August 21, 2022 so generally mid august. If you are Spring intake, they usually start on Monday of the second week in January.
- Usually applications open in August and the final deadline is in around March and around May (latest) they confirm the admission.
Class Schedule
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- Class Scheduling and Timings:
- Class Schedule: Typically, students have around 2–4 classes per day, depending on the semester and their chosen course load. The timings usually range from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with breaks in between. There might be some evening classes depending on the course structure.
- Average Class Size: The average class size is usually around 20–40 students, depending on the course. For lecture-heavy classes, the number may be larger, while lab-based or project-focused classes tend to be smaller to allow more individualized attention.
- Indian Student Enrollment: The exact number of Indian students in a specific course can vary, but the University of Cincinnati has a notable international student community, with many students from India pursuing programs in Computer Science. Generally, Indian students make up a significant portion of the international student body in tech-related courses, with numbers ranging from 15–25% of the total class, especially in larger cohorts.
Faculty
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- I love the faculty here (for the most part). If you take a professor that has a good rating before Enrolling into classes is very beneficial. They are super helpful and adjusting with regards to syllabus, exams, and leaves (sick, emergency, excused).
- They are also super helpful if you struggle with something in class and give personal attention if you visit them in their office hours. There are certain professors that might be a problem (depending upon your major).
- Some are too strict at times and really harsh with grading. With some of them who are
- internationally, there might be a little problem understanding their accent.
Campus Life
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- There are lots of events and fests that happen round the year. For Indian festivals there is Diwali, Garba, Holi etc. and fun fundraising events that serve exotic Indian dishes like pani puri, samosa, chai, etc.
- There are also organizations like PAC that host fun events for students like roller skating, tye-dye t-shirt making, valentine card making etc. There really is something that interests all of us.
- There are a lot of clubs, both academic and sports, for eg, ECON club, SWIM and DIVE club etc. There are also a bunch of extracurricular activities like movie nights, interactive sessions, game nights, where you can meet and bond with new people.
Part Time Jobs
- For part time there are a plethora of options.Talking about myself, I work as a lifeguard at the Campus Recreation Centre and as an instructor for Calculus 1 at the Math and Science Support Centre at the Learning Commons. The Learning Commons has a lot of academic job opportunities.
- There are also opportunities to be a Resident Assistant (RA, free food and housing) and Desk Assistant (DA). There are other jobs in the Admissions department, at libraries, research, and much more. For off-campus you have to use your CPT else you cannot be on a payroll. For unpaid off-campus opportunities, you have a lot of volunteering options like working as a Cafe Assistant,
- Teaching students, or conducting any form of service. It is very easy to explore their opportunities and apply for them.
- Indian students are spread across all departments. As per my knowledge, lot of the Indian students work at the Learning Commons (Peer Tutor, Academic Coach, SRS, MASS Instructor etc.) , Campus Recreation Centre, and as RAs or DAs. Lot of South
- Indian students work at dining centres.
Placement
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- Due to the co-op program there is a high chance you can get a full-time offer from a company that you co-op ed with before. There are platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Handshake that help a lot and the career fairs held at the university where you get to meet and interact one on one with Recruiters of some really good companies.
- The co- op course also helps in finding opportunities and notifying you about them.
- Few of my seniors who have graduated are doing full-time at companies like- Honeywell ,Siemens
Accommodation
Off Campus
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- For my 1st year I did on-campus accommodation. It was pretty decent. I was in the Calhoun hall, which doesn’t have very big rooms and a kitchen but since I had a meal plan it worked out.
- There residence halls with much bigger rooms and kitchen. It really depends on what you opt for. Since my second year onwards, I switched to off- campus housing because it is much cheaper.
- I found a house at a 15 mins walk distance from campus and live there with 2 other friends of mine.
Exams
- IELTS, SAT was optional at the time I applied.
- Undergraduate Programs:
Application Form: Submitted online through UC’s application portal or the Common App.
Academic Transcripts:
High school transcripts (grades 9–12 or equivalent).
Transcripts must be in English or accompanied by certified translations.
Standardized Test Scores (Optional for most programs):
ACT/SAT scores (if applicable).
English Proficiency Test Scores (for international students):
TOEFL: Minimum 79 (iBT)
IELTS: Minimum 6.5.
Statement of Purpose (SOP)/Essay:
Fees
- The University of Cincinnati (UC) offers a variety of programs, and the fees structure can vary based on the program, residency status (in-state, out-of-state, or international), and other factors. Here’s a general breakdown of what you can expect:
- Tuition:
Undergraduate:
In-state: ~$12,500/year
Out-of-state: ~$27,000/year
International: ~$27,500/year - Housing (On-campus hostel/dorm):
Shared room: ~$7,000–$9,000/year
Private room: ~$10,000–$12,000/year - Meal Plans:
Basic: ~$4,400/year
Premium: ~$5,700/year - Meal Plans:
Basic: ~$4,400/year
Premium: ~$5,700/year - Miscellaneous:
Orientation fees, lab fees, and program-specific costs can range from ~$500–$2,000/year.
Fees are typically charged on a semester-wise basis. The current rate is approximately:
In-state: ~$530/credit hour
Out-of-state/International: ~$1,200/credit hour
paid upfront):
Estimated Total Monthly Expenses: ~$1,300–$2,100
Scholarship
- I received the Global Outreach Scholarship (international students)
- It was 7500$/ semester
- Some of my friends received the same scholarship
- Approximately 80% of incoming first-year students receive some form of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, loans, or work-study.
- Merit-Based Scholarships are awarded to about 30%–40% of undergraduate students, including both in-state and out-of-state students.
