What Students Say
Likes
- Strong curriculum and practical training
- Hands-on experience and research opportunities
- Faculty is supportive and have industry connection
Dislikes
- Sometimes few of the courses demands too much of writing and documenting.
- For Data Analytics course, students don't have choice to select courses on their own. The curriculum is already planned which every student has to take.
- There are very few part-time jobs available in the campus, which gets filled very quickly because of high demand.
Course Curriculum
10
- The difficulty level was moderate. It is a mix of theoretical and practical but more on practical implementation.
- The positive aspect is that there are lots of assignments and projects, which gives a strong foundation to your study. The negative aspect is that there are deadlines to complete the assignments, which makes you more stressed.
- There is usually one class per day; timings are mostly in the evenings.
- The average number of students in my class was around 30.
- There were 80% Indians.
Admission Experience
-
I applied for the following universities:
- San Jose State University: Admitted
- East Bay University: Admitted
- Santa Clara University: Admitted
- I received admission from the above 3 colleges.
- No, I didn't receive rejection from anyone.
- I chose the above 3 colleges because I was preferring universities within Bay Area.
- I had 5+ years of experience in India when I applied for these universities, so I think I was accepted for all of these 3 colleges.
- I chose SJSU because this is a state university. It has fewer fees compared to the other colleges to which I applied. Secondly, it was close to my location, so I didn't have to travel much.
- The admission process involved giving the GRE exam (although it was optional the year I was admitted; the minimum score is 80) and TOEFL/IELETS score (this was compulsory; the minimum score is 90). I submitted my application (containing GRE score, TOFEL score, WES evaluated undergrad transcript, SOP, and LOR, and experience letters) in December 2021 and got admit in the month of March. And classes started in June.
- The overall admission experience was smooth; it required a lot of patience.
- I applied for the Fall 2022 intake. My decision was dependent on the lesser fees being State College and the location for better job opportunities.
- I applied in the month of December 2021 and submitted my scores, resume, transcripts, SOPs ,LORs. I got my acceptance in March 2022, received I-20 in the month of April, got my F-1 visa stamped in June and classes started in July 2022.
Faculty
10
- The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:30. The quality of education and interaction with faculty is really smooth.
- The teaching methodology of my faculty members is very much oriented with the job requirements in industries. You will get to learn a lot. For me, all the course structures were really helpful in securing a job.
- Yes, the faculty members assist students in finding part-time or full-time jobs through their personal networks or references if you have a good connection with the faculty.
- I admire Simon Shim the most. He taught me a database course, which was very important in securing a job. His style of teaching is very different. He gave us a lot of practical assignments and projects, which laid a strong foundation in my understanding.
Campus Life
10
- There is only one campus situated in the downtown area.
- There is a Martin Luther King library, gym and swimming pool that is very large. In addition, there is a building that has a lab; the computers are equipped with NVIDIA GPUs, which you can use to run your heavy models or do assignments.
- There are always some events going on on campus, be it a job fair or a cultural event. Indian students have an ISO group. They celebrate Diwali, Dandiya and Holi every year. You can go and participate in the event.
Part Time Jobs
- There is huge competition for TA and RA jobs. Usually one student is appointed for one course for the TA role. RA role depends on professor's need.
- The pay range is usually 15-20 USD per hour for these roles.
- There are jobs available, like working at CAfes or Starbucks or in police departments within campus.
- Maximum hours allowed is 20 hours per week.
- It is difficult to secure on-campus part-time jobs as the campus is small, there are limited opportunities but high demands.
- Students typically earn 10-20 USD on an hourly basis. It is slightly difficult to secure part-time employment while studying.
- I don't know much about the usual process of applying for part-time jobs. If you have good connections with someone who is already working at the campus, then it could be easier for you to secure a part-time job. Describe the steps involved, such as searching for job openings, submitting applications or resumes, attending interviews, and any other relevant procedures that students should follow.
Placement
8
- Since the last two years, the US job market condition is not so good. These days, it is quite difficult to secure a full-time job. I have seen students who got jobs after 1 year also. Overall, I can say that about 40–50% of students would get full-time within 6 months of graduation.
- The average salary range is 110k-170k for students graduating from my programme. It varies from company to company, job role, salary ranges are different for Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Engineer and students experience also.
- Students usually find jobs after graduation through LinkedIn. Reaching out to recruiters, making connections, and applying on the company portal.
Accommodation
Off Campus
8
-
Type of Accommodation: Off-Campus
- I chose off-campus accommodation because it was more affordable and flexible compared to university-managed halls.
- Most Indian students also preferred private accommodations near the university for cost savings and better amenities.
- How I Found My Accommodation
- Online Platforms – Websites like Rightmove, Zoopla, and SpareRoom helped in finding available rooms.
- Student Housing Groups – I joined Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp groups where students shared rental listings.
- Real Estate Agents – Local letting agents like UniHomes and Sheffield Student Property were also helpful.
- Rent & Facilities
- Monthly Rent: £350 – £450 (excluding bills) or £450 – £550 (with bills included).
- Facilities Included:
- Fully furnished rooms (bed, wardrobe, desk, chair).
- High-speed WiFi and all essential utilities (water, gas, electricity).
- Shared kitchen & living area (for those in-house shares).
- Laundry facilities (in most apartments).
- Challenges in Finding Accommodation
- High Demand & Limited Availability – Affordable student-friendly apartments filled up quickly.
- Upfront Costs – Most landlords require a deposit (one month’s rent) and advance payment.
- Guarantor Requirement – Some landlords asked for a UK-based guarantor (not always feasible for international students).
- Distance vs. Rent Trade-off – Finding a place close to campus at a low price was challenging.
- Recommendations for Future Students
- Start Searching Early – Begin at least 2–3 months before arrival to get good deals.
- Use Student Groups & Networks – Join Telegram & WhatsApp groups where seniors post vacant rooms.
- Consider All-Inclusive Rent – Paying a slightly higher rent with bills included avoids hidden costs.
- Check for Hidden Charges – Ask about contract length, maintenance fees, and deposit refunds.
- Book Temporary Stay First – Stay in a hotel, Airbnb, or university short-term housing while searching for permanent accommodation.
- Distance from University & Where Most Indian Students Stay
- My Accommodation Distance: 10–15 minutes walk from the university (near the City Centre).
- Popular Areas for Indian Students:
- City Centre & Bramall Lane – Close to university, affordable rent (~£400–£500).
- Ecclesall Road – Good for shared housing, near shops & restaurants (~£350–£450).
- London Road & Abbeydale Road – Budget-friendly, has many Indian restaurants & grocery stores.
Exams
- GRE is required. A TOEFL/IELTS score is required.
- The following documents are required:
- 1. Wes evaluated undergrad transcript
- 2. Resume
- 3. SOPs
- 4. LORs
- No, the interview was not part of the application process. Only the scores and the above documents were required and then the admission was announced. For my course (Data Analytics), they do check if the student has prior background in Python or any language like C/C++/Java.
- If not then, they give conditional admission, which states that the student has to take an extra course in the first semester, which is Data 200 (about Python), and have to pass that course, then only can they move to the 2nd semester. After which the condition gets removed.
Fees
- Tuition fees: 26,200 USD
- Living expense: 20,000 USD
- The fees are charged credit-wise and semester-wise. We had to pay for every credit and pay before the start of every semester.
- Rent is around 700-1000 USD
- Transportation would be around 100-120 USD
- Regular expenses would include groceries and utilities, which would be like approximately 1000-1500 USD per month. Plus, it varies from person to person.
Scholarship
- I didn't receive any scholarships during my course.
- There are fewer scholarship opportunities for international students at SJSU.
- I am not much aware of the eligibility criteria. I don't know about the award amount for the scholarship. None of my batchmates receive scholarships, as far as I remember.
- I don't have much idea about how many students on average receive scholarships each year.
