Life at NAU

University of Central Missouri

Reason for choosing my college

• Location, as NAU is located in Flagstaff, which is 6000 ft above sea level and has amazing scenery with very cool weather and a beautiful view, and the second reason is, it allows me as a Computer Science major to also take courses from other branches as well as electives.

Arizona State University

7.5(58 Reviews)

Reason for Rejection

• I was not approved for the major I selected in CS because of my GRE and TOEFL score. They offered me other majors in CS, but I was not interested in them, and anyway I was more interested in NAU, so I didn't try further.

• Having good LORs and SOP will definitely enhance the application; try to get LORs from the professors of your undergraduate college who are in a higher position and also have taught you in your course.

• I selected Northern Arizona University because it allows me, as a Computer Science major student, to also take core subjects from Cyber Security.
• This unique combination of computer science and cyber security fascinates me, as I am particularly interested in subjects like network security and applied cryptography, which are from cyber security, alongside core subjects like advanced data structures and in-demand subjects like machine learning, which are from computer science. NAU’s flexible curriculum ensures I don’t have to sacrifice any of these interests.

• There is no particular class schedule; you will have 10 hours of classes on average every week; class times vary a lot from course to course; the average strength also differs for course, but it is around 30 students, and most of them are Indians; for assignments and self-study, we need to spend at least 2 hours every day.

• Faculty student ratio in NAU is very good, because for every subject, other than the professor, we have around 3 to 4 TAs who will be very helpful to students, and professors also have their designated office hours to help students clear their doubts, and all the faculty are very supportive to students. If we perform well in their class, they will definitely help us get a part-time job.

• The Campus Experience at NAU is the best; it is a very large campus with beautiful architecture and awesome views to the mountains covered in snow; it has a huge library with a lot of useful resources; there are around 10 to 15 grounds for students to play; and they also have a huge gym with best-in-class equipment for students.

• Most Indian students will work in the food department, which includes dishwashing, utilities, etc. But students can also get TA roles if they perform well in academics.
• I am currently a TA for three subjects, so it is possible to get a TA role if we put enough effort in. It is not so tough to get a part-time role; may be you can't get one in your first semester, but you can easily get one by your second semester.

• Coming to part-time jobs, as international students we are only allowed to work on campus, that too only 20 hours/week, and it should not exceed 20 hours. Fortunately, NAU has many part-time opportunities on campus, which makes it easier for students to find part-time jobs. Students are also offered TA roles if they perform well in their academics. The hourly wage is around $17/hour.

• We can't generalize job opportunities for the overall college because, unlike India, in the US, the college plays no role in your placement; there is no such thing as campus placement in India; it all depends on your talent and your network, and colleges don't publish any information regarding the placements.

• Accommodation in Flagstaff is very costly. A 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom flat costs around $2500/month, including current and water bills.
• Finding accommodation is not so tough; as soon as you get your admission, the college will add you to a WhatsApp group where students will be posting about available accommodation; then you can reach out to them to discuss further, or you just visit apartments.com to take a new flat.