Akshat Gangrade Review at University Of Texas Dallas [UTDALLAS], Richardson | Collegedunia

My Campus Exp. : University of Texas Dallas!

7.3
Verified Review (Out of 10)
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Academic
8.0
Accommodation
8.0
Faculty
6.0
Infrastructure
8.0
Social Life
8.0
Placement
6.0

Student's Snapshots

Classroom
Convocation & Festivals
Convocation & Festivals
Convocation & Festivals
Convocation & Festivals

Course Curriculum

8

  • The MS in CS curriculum at UT Dallas is described as a mix of theoretical and practical learning, with a strong emphasis on foundational concepts like algorithms and data structures, alongside applied programming and software development

  • Strong industry connections with companies like Texas Instruments, JP Morgan, and AT&T ensure good placement prospects and Some professors are highly theoretical or lack engagement, making lectures less effective.

Admission Experience

  • I have applied to 5 colleges out of which I had 3 accepts and 2 rejects. Here are the list of universities I have applied to:
    *The University of Texas at Dallas (Accepted)
    *New York University (Accepted)
    *University of California, Davis (Rejected)
    *University of Minnesota at Twin Cities (Rejected) 
    *The University of New York at Suny (Accepted)

  • I choose UTD over other college because of Texas and its growing tech industry in Austin area.

  • I have applied to UTD in Master's in CS program. The admission process generally consists of test scores (GRE, TOEFL / IELTS), 3 LOR's, 1 SOP, Resume and Undergrad Transcripts,310 (GRE) is good enough to get into UT Dallas and 90+ in TOEFL.

  • The admission process was straightforward as well as clear and concise. If you have any doubts you can reach out to the admission department they can help you out. I did not faced any challenges in my admission process here at UTD.

  • I have applied for Fall intake. Their are more colleges accepting applications for Fall

  • Its a long process. It can nearly take up to 8-10 months. I have started drafting my SOP's and LOR's in August of 2020, I wrote down GRE in October and TOEFL in December. I have started applying to the colleges in the second week of December. I have applied to the UTD in Mid January and got the admit in first week of April.

Class Schedule

8

  • Typically, students have 1-2 classes per day, with each class lasting around 1.5 hours. Classes are scheduled across morning, afternoon, or evening slots, depending on availability and preferences
  • The average class size for CS courses is around 60-70 students, allowing for moderate interaction with professors while accommodating the large number of enrolled students.
  • UT Dallas is extremely popular among Indian students, with over 2,100 Indian students enrolled.

Faculty

6

  • Professors at UTD were wonderful, in my opinion. In my experience, all of them taught with adept skill and depth of knowledge far above the standard for academics.
  • My most liked professor was my machine learning class instructor, Dr. Vibhav Gogate. He not only taught the subject with extreme proficiency, but was also research active and knew how to communicate complex concepts clearly.
  • I was able to collaborate on a NSF grant research project with Dr. Anjum Chida (Artificial Intelligence) and that was very good. She supported me as an excellent mentor, leading me through every step in the project, starting with design and culminating in displaying the results we developed in a conference.

Campus Life

8

  • The campus life at UTD was great, with a lot of events, festivals, clubs, and activities to select from. There were a lot of cultural festivals and events on campus throughout the year, which were a fantastic way to learn about different cultures and traditions. The university also had a lot of clubs and organizations, from academic and professional clubs to recreational and sports clubs.
  • I was part of the UTD Computer Science Club. It was a great way to get to know other students who shared the same interests as me. The club hosted numerous activities and events, including hackathons, coding competitions, and tech talks. We also had a lot of fun at game nights, movie nights, and other social events.

Part Time Jobs

  • There were ample part-time job opportunities both on and off campus. A lot of students were research assistants or teaching assistants, which was an excellent way to get experience and also make some money. There were ample part-time job opportunities in the Richardson area as well, including retail, food service, tech, and engineering.

  • I was a part-time software engineer intern at XiFin, Inc in Dallas, and I had an excellent experience. I acquired valuable skills and helpful experience, and I also earned good income.

  • Students working part-time jobs at UT Dallas typically earn between $7.25 and $13 per hour, with the average pay being around $13 per hour.Securing part-time jobs on campus is highly competitive, with hundreds of applicants vying for limited positions. While opportunities exist in areas like dining services, library assistance, and IT, persistence and tailored applications are crucial Submit a polished resume and cover letter tailored to the role. The University Career Center can assist with this step.

Placement

6

  • The full-time job prospects after graduation from my course were great. Some of my classmates received employment offers from leading technology giants like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft and many other big tech. 
  • I was offered a full time Software Engineer role by XiFin, Inc in San Diego, which has long been my dream location for work. The company was impressed with my experience and skill set, and they proposed a good salary and benefits. I am strongly inclined to begin my new career and utilize the skills and knowledge I acquired at UTD to solve real-world challenges.
  • My experience at UTD was wonderful, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to pursue a degree in computer science.
  • The average starting salary for MS in Computer Science graduates is around $93,000, with top-tier roles offering upwards of $200,000, including stock options

Accommodation

Off Campus
8

  • I chose to stay off-campus as it was affordable and suitable. There are several places where one can reside off-campus in the Richardson area, including apartments and shared homes. I lived in an apartment with some of my classmates, and this saved us money in addition to having friends around.
  • The apartment facility provided us with everything that we needed, such as a gym, pool, and parking. My rent was around $800/month, which included utilities like Wi-Fi, electricity, and water. Shared accommodations helped reduce costs further.

Exams

  • For admission, standardized tests like TOEFL and GRE are required.
  • Supporting documents include a resume, statement of purpose (SOP), letters of recommendation (LORs), and transcripts.
  • An interview wasn’t part of my process, but this varies by university. Meeting all requirements ensures a strong application for competitive programs. Some universities do have video interview in their admission process.

Fees

  • The semester fee for the MS in CS program at UT Dallas was approximately $16,000+.
  • Fees is charged on a semester-wise basis (you can pay via credit card, wire transfer or EZ Pay).
  • Living expenses, including rent, utilities, and groceries, averaged $800/month, but eating out could increase costs or additional personal expenses could raise the overall cost of living significantly.

Scholarship

  • UT Dallas offers the Eric Jonsson Scholarship for CS students, which you can apply for via the college portal. No I did not secure a scholarship.
  • It covers half the semester fees, provided you maintain a 3.5 GPA throughout.
  • It’s highly competitive, with only 20-25 recipients selected from a batch of over 450+ students, making it challenging to secure.