What Students Say
Likes
- Have great professors with good industry outreach.
- Great campus, very large and beautiful, filled with nature, infrastructure, and scenic views.
- Courses offered are very detailed, have value, and are in demand for current market.
Dislikes
- Classes are competitive to get enrolled in.
- Only 1 or 2 professors for a course.
- Research opportunities are hard to find.
Course Curriculum
10
- Difficulty level of your course curriculum : It's a mix of both theoretical and practical, and it also depends on what courses you are taking and what professor you are choosing to do your study under.
- Positive and negative aspects of your course : Positive is great learning and scope of growth; negative is sometimes too research-focused.
- Schedule and Timings: Depends on the courses you are enrolled in, but no late-night classes are conducted. Almost all the classes come to an end by 8.30pm.
Admission Experience
-
I applied to the following universities:
- Arizona State University – Admitted
- California State University Long Beach – Rejected
- California State University East Bay – Admitted
- San Diego State University – Rejected
- San Francisco State University – Admitted
- Northeastern University – Admitted
- University of Texas Arlington - Admitted
- University of North Texas – Admitted
- The reason for rejection was mostly because of my CGPA.
- Reason to choose this particular college : Binghamton University has a very big name on the East Coast, especially for CS, with a good reputation and IBM history. Had really good courses that aligned perfectly with my goals and visions. The living expenses are reasonable compared to other areas, and they have really good alumni connections.
- Admission Process : Rolling admissions were conducted. The GRE was not mandatory but good if submitted. The TOEFL score was submitted by me with the official transcript. All official documents were considered, and then I got the decision in 2 weeks.
- Eligibility Criteria : Relevant courses to your master's programme have to be done in your bachelor's, or a related degree should be there. GRE scores, if available (at the time of my admission, the GRE was waived), TOEFL/IELTS scores, and an official transcript with a good GPA. A minimum TOEFL score of 90 should be there for better chances of getting admitted.
- Overall Admission Experience : Very smooth and straightforward, faced no challenges, got a timely decision, and the team was giving quick responses for all my queries. Better than any college I applied to.
- Fall 2024 intake because it's the bigger intake, and I was ready to take this step.
- The admission process for this university takes up to a month or so, but I got the decision in around 2 weeks. Spring is also good, but since everything worked out pretty well for me, I decided to go with the fall intake only. Also I got suggested by the seniors and peers too for the same.
Faculty
10
- Faculty-to-student ratio : 1 professor per 60 is the max I have seen. It also depends on the course and how many students have been enrolled in the class.
- Teaching methodology: Securing a job is a different thing, but you get more than enough knowledge to work on projects, build your portfolio, and prepare for interviews.
- Assist students in finding part-time or full-time jobs: Part Time I am not sure but some professors do help with full time opportunities
Campus Life
10
- There are 3 campuses.
- Facilities : The majority of events take place on the main campus only, like sports. Almost all the sports are played here, and all kinds of cultural fests are hosted every now and then. Medical services are in a different campus, which is specifically dedicated to that only, but all campuses have their first aid and emergency availability.
- Some popular events are basketball matches, soccer matches, music fests, welcoming events, Chinese new year, Christmas etc.
Part Time Jobs
- 10 to 15 get TA and RA positions and 20 GA and DA positions. It also depends on funding and the requirements of the professors.
- Pay is $15/hr to $20/hr.
- Other on campus jobs are in Labs, dining halls, cafes, libraries, physical facilities, transportation, etc.
- The maximum working hours allowed are 20 per week, and it's pretty easy to find a part-time job on campus.
- Most students get 15.50 dollar/hour and it depends on how many hours the student is working. Usual process is to apply for the position through the website or Handshake portal. Jobs are posted and shared through newsletters and mail, and students can apply directly from the links or by scanning qr codes etc. Some jobs requires resumes and some just require the student schedule.
Placement
8
- This data is not shared with us, and many factors like recession, politics, and elections affect this. To find jobs, there are many resources provided by the university and job portals available. Alumni connect events are there, and career fairs are hosted as well. Information sessions are also held and many networking events are conducted for this.
Accommodation
Off Campus
10
- On-campus housing is not allowed for graduate students. Off-campus housing is the only option. There are many people who sublease their apartments, post messages on social media, agencies that provide housing, etc. Finding accommodation is not very difficult in the city.
- The monthly rent starts at $430 and goes up to $650, including all utilities.
- I didn't face any challenge, and finding accommodation was also pretty smooth for me.
- Recommendations for future students are to not sign a lease, come here in July, take a sublease, and then look for properties. 1 month is enough to find yourself a good space to live.
- It's a 15-minute drive from my place to the university. All students live in the permitted housing zone for students, so everyone lives in the same area, especially Indian students.
Exams
- TOEFL or IELTS was mandatory; GRE was waived off but was good to have. Other documents like 3 letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume were mandatory as usual. The interview was not a part of my application process. Also if have any certifications which are relevant to the course that you aiming for to get enrolled in, that can also be one of the factors affecting the decision
Fees
- Breakdown of fees : Tuition is approximately 36 lakhs. No other charges are there, and insurance is also included in that.
- Fees charged : Fees are charged semester-wise according to the number of credits you are taking. Also, you get an option to pay the fees in installments.
- Monthly expenses, including everything from housing to groceries, go up to 600-650 USD. It also depends on your lifestyle.
Scholarship
- One of my friends got a Gajwani Fellowship, but I have not received any scholarship or any other kind of financial aid. Since it's a state university and the fees are already low compared to other universities, Binghamton doesn't give many scholarships to international students, but there can be some options or benefits that I might not have explored.
