What Students Say
Likes
- The location of the college is spectacular. Not just for the view but for making use of being close to New York City for any events, social life, networking etc
- The program that I was a part of did give an extremely unique experience and something I won't forget; the chance to study in Spain and learn about sports was fun
- We had the chance to take part in a lot of extra curricular activities which helped stay active in college and make new connections
Dislikes
- Coming from a technical background, the Business Intelligence & Analytics coursework was not challenging enough
- Too many international students (specifically Indian) reduced the diversity and exposure to different cultures one would hope to see at an international university
- Being a small college and having so many international students looking for on-campus employment, the struggle and chance of getting an on campus job was difficult
Colleges Where I Was Accepted
Reason for choosing my college
- I chose this college primarily due to the fact that I applied for the new dual degree program at Stevens: the MS in Business Intelligence & Analytics from Stevens alongside the Master's in Sports Technologies and Digital Transformation from Real Madrid Graduate School.
- The 2 schools had launched this course, partnering with each other in 2021 and since I wanted to try to work in the sports industry, I thought this would be my best way to get the skills and exposure required for that. The other colleges did not have such enticing programs for me personally (with respect to sport options).
Colleges Where I Was Rejected
Reason for Rejection
- My guess is that I did not have a strong enough academic profile to get into the Data Science programs at these colleges, as I came in with an average GPA in my undergrad and did not have any research publications or multiple years of relevant work experience.
Required Exams for Admission
Scholarship Received
Graduate Scholarship
USD$ 10,000
Required Documents For Admission
CV |
LOR |
SOP
Tips to enhance your application
- Make sure you have a genuine Statement of Purpose that is written carefully and crafted to tell your story and showcase your skills. CV should be professional, crisp, showcase skills and value and be formatted properly. LoRs should be from people who were important in your academic and professional journey
Admission Experience
- I chose the United States because it was always my dream to study and work there. I believe I had the best career opportunities for myself there, a cross between sports and analytics.
- I went to Stevens due to the program they had (MS in Business Intelligence & Analytics + Masters in Sports Technologies), which allowed me to explore and learn both sports and analytics. I thought it was extremely interesting and something I would enjoy learning. The fact that my close friend was already studying there and that the college was 20 minutes away from New York City were also big reasons why I went ahead with the course.
- My overall experience was a bit disappointing due to a number of reasons. Firstly (and this is more to do with me), I felt that the coursework I had was not challenging enough for me, as I came from a technical background but the coursework I had was mostly fundamental/foundational-level stuff that I had already studied or knew about. I feel that doing a Master's degree should push you and make you learn your chosen course in depth, which I did not get.
- Next, I feel that the college had admitted too many Indians and due to that, the "authentic American college experience," which I had hoped to get, was severely diluted. I also felt the cost of living in that area and the tuition were on the higher side. I did have a good time on many occasions though and I learned a few things as well. I feel there were a lot more opportunities for personal growth that I missed out on because I did not take enough initiative or due to lack of general awareness.
Class Schedule
7
- The class schedule depends on how many courses you have taken in the semester. Starting off, you usually have 3 or 4 courses in a semester and there is one class per course every week for 2.5 hours. You can take the class in the morning, afternoon or evening (9:30am-12pm, 3:30pm-6pm, 6:30pm-9pm) There were about 35 students in each class I had.
- Over 80% of the students were Indians. I would say that you should spend at least an hour or two every day on assignments, projects and self-study. Self-study is very important, not only to stay on top of the class but to make sure you have truly understood everything.
Faculty
8
- Most of the faculty are nice people, approachable and ready to help. You just have to be respectful and genuine in your efforts and they will help you. It's very difficult to get a job through the faculty because everyone is trying for that so you have to be extremely persistent and memorable to them but they do help out.
Campus Life
6
- There is one main campus (it's a pretty small college). We have a library, 2 gyms, a swimming pool, a soccer/lacrosse field and 3 basketball courts along with other sport facilities. There are a lot of clubs that you can join and each of the clubs looks to host 2-3 events per year so there are definitely things to attend if you know where to look.
Part Time Jobs
- Indian students work wherever they get an opportunity. Although everyone prefers a TA or RA job, since the classes are limited, students will work in dining, library, administration buildings, the front office, etc. It is difficult to get jobs. You have to apply online through the workday portal on any opening but that is a mere formality. The only way you can actually get a job is if you network with professors, faculty and staff and make sure they have your name in mind when there is an opening.
- The pay for the TA jobs is minimum wage ($15/hr), as is the pay for most of the on-campus jobs. Some RA jobs are $20/hr. It is not easy to get an on-campus job; you have to try for a while, keep pestering people and follow up with teachers. It also helps if you get a head start on people by starting your search early and if you know someone who is already working and can refer you. You can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and 35 hours per week in the summer break.
Placement
4
- Since the US job market has been historically difficult the past year or two, students have faced a lot of difficulties finding a job, and Stevens, being a relatively lesser-known college with a weak alumni network, does not help in this regard.
- The career fairs are also largely disappointing, mostly because the companies that come usually don't hire international students and there are so many students in line that you don't get a chance to attend many of the talks or visit all the desks. It is up to us to find a job by cold applying on job portal sites, by getting referrals from people and applying internally, by having our resume passed on to the hiring manager and by networking. Networking is the most important skill to learn.
Accommodation
Off Campus
5
- Firstly, reach out to people who you know living in that area; they will help. Then join as many whatsapp, facebook and telegram groups as you can that are dedicated to housing. You can also check sites like zillow and apartments.com to look for rentals It is a challenge to find accommodation so you have to be patient and you can't start at the 11th hour.
