Kavya Negi Review at Arizona State University [ASU], Tempe | Collegedunia

My Master's at Arizona State University Review

9.0
Verified Review (Out of 10)
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Academic
8.0
Accommodation
8.0
Faculty
10.0
Infrastructure
10.0
Social Life
10.0
Placement
8.0

Student's Snapshots

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Course Curriculum

8

  • The course curriculum is quite easy to follow. It’s more practical and less theoretical, which I consider the best part. You also get to interact with a diverse group of students.
  • One of the positive aspects is the wide variety of courses offered. Since my domain (User Experience) is broad, I had the opportunity to take many relevant classes—including some focused on AI and aligned with current market trends.
  • The class schedule is manageable; it usually depends on the semester, but at most, I had two classes per day.
  • The average class size is fairly balanced. There are a good number of Indian students, but I also had classes with American students and people from other countries as well.

Admission Experience

  • I applied for the following universities:
    • DePaul University: Admitted
    • Kingston University: Admitted
    • Arizona State University: Admitted
  • I was fortunate to receive admissions from institutions like DePaul University, Kingston University, and Arizona State University—where I ultimately confirmed my admission—there were a few universities that did not accept my application because of the Spring intake! Most of the universities accepted Fall intake! Hence the rejection!
  • It was like an American dream! Since childhood I always wanted to study abroad once in my lifetime! I wanted to get into ASU as it closely aligned with my academic interests and career goals.
  • Admission process was smooth! It was a bit tricky to understand the student portal and to navigate through since I was back in India! After asking seniors and taking help, I was able to figure out the portal and then paid the fees with the help of my bank manager! It was very straightforward.
  • The eligibility criteria: I gave IELTS with a band score of 7, and due to covid, the GRE was waived off!
  • Spring Intake 2023: I was working full time and needed an experience of 1.5 or 2 years before coming to study abroad! Since experience helps a bit!
  • The admission process took around two months, including receiving the admit letter and completing all the required formalities. First, I received the offer letter, and then I began exploring different banks for an education loan—comparing interest rates and doing thorough research.
  • After evaluating my options, I decided to proceed with ICICI Bank. I then submitted all the necessary documents and detailed information required by both the bank and ASU. Overall, it took approximately two months to complete the entire process.

Faculty

10

  • In my course (User Experience at ASU), the faculty-to-student ratio is quite reasonable—typically around 1:35 to 1:40, depending on the specific class.
  • Because the class sizes aren’t overly large, it becomes easier to ask questions, receive personalised feedback, and engage one-on-one with the professors.
  • The teaching methodology is very practical, as I mentioned.
  • No, not really! The professors don't assist students in finding part-time jobs; they might guide with the portfolio and resume building but nothing more than that.
  • The best class I had was with Professor Jamie Gorman. We worked on designing drone interfaces, which was absolutely fascinating—I really enjoyed it! The weekly updates on our group project and the overall workflow were phenomenal.

Campus Life

10

  • Arizona State University has four campuses. Tempe is the main and largest campus. Then there’s the Polytechnic campus located in Mesa, the Downtown campus in Phoenix, and the West Valley campus.
  • The Hayden Library at Tempe is the biggest and one of the best. There are two gyms on the Tempe campus and a health services centre on each campus. You can easily book appointments online.
  • Campus events happen every week — often with free food and beverages. There are also festivals and concerts featuring popular artists. Last time, Steve Aoki performed!

Part Time Jobs

  • I think only a small number of students get Teaching Assistant (TA) or Research Assistant (RA) positions. These roles usually go to candidates with prior experience rather than freshers. The pay is generally higher compared to other on-campus jobs — around $20 per hour.
  • Other common on-campus jobs include desk jobs, office aide, multimedia aide, support aide, roles in specific academic domains, survey assistant positions, and more.
  • For international students, we’re allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and up to 40 hours per week during summer breaks. It’s definitely not easy to secure a position, but if you work hard and have relevant experience, you have a good chance of getting hired.
  • The online student portal is the primary way to apply for on-campus jobs, although sometimes reaching out directly to professors can help, especially for research-based positions. Most students earn between $14 and $16 per hour, depending on the job profile. There’s a lot of competition due to the large number of students at the university, but having relevant experience helps you stand out. Typically, you need to fill out an application along with a resume and a letter of recommendation (LOR). If shortlisted, you’ll receive an email inviting you for an interview.

Placement

8

  • The recession has impacted the job market significantly — the current U.S. job market is quite tight, and there are no guarantees when it comes to securing a position. The best you can do is build strong connections, apply proactively through platforms like LinkedIn, ask for referrals, and attend job fairs and networking events.
  • Average salary ranges vary by domain. For example, in computer science, starting salaries typically range from $60,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on the role and company.
  • Most job opportunities are found through LinkedIn or personal networks. Companies like Amazon used to hire in bulk, but that trend has slowed in the current market.

Accommodation

Off Campus
8

  • I live off-campus, very close to the university. A friend recommended a WhatsApp group where people post accommodation listings. I found my place through that group. The monthly rent is $350, and the facilities include access to a pool and nearby laundry rooms—that’s pretty much it.
  • One of the challenges I faced was not being able to view the place in person, as I had to secure accommodation before arriving in the U.S. Fortunately, my apartment is very close to campus, and there are free shuttle buses for students, which makes commuting easy.

Exams

  • IELTS or GRE are generally required if you're applying for a master's program. For bachelor's programs, the requirements usually include TOEFL/IELTS and the SAT.
  • Since my major is User Experience, the application also required a mandatory portfolio, a Statement of Purpose (SOP), Letters of Recommendation (LOR), and a resume.
  • No interview part for my application process!

Fees

  • Talking about the breakdown of the fee structure is a bit wonky, but I will try explaining it here.
  • First is the Tuition GR International fees for about $14,445
  • Program Tui GR Polytechnic School for $450
  • Student Health insurance $1045
  • International student fee: $200
  • Student Initiated fees $373
  • Graduate academic support fee: $140
  • Total $16653
  • Regarding the rent, I live off campus, paying $350-400$ for rent and utilities altogether.

Scholarship

  • I didn't receive any kind of scholarship for my course.
  • A few of my batchmates received the scholarship because they enrolled in the fall intake. The required GPA for eligibility changes each year, and when I applied, the minimum GPA needed was above 8.5.
  • The typical award amount is $2000 or sometimes even $4000 waived off the fees or even more; it totally depends on the GPA.