I was quite sure about the features I wanted in the program I wanted to apply for. The University of Florida piqued my interest because it had excellent research work being conducted in the field I was most interested in. It is of course a prestigious university while still being economic. It has very good connections with NASA as well which provides exceptional work and internship opportunities to students.
Course Curriculum
In my opinion, the curriculum is rigorous. The amount of workload may seem overwhelming at times, but it is for the good of learning in the best possible way.
Exams
The University of Florida requires the prospective student to take GRE and TOEFL or IELTS exams. My scores were as follows GRE -325 (AWA-5.5) TOEFL-109/120
Placement
According to my research, most students get placed right after college in good companies. Since the university is primarily research-centric, research opportunities are available in abundance. Major companies that recruit from UF MAE are Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Boeing, etc. NASA too directly recruits students for research from the department. Overall the opportunities are more than enough for anyone who is willing to put in the effort.
Internship
No, I am still in the first semester of my graduate degree.
Events
Well, I have been studying as an online student due to COVID-19. However, extracurricular activities are still available. There is a myriad of societies and clubs which are conducting online sessions which are both enjoyable and insightful.
Fees
The tuition fees actually vary as per the student's scholarship and stipend details. However, if there is absolutely no scholarship, the tuition fees would be around $11025 per semester, considering 9 credit hours.
Scholarship
Yes, I received the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Achievement Award Scholarship for ONCAMPUS, NON-FLORIDA RESIDENT New Engineering Graduate Students.
Faculty
The faculty in the department of Mechanical and Aerospace engineering is awesome to describe in a word. The professors are well-versed and know what they are doing. They are quite accessible outside classes and are extremely helpful. They are highly experienced with excellent credentials. They know how to make a student understand the most complex of problems via practical examples.
Hostel
I will be staying in an off-campus apartment for mainly two reasons. Number one is the extremely high cost of on-campus housing. Number two is that a maximum number of graduate students, especially Indian students, reside in a particular area of the town. Thus, off-campus housing would be a more suitable and economic option for me.
