The following are the main the University of Virginia factors: - Ranking - Renowned Professors in my field I wanted to work with - Tuition fees - TA opportunities - Cost of living - Placements - Weather
Course Curriculum
The course curriculum is very updated and relevant to developments in my field. I was more inclined towards industry but there are ample opportunities for both industrial exposure and research experience.
Exams
My GRE score is 152 in Verbal, 160 in Quant, and 3.5 in Writing; my TOEFL scores are 102/120. There is no minimum score requirement listed on UVA's website.
Placement
There is no concept of placement in the US. We have career fairs where you meet employers and then apply for jobs. The package varies greatly by location. But the average package is $90k-100k
Internship
I did an internship with a startup. Paid $25/hr. I applied through handshake (job portal) and cleared 2 rounds of interview.
Events
The campus life is great and the accommodation is comfortable and well maintained. Lots of events are happening regularly but in my case due to covid we didn't have many events in person. But we had a lot of virtual events.
Fees
It's about $16k/semester. And people usually complete the course in 3 semesters.
Scholarship
Scholarship 2000 dollars for the course. It was based on my application, I didn't apply for it explicitly.
Faculty
The faculty-to-student ratio varies from class to class. I have been a part of classes ranging from 110 to 10 students. The faculty and staff are very helpful and resourceful. They are very accessible and have regular office hours. And very responsive on email too. Brad Campbell, who took the OS class, really made a lasting impression on me.
Hostel
There are two options available on the field and both cost almost the same off the field. Grounds typically cost $620-$660/month. Off-ground is almost in the same range.