Reviewed on Jan 28, 2025(Enrolled 2024)
What Students Say
Likes
- The course structure is very detailed and requires understanding of core principles and real-life application. This is what I find is lacking in Indian system of education where more emphasis is given to memorization.
- The classrooms are well equipped with audio-visual system, live recording and noise cancellation features along with a tiered seating arrangement. This setup ensures that everyone has an unobstructed view of the front.
- The labs are equipped with the latest tools to perform research. There is no pressure of getting positive results, rather, emphasis is given on learning how to do research and think out of the box. The resources are available in plenty, and it is absolutely fine if you have to waste resources just for the sake of learning in the initial phase.
Dislikes
- The exams are very frequent, almost every month.
- Vegetarian options are fewer in the college canteen.
- They do not have free bicycles for students to move around in the campus. The price is not affordable for international students.
Course Curriculum
10
- My course curriculum was more practical. I feel it is difficult to score well if you do not have interest in the course. Without understanding concepts, getting an A grade is impossible. Memorization does not help anymore. The biostatistics assignments are given as 'take-home'. So, using AI tools is allowed which makes sense because everyone uses AI at work.
- In my opinion, they have a good balance of theory lectures and lab work.
- We are allowed to take credits as per our will and we could also take breaks or do internships for 6 months because it is not mandatory to complete the program at a stretch. I do not see anything negative till now.
Admission Experience
- I applied to 9 different colleges. They are as follows:
- University of Minnesota,
- University of Pittsburgh,
- Oregon State University,
- University of Cincinnati,
- University of Georgia
- Wayne State University,
- Virginia Commonwealth University,
- University of Buffalo,
- University of Kansas
- I got admit only from the last four universities mentioned in the list. I believe that University of Minnesota and University of Pittsburgh require higher CGPA for admission so I could not get an admission. University of Georgia did not have enough seats for the program I wanted but they offered me an option to apply for another program.
- I wanted to do research preferably on cancer since I was interning in Tata Memorial Hospital in India. Out of the four colleges, only VCU gave me the opportunity to work under a professor working in cancer research. All other colleges were working in the field of neuroscience. Moreover, I had my senior in VCU who gave very positive feedback.
- I applied to VCU on January 04, 2024, and I got a mail requesting for an interview in the month of March. Within a few weeks after the interview, I got my offer letter.
- The eligibility criteria were a degree in related field, IELTS score of 7 or above, no GRE required and CGPA of 3 and above.
- In my opinion, the admission process was smooth except that they reached out to me during March end which was after two months I applied. The interview was fine, but I was asked about my low grades in Semester 06.
- I applied for Fall 2024 intake.
- 15 January - application deadline. I applied on 4 January
- March - interview. I got a mail for interview on 15 March. I gave interview on 26 March.
- April - offer letter. I got the offer letter on 17 April. So, the admission process took almost 3.5 months. After I confirmed my seat, they sent me a form for my details and then I got the I-20 document.
Class Schedule
10
- There are 1-2 classes in a day. My classes start in the noon and go till the evening.
- I have to go to the lab in the morning. I had Biochemistry every day from 1:00 to 2:00 and Biostatistics from 4:00 to 5:00 every Tuesday and Thursday.
- I had to attend seminars that are held on Mondays and Tuesdays from 12 to 1.
- Average number of students in my program are 40. There are 3 other Indian students enrolled in the program.
- Mostly there are Americans in this program.
Faculty
10
- Faculty-to-student ratio is 1:3. This ensures that every student gets adequate opportunity to work on various techniques in the lab and the resources are available. No faculty member is overburdened with students so that they are able to give enough attention to every student. I think the way they teach is based on their experience as a researcher.
- One course is taught by more than two faculty members because experts come to deliver lecture on a particular topic in a course. this makes the course very relevant to the current research that is going in the world.
- .Generally, faculty do not assist in securing a job. However, sometimes they give part time job as a student worker in the lab itself. My professor is a very good faculty, so he offered me the option to work as a part time student worker in the lab instead of working in restaurants and other areas in the campus.
- I have not had interaction with many faculties since I have just started the program. But I liked Dr. Sato Bigbee. She taught carbohydrates topic. Her way of teaching is very light and humorous.
Campus Life
10
- We have two campus- MCV Campus and Monroe Park Campus.
- The Monroe Park campus is a bigger campus and has a bigger gym and library.
- There are weeks of welcome from August 20 to September 10 which have a lot of fun events and fairs for students to know other students and collect some free gifts and food.
- There is also a departmental get together every month. There are activities like hiking, apple picking organized by VCU.
- There are a lot of basketball and volleyball matches happening every month against other universities
Part Time Jobs
- I think TA or RA or DA positions are only available for Ph.D students. If you work part time in the campus, then you get 16 USD for an hour and you can work 20 hours a week on an F-1 visa.
- It has become a bit difficult to get a part time job recently because many students are available for working. You could also work in your lab, just like me, if your advisor is good.
- If you work part time in the campus, then you get 16 USD for an hour and you can work 20 hours a week on an F-1 visa.
- You have to give an interview and you will be hired. There is no need of any resume or other documents.
- The notice for the interview is displayed in the Student Commons, which is a big building where a lot of activities stake place.
Placement
8
- I have no idea about this since I have just started the program. Mostly, in my field, students do a Ph.D after MS and then find a job.
- Usually, there are internship opportunities available during the program which help to make new connections and expand your network. But VCU is known for its medical education so the job prospects should be good.
- There is a Handshake portal which sends updates about job openings every other week.
Accommodation
Off Campus
8
- I live off-campus. I had my senior who is in VCU. So, he helped me get an apartment which is just 10 min from the campus.
- The monthly rent is 1400 USD which includes wifi. We pay additional amount for electricity, water, trash and insurance.
- We are four in total, and it is a 2-bedroom 2 bathroom. I had no challenges in securing an accommodation since my senior was already in VCU.
- Most Indian students stay in such apartments unless they are in an exchange program which compels them to stay in VCU dorms with a rent of 900 USD per person excluding food.
Exams
- IELTS or TOEFL is required.
- Other documents- SoP, 3 LoRs, Resume, transcripts
- I was interviewed by the professor whose name I had mentioned in my SoP. He asked me some basic questions related to my undergrad and my internship. He asked me the reason for low grades in Biopharmaceutics and medicinal Chemistry. Then he asked me about my future goals. later, he explained what they do in their lab and what should I expect in VCU.
Fees
- The fee for every semester is around 17,000 USD. The fee is charged in Fall semester, spring semester and summer.
- My monthly expenses are as follows: 450 USD rent, 60 USD groceries, only 50 USD for transportation (since we have free transportation in Richmond), 50 USD for personal care and around 70 USD for outing.
- I do not live in a hostel, but I live very close to the university, in an apartment, which saves my time and money, and I cook food at home, so I do not have to invest in the canteen every day.
Scholarship
- There are no scholarships available for my course, but we can do part time for 20 hours a week with a pay of 16 USD an hour.
- I am doing a part time job in my lab as a student worker.
- I get paid for the same as 16 USD/ hour.
- None of my batchmates have received any scholarship previously.
