What Students Say
Likes
- I really like the campus and the people surrounding me. Most of them mind their own business and are happy to help and engage with each other.
Dislikes
- Coming to dislikes, maybe the college tuition. I felt that it was really expensive, but since it's a private school; it's understandble
Course Curriculum
10
- Apparently, the department took initiatives in updating the course schedule to include courses related to using AI tools and how to build AI systems, starting from next year
- Yes, I did work as a Research Assistant last summer, and there are plenty of research opportunities on campus. For industrial exposure, it depends on the market fluctuations and how lucky you can get to an interview stage in the first place
- We get to choose our own classes. On average, you can expect to have around 2-3 classes a day, based on your class schedule. And they're typically anytime between 9 AM and 5 PM
- It depends on the course; on average, you can have around 30 - 40 students per class
Admission Experience
- I chose Rice University because it's apparently the highest ranked University in Texas. The admission process was pretty simple. I had to submit my transcripts and 3 Letters of Recommendation, and my standardized test scores as well. I chose the MCS program at Rice as it's a step further from my undergraduate degree in Computer Science, and I believed it was going to make me a strong candidate in the job market.
- I only wrote IELTS and scored band of 7.5 out of 9
Faculty
10
- The faculty-to-student ratio is around 6:1. They are very well versed, and they know what they're teaching. I had a good connection with my Professor Vaibhav Unhelkar; he really helped me a lot during my program
Campus Life
8
- We do have a lot of departments ranging from business, engineering, finance, etc. We do have good EC activities, and we have a certain website to book events and attend them if we're interested.
Part Time Jobs
- It depends on which part-time job you're referring to, but on average, it could be around 12 - 15 dollars per hour, and the process is pretty straightforward. We have an online portal where we just have to apply to the job posting in there, and email the Hiring Manager for that position, explaining our interest in the position.
- The maximum number of hours is 20 hrs per week. Some of them are pretty simple, and some of them could be difficult; it depends on the job position. Most of them do, we just have to email the professor under whom we want to work, and we'll have a short interview with them, and then they'll decide the outcome. Most of them get hired as a TA.
Placement
6
- For the past 2 years, it's been really unpredictable, as there have been incredible fluctuations in the market. So, it could be around 60-70 percent of the people for the past 2 years. But historically, the program has had good employment records ranging from 90 to 95 percent
- The average salary range starts from $100,000 per annum
- There's no campus recruitment, that's not how it works here. It's all about networking and making connections with people, and securing a job. Which is a tough part, especially when coming from India, where our institutions tie up with firms and shortlist students for interviews. Over here, it's all about your strategy.
Accommodation
Off Campus
8
- I pretty much asked people who already go to Rice from WhatsApp groups, basically asked them about the best apartments nearby, and then decided.
- And coming to the rent, it would be around $1000 per month if you're taking a room for yourself, including facilities like internet, trash, water, gym, pool, and all.
Exams
- GRE is optional; IELTS / TOEFL is required. For the admission process, we have to submit our transcripts, Statement of Purpose, Resume, and 3 Letters of Recommendation.
Fees
- The program is typically 3 semesters long. Some of them extend it to 4. But if you're planning for 3 semesters, the total cost could come around $70,000 - $75,000. If you're planning for 4 semesters, it could cost you a little around $100,000
