Dr Raju’s Expert CommentsOn US University Data Base
Hi Dear Students,
I am here with presenting you some valuable information about US Engineering Schools. Of course, this information has been extracted from a world renowned website. I strongly feel that the following information will be immensely helpful for those who are aspiring for MS/PhD programs in reputed US Universities.
HOW TO GO ABOUT THEM?????
The list is given in alphabetical order.
When you choose a particular field (viz., CSE. Mech) select universities of your own choice and place the University information columns side by side and assess your self where you feel fit.
Give particular importance to the following factors.
Selectivity Rate: This is very important factor. I prefer this factor rather than ranking of a particular university.
An Example:University of Southern California (Viterbi) (CA) is ranked 7th. Its selectivity rate is around 49 %. University of Connecticut, Storrs which has no rank at all has a selectivity rate of about 28 %.I have seen the people with pretty average GRE scores (1100 & GPA 3.2) getting admitted in USC. I have also seen the people who have got about 1400 GRE score getting rejected in University of Connecticut. Though Ivy League schools (Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, and UPENN) are ranked less in engineering stream but the admission criteria they adopt is very difficult and sometimes even tougher than MIT.
Average GRE verbal score: For most of the universities the average verbal score would be pretty high: don’t get disheartened; Indians and other Asian country students generally get less verbal score. One can still apply even one’s score falls below the average GRE verbal score.
Average GRE Quant score: The idea given in the previous one is reversed as Indians and other Asian country students generally have very good quant score.
Average AWA Quant score: If you are MS aspirant (Not PhD) most of the Universities generally will not bother about the AWA score. Be cautious; some universities esp., highly reputed (Not highly ranked) universities insist on good AWA score.
TOEFL Score: Of course you got to meet minimum requirements which are university specific. Some universities do admit students with less TOEFL score than the quoted one; but one has to take additional courses in English once you reach US and it is going to be a costly affair.
*If you cross beyond 100iBT score you may be considered for TA positions.
Average Undergraduate GPA: You got to meet the minimum requirements specified by the University and if it is a good university obviously your GPA has to exceed the average GPA. If you have pretty high GRE score then there are exceptions that you can have less GPA.
*(Leave aside the top tier such as MIT et al)These days the II tier and even III tier Universities are giving lot of importance to undergraduate GPA. My experience is such that GRE scores and GPA have got equal wieghtage .
Tuition Fees: You have to consider Out of station tuition fee rather than In –State tuition fee (Which is only for US State residents). If you get an assistantship they generally waive some part of the out of state tuition fee (*you may have to pay In-State tuition fee in such cases).
If it is given on credit hour basis just multiply that amount by 30 to arrive at total cost for your MS. Most of the universities give MS if you complete 30 credit hours. Of course there are exceptions. Sometimes you got to go beyond 30 credit hours and in very exceptional cases it is going to be 48 credit hours.
Generally in many I-20s they quote tuition fee for 9 months. That means they calculate “out of state tuition” fee for 18 credit hours (As a full time student one has to complete 9 Credit Hrs per each Semester).
Research Expenditure Spent by The University: The more they spent on research the better the University’s reputation. Notwithstanding on the above comment, you may get better funding chances if the research expenditure is more.
Teaching/Research Assistant Ships: This data base is very useful in assessing the funding chances about a particular branch. Database is mentioned on department basis. It gives an idea about a particular department. More TA/RA’s are offered in a particular department indicates the reputation of the branch in terms of research activities.
MY Last Take:* If you get a high GRE score ….don’t be too euphoric about applying to only top ranked universities (MIT generally doesn’t really bother about your GRE score). I have seen some people who have 1500 GRE score with no I-20 in their hand. Top ranked universities are generally reserved for IIT’s and other highly reputed undergraduate schools in India. They generally prefer PhD admission rather than MS admissions.
Select 6 universities; 2 risk; 2 medium ranged and 2 low profile universities with good funding reputation.
Hope this information is pretty useful and if you have any questions/comments leave your messages in my forum given in my website or in my Orkut community.
You are requested to post/send similar articles to help the student community. I am also extremely sorry if you find any grammatical mistakes as I am not pretty good in English. But you know still I could score 700 in GRE Verbal. Unconventionality always prevails in life if it is used in an organized manner.
