I chose this College because of scholarship and funding. Secondly because of reputation and faculty expertise. I had a really positive experience at the university. Graduate degrees are hard work and one hardly gets time to engage in other activities. However, UofL had many social groups that were very active and welcoming which made me enjoy my journey holistically. Louisville is also a great town to enjoy different cuisines and thankfully I got the opportunity to try some of them, even though my budget was limited.
Course Curriculum :
The course is extremely rigorous and prepares a student well for a career in academia. The modules deal with current happenings in the industry and give a solid theoretical understanding of it. The faculty guidance and mentorship I received was extremely helpful in presenting my research at various national and international conferences.
Exams :
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 in Master’s and GRE score of above 310. My score was 317 (169 Q and 148 verbal) Writing 5.0 - Interview Round: I had three rounds of interviews from a panel of professors in the program. They all asked a variety of questions regarding my interest, career plan, research area, and why I chose USA and Louisville. Besides that they also asked a little about professional career and experience and how it helped me grow individually. - Requirements: Yes, I submitted a SoP and three letters of recommendations from academic and professional sources. In my SoP I included my research interest and my future plans to continue in academia.
Placement :
The placements in my program is 100%. All PhD students get at least a temporary job initially and then can lead to a full time position within two years.
Internship :
No I did not need one.
Fees :
For PhD students, there is a full tuition waiver available if you’re granted scholarship and GA/TA.
Scholarship :
I received full tuition waiver and $1500 monthly stipend as GA
Faculty :
The faculty student ratio in my program is 3:1. The faculty are extremely proficient and very welcoming to international students. In fact my cohort had almost 50% of students from other countries. They are always eager to have a conversation with the students and want to contribute towards their learning experience. They also encourage students to undertake research projects within the first few months of students joining the program.
Campus Life :
Louisville is a mid-size town and the university is one of the bright spots in the city. There are plenty of extra curricular activities happening year round. Campus has many social groups, a modern gym, great facilities to play sports or walk around and a beautiful library which has many individual rooms for personal sessions. The Wi-Fi is never down and has a very good speed. In addition, the faculties inside the department are also modernized with the most updated technology available inside the classroom.
Hostel :
There are student housing options available around the campus. The average cost of rent is $700 for a three bedroom apartment including utilities. The apartment is fully furnished and has a fridge, gas stove, washer and dryer, Wi-Fi and TV with cable.
