Life at Illinois Institute of Technology as an International Graduate Student

I initially received admission with a free seat in the Management Information Systems program at the University of Illinois Chicago. However, due to some unexpected issues involving third-party processes that were beyond my control, I decided to enroll at Illinois Institute of Technology instead. Illinois Institute of Technology offers a program with a similar academic structure and focus, and being located in Chicago was an important factor for me because of the strong professional opportunities and industry exposure available in the city. The curriculum’s balance between technical and management-oriented courses aligns well with my career goals. Overall, my experience has been positive. The academic environment is practical and career-focused, and the university provides good opportunities for professional growth. Despite the change in plans, choosing this university has been a valuable and rewarding decision. This experience also taught me the importance of carefully evaluating and researching any third-party involvement in academic decisions. Since choosing a university is a life-changing decision, it is essential to thoroughly review all processes and make informed choices. For admission to Illinois Institute of Technology, the key requirements included the following: English Language Proficiency Test Test: IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo (depending on what you submitted) Required Score: IELTS: Typically 6.5 overall (or equivalent) TOEFL iBT: Typically 79–80+ overall (These are the general benchmarks for international applicants — actual requirements may vary slightly by program.) My Score: GRE- 318, TOEFL-108...Read More

Great faculty with immense experience Flexible course selection Access to industrial-grade equipment and training My scores - GRE 320, IELTS 7.0, Undergrad CGPA 8.1...Read More

I chose Illinois Institute of Technology because of its strong emphasis on STEM education, applied learning, and industry relevance. The Master of Applied Science in Food Safety and Technology aligned closely with my academic background and career goals, offering hands-on coursework, research exposure, and a curriculum focused on real-world food safety challenges. The admission process was clear and merit-based, with transparent requirements and timely communication, which gave me confidence in the institution. I was also drawn to the location in Chicago, which provides excellent opportunities for internships, industry networking, and professional growth. Overall, my experience at Illinois Tech has been challenging yet rewarding. I value the small class sizes, supportive faculty, practical labs, and diverse student community, all of which have helped me develop strong technical skills and industry readiness in food safety and quality. Bachelor’s Degree: Required — Min GPA 3.0/4.0 GRE: Optional (Master’s) — submitted if strong TOEFL iBT: ? 80 IELTS Academic: ? 7 Supporting Documents: Transcripts, SOP, LORs, Resume...Read More

I chose this college because of 2 reason. No other college accepted me other than Seattle University. They gave me a scholarship of 10000 USD, too. My scores: GRE: WAS AROUN 140 I guess IELTS WAS 7 OR 6.5...Read More

I applied to around 6 colleges, not too many but enough for options The colleges were: IIT Chicago, DePaul, UIC, Syracuse, NEU, and the University of Cincinnati status was mixed… IIT got admitted, Depaul also admitted, and UIC waitlisted me Syracuse rejected, NEU also rejected, Cincinnati waitlisted confirmed admissions I got from IIT Chicago and DePaul only Yes, I got rejections from Syracuse and NEU Honestly, I think maybe my profile was not super strong for them, or maybe the competition was too high that year Also, my SOP may not have been that great. I wrote in a hurry, so it didn't sound very strong My GPA is also not very high compared to top applicants, so that could be one reason Maybe I applied a bit late, so my chances also got affected I think I could have shown more projects or work experience in my resume Also, recommendation letters were ok-ok, not very impressive Maybe I didn't highlight my achievements properly, so they didn't see my full potential Overall, I feel it was a combination of timing, competition, and not the best documents Next time I would prepare earlier and make the application more strong and clearer I chose this college mainly because the course structure looked more practical and kind of matched what I wanted to study Also, Chicago is a big city with more job opportunities, which also influenced my decision a lot I had admission from Depaul, too, but IIT felt more technically focused, Depaul was more business side IIT also gave me a bit faster response, and overall I felt more comfortable with their program detail. The admission process was simple but a little confusing at some points… first, I submitted an online application, then uploaded all the documents, then waited for 3–4 weeks After that, they asked for financial docs, and then finally, I got the admit mail  The eligibility criteria were normal… they accept IELTS, TOEFL, and some accept Duolingo too minimum score they wanted was around 6.5 in IELTS (no band less than 6), TOEFL around 80+, I think the GPA requirement is not mentioned as strict, but better to have above average Overall admission experience was fine, but communication was sometimes slow, and I had to email two–three times for the same question The highlight was getting the admit email. It felt good after waiting so long The challenge for me was uploading all documents because the portal sometimes did not load properly But still, overall I would say the process was manageable, just need patience I also liked that they didn't ask for the GRE, so that also saved my time Final decision I took because the fee was a little affordable compared to others, and the program looked solid I applied for the Fall 2023 intake, mainly because fall has more course options and also a better chance for internships later Also, many of my friends were applying for the fall, so I also decided same, felt more safer option for me The admission process took around 4–6 weeks total, but it honestly felt longer because the waiting time was too much My timeline was something like this: I submitted my application in February 2023, with all documents except financials Around 2 weeks later, I got an email saying my application is under review Then, after around 3rd week, they asked for some extra documents, like a bank statement After submitting those, again I waited around 10–12 more days Finally, in mid-March 2023, I got my acceptance.  The whole process from application to admission took roughly 1 month and some days, but communication was a little slow One challenge was that the portal was not updating properly, so I was not sure if my docs were uploaded correctly But overall Fall intake made more sense for job timing and course planning, so I went with it If I applied for Spring, maybe I wouldn't get so many subject choices...Read More

Rejected from the following colleges- SUNY Buffalo Northeastern University (Boston) Boston University San Jose State University Accepted these colleges- Illinois Institute of Technology (Confirmed admissions) Pace University(Confirmed admissions) University of Bridgeport(Confirmed admissions) Lawrence Technological University(Confirmed admissions) DePaul University(Confirmed admissions) University of New Haven Long Island University A possible reason for rejection is because higher competition. There is no other reason I can think of. IIT College is in Chicago City (my preference), and the professor's research area resonates with my research interests. They give lots of scholarships and a big indian community, and on a lighter note, the name gives me a feel of Indian Institute of Technology :). Lol!. I applied there by requesting an application fee waiver. The admission coordinator was prompt. I got my queries cleared, filled all the forms required by the college, and got acceptance within 21 days. You just need to pay a 300$ confirmation fee. The college also organised an orientation in my home city, Kolkata itself, and that was just for 4 incoming students. IELTS 6.0 and above, NO GRE, GMAT, SAT bar constraints, relevant bachelor's courses, and a good SOP, that's what you need. Please mention the accepted exams (e.g., SAT, GMAT, IELTS) and the minimum scores required for each. The admission Process was really smooth. As I mentioned, the admission coordinator and the grad admission office helped me with each query. Student health ensured, I'm all vaccinated. The academic advisor guided me on the best courses I should enroll in each semester. Professors cleared doubts in their office hours. The only challenges are the problems given in the assignments, oh, they are so top-notch and grinding. I applied to the 2023 Fall intake. As I mentioned, I have a connection with Chicago as my client during my office days was from here. I get the best research professors who match my interest area. Dec 7th- Requested Application waiver. Dec 12th - Application waiver request approved. Dec 21st - Applied Jan 21st- Got acceptance Jan 28th- Final confirmation It took less than 2 months for me....Read More

I applied to five universities for the Information Systems programme: Northeastern University, Syracuse University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Pace University, and DePaul University. While I was waitlisted at Syracuse University due to a deferral to the next fall intake, I received admission offers from the other four universities. I choose to go with the Illinois Institute of Technology. I chose Illinois Institute of Technology because they had courses in which I wanted to learn deeply, and they gave scholarships to students who got a 3.8 gpa higher during their bachelor's, so I was one of them. Admission process was simple, as I applied in mid march my application fee was waived due to women's day. The documents needed were academic transcripts of bachelors, a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation from 3 professors/managers and a scholar report. Eligibility criteria were 94 marks in toefl, 120 and above for duolingo and gre was waived off. I gave duolingo exam and scored 145/160 marks. If I have to describe my overall experience, it was smooth because I was in touch with campus advisor Ryan Nelson, who helped me with all doubts and supported throughout the application. I applied to the fall intake as I graduated with my bachelor's degree in May 2023 and i dont want to have any career gaps so went with the fall decision. I started applying in March and gave my exam in december and the application process took 2 months for me, from March to May and in June I scheduled my visa interview immediately after I received my admission in mid-May....Read More

I chose this university because of its strong academic reputation, particularly in computer science, and its specialised courses like big data technologies and machine learning, which align with my career goals. Apart from that, the campus is modern, and student organisations have allowed me to develop both personally and professionally. Overall, IIT offers the perfect balance of quality education and hands-on learning....Read More

I enrolled in this university as this was a private university and had a rank of 23 all over the world in the field of computer science. My overall experience with the university was pretty good and I got to learn new technologies and new subjects....Read More

I chose this institute because of great research potential, good professor reviews, were accepting a switch from ece to cs. I had a fantastic experience overall. The professors were excellent, and I learned a great deal from them. I had the chance to work on my research, which was a valuable opportunity, and I also made important connections at various networking events. All in all, it was a very productive and enriching time....Read More