Jump to content

fangsout

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    41

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by fangsout

    funding problem

    in Computer Science

    Posted

    UNC admitted me without guaranteed funding. On my own, I found an RA and thought my problem was solved. Apparently, I may not get my tuition waived, even though I have an RA position secured. In the past, all students without "guaranteed funding" have still had their tuition waived if they possessed an assistantship. This semester, NO student received a tuition waiver unless they were in the "guaranteed funding" category. If I don't get my tuition waived, I will have to pay $11,000 per semester. As soon as I pass quals, my status will change to "guaranteed funding". I have full funding at UVA and although I prefer UNC, I am considering going to UVA because it seems silly to pay for a PhD in CS, when it's not even guaranteed that I'll get a job making any more money than I do now with a masters. Are any other schools dealing with this? I have never heard of a situation where a student can have an assistantship but still have to pay tuition?!?

    Can I Salvage A Poor Undergrad GPA?

    in Computer Science

    Posted

    I can only speak from an American perspective but it may be similar in other countries. You absolutely can make up for a poor undergrad gpa. In no particular order:

    - Take relevant CS and Math classes as a non-degree seeking student at the nearest college or a certificate program over distance learning at a decent school.

    - look for internships and apply to 100's of positions for jobs/projects that would give you valuable experience and take, if you can, the best opportunity you get regardless of location.

    - seriously study for and take the CS GRE.

    - contact professors, after thoroughly reading their papers, that are working on projects you find interesting and ask questions to try to figure out what specific topic or problem area you may be interested in.

    funding vs. reputation of department

    in Computer Science

    Posted

    I'm looking for opinions about my situation. My interests lie in parallel programming/computer graphics.

    I have the following 3 offers:

    1. UVA (TA award)

    2. UNC (RA guaranteed for 1 year, the rest pending grant proposals)

    3. NC State ( guaranteed RA for 4.5 years to work on massive nuclear engineering project at ORNL, and set myself up nicely for job at ORNL working in computational NE)

    UVA:

    pro: is 28th and has a small department with a respected group in gpu architecture and hetero-computing.

    con: not highly regarded in general for CS and if I don't enjoy working in the gpu arch group, then my options are limited.

    UNC:

    pro: 20th and is well respected for graphics and gpu stuff, many research options, and there are lots of jobs in the Research Triangle.

    con: Only guaranteed funding for 1 year

    NC State:

    pro: has a top 10 NE dept that I would be working closely with and is also in the RTP area. guaranteed funding for school and could focus on research from start. Could directly result in good job at ORNL.

    con: wouldn't get a Nuc E degree so no NE jobs, not a pure CS focus so CS research jobs may not be impressed. I would possibly be pigeon-holing myself into HPC Nuclear Software on Supercomputers.

    Sorry for the brain dump, but I'm stressing over this. Any opinions on how much weight I should give to guaranteed funding, versus department reputation? Thanks in advance.

    Knoxville, TN

    in City Guide

    Posted

    Bump!

    I'm currently weighing offers and heavily leaning toward University of Tennessee. Unforunately, it's unlikely I'll be able to visit the area anytime before the fall, because I'm currently in Japan, and it would just be too expensive, especially right before the big move this fall. I'm trying to figure out a decent area to live in, preferably within biking distance to campus (though I would have a car for shopping / non-academic adventures, etc). Based on the comments on this thread I'm looking at places a little north of downtown and directly south of the university / river.

    My question is - as far as the south side goes, how are the bridges that cross over for pedestrians and bikers? I tried checking google maps but I can't tell from the satellite images whether or not there are bike lanes / sidewalks on either the Henley St. / Chapman Hwy bridge or the S. Gay St. bridge. Is this a safe commute for bikers?

    Thanks!

    First off, I hope you are safe and sound after the earthquake last night! such a tragedy.

    Anyways, I just finished my MS at UT and am now working in the area. I would check www.rentutk.com for nice rentals close to campus. Renaissance 1 condos and Sullins Ridge Condos are nice and safe and very close to campus. message me what you are looking for and I can talk to the realtor that manages a ton of units close to campus.

    To answer your question in a more general sense, Fort Sanders is as close to campus as you can get but it suffers from occasional burglary. I lived in Fort Sanders last year and never saw a single crime. Basically, you don't want to live in one of the massive old homes because they are least secure. I would not live in south knoxville if you are going to bike to school. henley bridge is currently closed for construction and I don't think it will be done by fall. If you don't mind a 10 min. commute, then west knoxville is really nice and also north knoxville is cheap and safe.

    Anyone heard from UVA or Ohio State PhD?

    in Computer Science

    Posted

    I would look at how well the research projects at each school fit my interests. Also, which school has more professors working on interesting things, in case a professor cannot fund you. As for comparing extra-curricular stuff, OSU is a HUGE state school with great athletics, whereas UVA is a more selective state school that prides itself on being a "public ivy". Very different feel on each campus. Weather is colder at OSU, and UVA is close to the Blue Ridge Mountains for hiking and skiing.

    Anyone heard from UVA or Ohio State PhD?

    in Computer Science

    Posted

    Thanks fangsout, Your information is very helpful. Actually I am very nervous at this moment. I have heard that they admit people as late as june, but being a foreign student it will be a problem due to visa issues. Do you know anything more that will be useful for me?

    I'm sorry but I don't know anything else. My approach has always been to try to find a professor that I can communicate with and have similar interests, and then apply to the schools where I've found professors that seem interested in me. After applying, you're kind of stuck until you get admitted. After getting admitted I then focus on finding a research assistantship by contacting the professors that I previously mentioned. If I were in your shoes, I would try,it's tough I know, to not get too worried and maybe contact departments once per month to see where you stand.

    Anyone heard from UVA or Ohio State PhD?

    in Computer Science

    Posted

    can you tell me that your acceptance mail came from the professor or the department? were you in contact with the POI or some professor?

    I received a form letter e-mail from an administrative assistant in the department. I had been in contact with a professor prior to my admission, but he has never spoken to me about my admission, only about research interests.

    Anyone heard from UVA or Ohio State PhD?

    in Computer Science

    Posted

    Ya I figured it out, from your replies to adinutzyc. Congrats on your admit. By the how many of you were at the visiting weekend? Have you got funding?

    There were about 15 people at visitation weekend. Yes, I got a teaching assistantship. Most people I talked with seemed set on UVA, but there were a couple with offers from higher ranked schools, so they may free up some funding if they choose elsewhere.

    UCLA

    in Computer Science

    Posted · Edited by fangsout

    I don't know what to think but I have received neither rejection nor acceptance. Have any americans been rejected? It just seemed like all of the rejections were International applications. If last year's results are any indication there may be some more admissions in the next week or so.

    Has Anybody Heard from Rice Univ. CS PhD program?

    in Computer Science

    Posted

    Has anybody heard from Rice PhD program? I saw one post on the result section. Please post your stats (undergraduate institution, gpa, pub, research experience, GRE, CS GRE etc) if you have been interviewed or been accepted.

    I have not heard back from them yet, but I have applied. I talked extensively with a professor who seemed very interested in my application, so I am puzzled if other people are hearing results and I have not.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

  I accept