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I am interested in applying. How should I proceed? Well, in order to apply you
first need an application form. You can request one from the Graduate
School, or send me an e-mail with your mailing address
requesting an application form and I'll get one to you right away!
While you wait for your application form to arrive, it's a good idea
to being gathering application supporting materials, such as letters
of recommendation, statement of purpose and other items mentioned in
the admissions guidelines
described in this website. Once you have filled out your
application and assembled all supporting materials, send everything
to the Graduate School. It usually takes 6-8 weeks for them to
respond in writing with the decision that was made about your
application. If you haven't heard from them within this time frame
you can always call them at (915) 747-5582 to check on the status of
your application, or you can send me an e-mail and I'd be happy to
check on it for you! Can I apply directly to the Ph.D. program after completing my bachelor's? Yes, we do have students who
apply to, and have been accepted into the Ph.D. program after
completion of their B.S. degree in computer science. However, I
should mention that Ph.D. applicants are held to more rigorous
standards and in order to be admitted without a a master's degree
you'll have to show that you have a solid background in computer
science and that you have the potential and desire to contribute to
the department's research efforts. I often recommend Phil Agre's
article on Advice
for Undergraduates Considering Graduate School to students who
are considering entering our doctoral program without first pursuing
a master's, because it gives and informed picture of the challenges
and the level of commitment that is expected of Ph.D. students. How are admissions decisions made? Strictly speaking all
admissions decisions are made by the Graduate School. However, there
is an admissions committee, consisting of members from the graduate
faculty here in the CS Department, that evaluates all
applications to our graduate program and makes recommendations to
the Graduate School. Usually, the Graduate School follows the
recommendations made by this committee. I've asked the committee
what things they look at when they make a decision on an applicants.
They all agree that it is important for an applicant to understand
that they try to get a complete picture of each applicant by
evaluating all the information provided, including information
on the actual graduate school application, the statement of purpose
and, for doctoral applicants, the letters of recommendation. Of
course, scores on the GRE and TOEFL, as well as transcripts of all
previous academic work are also considered. The committee assesses
each applicant's merits both independently and as they compare with
the rest of the applicant pool before making a decision. I've
noticed that successful applicants usually those are those whose
application materials reveal that their interests are compatible
with the research expertise of the department, and that they possess
academic ability and preparedness for graduate study in computer
science. How important is the statement of purpose? Well, it's actually a lot
more important than many people realize. Test scores and transcripts
offer only a limited view of an applicant. The statement of purpose
is your chance to stand out from the rest of the applicant pool by
describing your reasons for pursuing graduate studies, your specific
areas of research interest, your research or work experience, and
your unique strengths. It is therefore a very important part of the
application packet and I always recommend that applicants take care
to write it well, check for spelling and grammatical errors, and
re-read it several times to ensure that it will make the best
possible impression on the admissions committee. What are my chances of being accepted? This is a question that I get
a lot and it is one of the most difficult to answer. That's because
it's virtually impossible to predict what recommendations the
admissions committee will make. Their decisions are affected by many
factors including the quality of the the applicant pool, which
varies from semester to semester. In addition, it is not really
possible to make decision for acceptance until the entire
application packet - including statement of purpose, official
transcripts, and official TOEFL (when required) and GRE scores - is
evaluated. So, because I don't want to mislead anyone, I don't like
to prescreen applicants. This means that I won't review scores,
transcripts or resumes via e-mail or telephone. However, in
order to help potential applicants determine their eligibility for
the program, I've made sure that the admissions
section of this website very detailed - there is even an
admission
estimator that allows you to enter your data and see if you are
likely to be accepted to UTEP or to any of several other other
schools in the USA. What are the minimum GRE requirements? There is no real minimum
requirement for GRE scores, but the applicants that I see accepted
usually have quantitative scores of 650 or higher, analytical scores
of 600 or higher (or analytical writing scores of 4 or higher) and
verbal scores of 500 or higher. I always caution applicants who ask
this question to remember that test scores are only one piece of
information used in the selection process, and they are considered
in conjunction with the applicant's undergraduate record, statement
of purpose, and other information indicative of their ability to be
successful in our graduate program. Do I have to submit official GRE scores? Yes, the Graduate School does
require official scores, so please have ETS send your GRE score
report. UTEP's school code is R6829. In addition to having your
scores sent to the University by ETS, I recommend that you also
submit a photocopy of the ETS score report that was sent to you. If
you take the GRE within the USA you can often request and receive an
unofficial copy of your scores on letterhead from your testing
center. If you have these unofficial scores, you may submit them
with your other application materials as the Graduate School will
begin processing your application with these unofficial scores.
However, they do expect to receive the official scores not long
after that. Can I start taking courses before I take the GRE? Yes, but there are some conditions. In order to take courses without having taken the GRE, you must be a US citizen or permanent resident who has (1) applied for admission into the graduate program and (2) furnished official transcripts and all other supporting materials except for the official test (GRE) scores. If you meet these condition you will be eligible to enroll in graduate courses for one semester, and one semester only. This eligibility does not constitute admission to the graduate program. If you have already completed a "free semester" and have not furnished GRE scores to the Graduate School, you will be denied further enrollment in graduate courses until they receive your scores. Visit the Graduate
School website to refer to the graduate catalog for the most
current information on this topic. I took the GRE several years ago. Are my scores still valid? ETS will not report scores
that are more than five years old, and the Graduate School does
prefer that applicants submit scores no older than five years.
However, domestic applicants who have taken the GRE and whose scores
are more than five years old may submit photocopies of old scores
and a letter requesting a waiver, along with their other application
materials. The decision to award a waiver for GRE scores older than
five years is made on a case by case basis and is heavily influenced
by the overall strength of the application packet. In other words,
waivers are not guaranteed and some applicants may still have to
provide a more current GRE score report. How long will it take for my application to be processed? Once a completed application
and all supporting materials (transcripts, GRE scores, letters of
recommendation, statement of purpose, TOEFL scores (when required),
and the application fee) have been received by the Graduate School,
the approximate time needed for review it is 6-8 weeks. If you
haven't received a response within that time frame contact the
Graduate School at (915) 747-5582 or send an e-mail to our
graduate
assistant and he'll check on the status of your application for you! The Department does not
publish data about its acceptance rates. But I can assure you that
every application is carefully assessed before an admissions
decision is made and no worthy applicant is denied admission because
of any admissions quota. What are the deadlines for admission? It is best to visit the admission section of the Graduate School website for the most current deadlines. Please note that if you are an international applicant and have missed the early deadline, you may be unable to complete visa procedures in time to enroll for the semester that you wish. The CS department policy is to allow all such students to defer admission to the very next semester. If you are such a student, please send me an e-mail requesting a deferral and I will update your file accordingly. If I am not admitted to the graduate program, may I re-apply? Yes, however you cannot apply more than once for the same academic year. I tend to encourage unsuccessful applicants to re-apply only if they have new or updated information to submit that was not previously reviewed by the admissions committee. This information should present new evidence of their ability to succeed in our graduate program. For example, unsuccessful applicants sometimes consider taking additional undergraduate courses in computer science to increase their GPA and demonstrate current levels of achievement in their academic study. Students who were initially unsuccessful in their application have, in the past, been admitted for graduate study after taking additional courses in computer science and performing well. But you must remember that taking such courses is no guarantee of future acceptance into the program. Some other things that may
enhance your chances of admission if you are re-applying are
improved GRE scores, stronger letters of recommendation and a
clearly focused statement of purpose. A student already accepted into another graduate program at UTEP should submit a Change of Major form to the Graduate School if they would like to change their major field of study to Computer Science. Normal fees are assessed and the student's application information will be forwarded to the Computer Science Department for the admissions committee to assess it and make recommendation to the Graduate School. Students who choose to change their major to computer science must also prepare and submit a statement of purpose that complies with the department's guidelines as described within the admissions pages of this website. My bachelor's was not in Computer Science. Can I still be admitted into your CS graduate program? Students that lack
preparation in certain areas may be admitted to the M.S. program
with the condition that they remedy these deficiencies by taking a
series of undergraduate courses in order to obtain the necessary
background knowledge for graduate study in Computer Science. These
courses are required for leveling only; they cannot be counted
towards satisfying the required hours for graduation as specified in
the catalog of the Graduate School. I've been accepted but I want to defer my entrance till next semester, what should I do? Send me an e-mail
with a subject heading "Request for Deferral." Please
include your full name, student ID, and the reason for why you are
requesting a deferral. I'll inform the Graduate School of your
request. If you are an international student, you will be required
to return the I-20 that was issued for the original semester so that
the university can issue a second I-20 for the next semester. If I take classes from another university, how many of them can I transfer to UTEP? Usually 6 semester hours of
graduate work may be transferred from another accredited
institution. All course work transferred from other institutions
requires both the approval of the department of the student's major
area and the Director of Graduate Student Services. Note that
courses for which a grade of "C" or lower was earned, and
correspondence courses cannot be transferred to UTEP and are not
accepted for graduate credit. What kind of financial support is available for graduate students? The department often supports
students through TA and RA appointments. As a rule, though, these
assistantships are not awarded to first-semester MS students. Our
Teaching Assistants normally serve as tutors and go through a
multi-week TA training before being offered a position. This is done
to maintain our high quality of instruction. Occasionally a new MS
student is awarded a Research Assistantship. However, this depends
on a good match with a faculty member who has funds and the need for
an RA. I note, though, that the probability of such a Research
Assistantship is low in the first semester. Additionally, I
encourage our new students to apply for positions on campus. There
are numerous opportunities for students with a technology
background. What percentage of graduate students are given assistantships? I estimate that approximately 40% of our Ph.D. students are funded as Teaching Assistants and 30% as Research Assistants. The remaining 30% appear to be funded by stipends and fellowships. At the master's level, approximately 15% of students are supported as TA's and 20% as RA's; close to 10% have computer-related jobs elsewhere on campus, and another 15% are funded by work in co-op programs. The remaining 40% are either self-supported i.e. hold full or part-time jobs in local industry, supported by parents, or funded by stipends, fellowships, scholarships or financial aid. What are the costs of tuition and fees? For the most current
information about tuition and fees it is best to refer to the Student
Business Services site which has complete information about the tuition and mandatory fees for residents and non-resident students. How do I apply to become a TA? Visit the CS department and
request a TA application form. Once you have filled out the form,
return it to the department to be processed. How do I find out about scholarships, fellowships and internships? There are several ways to get
information about financial resources and opportunities. Information
on advertised scholarship, fellowship and internship opportunities
is posted on the graduate information bulletin board. These are
updated frequently and you should check often for new postings.
Also, notification of scholarship, fellowship and internship
opportunities are frequently e-mailed to all graduate students who
are on the graduate student mailing list. If you have not already
been added to the list, or if you need to update you e-mail address,
send me an e-mail and I will
make the necessary changes for you. What can I do with a degree in Computer Science? The Computer Industry is
showing no signs of slowing down. Computer Scientists can work as
theorists, researchers, or inventors. Those employed by academic
institutions work in areas ranging from complexity theory, to
hardware, to programming language design. Some work on
multi-disciplinary projects, such as developing and advancing uses
of virtual realty in robotics. Their counterparts in private
industry work in areas such as applying theory, developing
specialized languages or information technologies, or designing
programming tools, knowledge based systems, or even computer games. How soon can I finish my graduate degree in Computer Science? The time to completion
varies. It depends strongly on the student's motivation, research
done towards completion of their thesis or dissertation, and work
schedule. It is also affected by many other factors, including the
number of courses the student is able to take each semester, and the
completion of prerequisite courses. The University
Calendar provides details about when classes begin, catalog
information, class schedules, registration dates, and final
examinations. I am an international student. When should I arrive at school? What should I do? A general rule of thumb is for international students to plan to be on campus about 20 to 15 days before classes start. This will ensure that you will have enough time to receive academic advising prior to the registration period which is typically a few days just before classes start. All international students should visit the Office of International Programs as soon as they arrive on the UTEP campus. You should also visit the department soon after you arrive. You'll need to familiarize yourself with the building, facilities and the people here. In addition you will need to meet with me and the Graduate Advisor so that you can complete academic advising prior to the registration period and receive information about orientation for new CS graduate students. My office is in the CS Building, Rm 204, and I am always available to students. Do I need to bring my medical or immunization records with me? All students are asked to submit proof of immunization, and to be immunized, for Tetanus-Diphtheria, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. Persons born after 1957 are encouraged to have an MMR booster to dispel any uncertainty about immunity to more than one of these diseases. In addition, international students must demonstrate clearance from Tuberculosis. Your proof of immunization should be submitted to the campus Health Center after your arrival. Because of privacy issues I am unable to give you information about other accepted applicants. However, I can assure you that this university and this department have a thriving population of international students whom I am sure you will meet after you arrive. For example, our Indian students have a thriving Indian Students Organization that meets regularly for social and other activities. If you send me an e-mail I can connect you with someone from this, or any of the other international students organizations. You can begin corresponding with that person and you'll be able to make a friend on campus before you even get here! I have a question that was not answered here. What do I do? Contact me, Aida, the Graduate Program Coordinator, at email agandara1@utep.edu or telephone number (915) 747-6828. |
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