 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1.
What is
the deadline for submitting my application for Fall
or Spring semester?
The Graduate School has
posted deadlines for submission of Fall and Spring
applications on their website at
www.grad.uga.edu.
The Department of Computer Science considers applications on a continuous
basis. Applications that do not meet the deadline for the upcoming semester
are considered for the following semester.
2.
I am thinking of applying to the Department of Computer Science but before I
do, I would
like to know if I would be eligible for
admission with financial aid. My curriculum vitae/resume is attached. Would
it be possible for me to know if the Department would admit me with financial
aid?
The department follows a two-phase process for admission to the graduate
degree program (MS, MAMS or PhD) and award of financial aid. First, the
applicants are considered for admission to the graduate degree program.
Second, the applicants who are admitted are considered for financial aid. To
know your eligibility for admission and/or financial aid, you will need to
submit a formal application to one of the degree programs.
3.
What are my chances of getting admission and/or financial aid given my GRE
score?
The GRE score is only one of several criteria that the Admission Committee
uses to
evaluate applicants. The other criteria
include:
o
Academic record (GPA);
o
Caliber and reputation of the applicant’s institution(s);
o
Applicant’s academic preparation (i.e., the courses taken in previous degree
program(s));
o
TOEFL score (iBT);
o
Letters of recommendation. This includes the contents of the letters and the
professional/academic standing of the authors of the letters;
o
Statement of purpose;
o
Publication record (if any);
o
Other factors which indicate that the applicant has special promise or
potential.
Note that your chances of getting admission and/or financial aid also depend,
to some extent, on the overall quality and size of the applicant pool (i.e.,
your competitors) at the time your application is under consideration.
4.
Can the GRE requirement be waived in my case?
The short answer is
NO.
The GRE is a Graduate School requirement and cannot be waived by the
department.
5.
Do my chances of getting financial aid depend on which degree program I apply
for? Should I apply for the PhD program instead of the MS program in order to
enhance my chances knowing that I cannot study in the US without financial
aid?
Your chances of admission and award of financial aid depend primarily on your
credentials and do not depend on which degree program you apply for.
6.
Ideally, when should I apply for financial aid?
Most financial aid awards are made in the Fall
semester.
Deadlines for nominating students for Presidential Graduate Fellowships are
typically in January whereas deadlines for Graduate School Assistantships are
typically in February (the actual deadlines are on the Graduate School
website at
www.grad.uga.edu).
Decisions regarding departmental assistantships are made starting typically
in March for the following Fall semester and in
October for the following Spring semester. It is to your advantage to have a
complete application on file as early as possible if you are seeking
financial assistance since it will improve your chances.
7.
How do I apply for a Departmental Teaching Assistant (TA) position?
Please contact Ms. Tammy Bridges
(tamatha@cs.uga.edu)
for information on the application requirements and application procedure and
for the application forms. Note that the Center for Teaching and Learning, under the auspices of the Vice President for Instruction at the University of Georgia, has stipulated certain criteria based on TOEFL iBT Speak scores and IELTS scores for eligibility for Teaching Assistant awards. Please refer to this page for details.
8.
How do I apply for a Research Assistant (RA) position?
Research Assistant (RA) positions are funded typically by research grants or
contracts awarded to individual faculty members. You may peruse the Computer
Science departmental web page (www.cs.uga.edu)
and the web pages of the individual faculty members to determine their
research interests and current research projects. You may then contact the
relevant faculty members to ascertain whether they have an open RA
position and whether your credentials fit the requirements of the RA
position.
9.
I have been admitted to your degree program but have not yet received the
I-20. What should I do?
Please contact Ms. Vickie Bridges (gradadm@uga.edu)
in the Graduate School to resolve the issue. Also, kindly cc Tammy Bridges
(tamatha@cs.uga.edu)
in the Department of Computer Science on all correspondence with the Graduate School.
10.
I have been admitted to your degree program for the upcoming semester but I
have not
yet received my visa to the USA. I am afraid
that I may not be granted the visa in
time to be at the University of Georgia for the upcoming semester. Can I
defer my application to the following semester?
The short answer is YES. But
please get in touch with Ms. Vickie Bridges (gradadm@uga.edu)
in the Graduate School to formally defer your application. Also, kindly cc Ms. Tammy Bridges (tamatha@cs.uga.edu) in the Department of Computer Science on all correspondence with the Graduate School.
11.
I have been admitted to your degree program but I have not yet arrived on the
University of Georgia campus. Can you please advise
me (via email or telephone) regarding the
courses I should
be taking?
The short answer is NO. To be
formally advised, you need to meet with the Graduate Coordinator
in person.
When you arrive on the University of Georgia,
please get in touch with Ms. Tammy Bridges (tamatha@cs.uga.edu; Room 415, Boyd GSRC Building; Tel No. 706-542-2911) to schedule your
advisement with the Graduate Coordinator.
12.
The
annual expenses stated on the I-20 exceed the assistantship award. What do I
need to do?
For purposes of filling out I-20 forms and the like, the University of
Georgia could come up with a total estimate of costs which somehow exceeds
the assistantship award by a few thousand dollars. The estimate is arbitrary,
and often higher than it needs to be; however,
it must be dealt with. In this situation,
you have to prove that the funds to cover the shortfall
are available from your personal assets. You
will need to fill out a “Certification
of Finances”
form and provide a supporting bank statement. However, you will not actually
need to spend these funds if you are at all
careful with your discretionary choices of
housing etc. in Athens, GA. The monthly stipend in your assistantship award
is sufficient for an unmarried (single) student to live on
comfortably in Athens, GA.
