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TheBrothersKaramazov · 2009 March 26th, 01:21 AM

I can't imagine the department offering an international student a TAship (which would cover the in-state tuition and medical fees) but not the out of state tuition waiver. That's such a tease. You will also have to pay ~$324 per quarter in campus fees. These campus fees pay for the mandatory bus pass, gym facilities (which are quite nice), and ... i'm not sure what else. You really feel the pinch when having to pay this fee.

I really have no idea how competitive it will be for TAships. There is increasingly more RA work for the upper year PhD students, so this may free up TAships for first and second years. Also, I'd recommend looking for RA work early on (don't ask now.. but if you do come, start asking around in the fall).
Poole, Fairlie, Friedman, Robinson are the ones that usually have plenty of RA work. Usually it's alot of STATA work.

Actually, I think the MA students entering in September will be even more unlucky with TAships. The department makes a conscious effort to fund PhD students, but not MA students.

Here is something else to consider for many of you: alot of other departments are desperately looking for TAs. It is unlikely that you'll find TAships in mathematics or statistics, but literature, philosophy, language, history, and art departments are always looking for TAs. (these depts don't take in enough grad students to cover all of their undergrad TA needs).

Yes, there is no official visit date. I think a visit is useful in determining how much you would like Santa Cruz as a town. It is VERY quiet and chill. Lots of old hippies, tree huggers, vegans.

. (Eg. there were people living in a tree house way up in the redwoods nearby the Engineering Library. They were trying to prevent the trees from being torn down to build a bioengineering complex. It took the administration more than a year to negotiate with them). I keep stressing that this is not an urban place. It is a beach town first and foremost. It makes alot of us foreign students stir-crazy because we are all from busier/faster-pace environments. Albeit, if you like outdoor activities - particularly surfing or hiking - you can't be in a better location. As for trying to determine whether you'll like the academics, well... you won't really have a feel until you take courses. talking to faculty right now about your research interests is probably not worth the money because (a) your interest will change! and (b) you'll probably get more out of looking at their CVs.

If I had to guess who will be teaching your courses next year, it would be:
Macro:
A- growth: K. Kletzer
B -RBC/Employment/central banking: CenWalsh
C - NK macro/ central banking: Ravenna
Micro:
A- producer/consumer theory: McCalman
B- game theory: Friedman
C- social choice/mechanism design/auctions: Wittman
(Singh sometimes teaches one of the B, C micro).

2009 March 26th, 01:21 AM	#26 (permalink)
TheBrothersKaramazov Within my grasp! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 416	I can't imagine the department offering an international student a TAship (which would cover the in-state tuition and medical fees) but not the out of state tuition waiver. That's such a tease. You will also have to pay ~$324 per quarter in campus fees. These campus fees pay for the mandatory bus pass, gym facilities (which are quite nice), and ... i'm not sure what else. You really feel the pinch when having to pay this fee. I really have no idea how competitive it will be for TAships. There is increasingly more RA work for the upper year PhD students, so this may free up TAships for first and second years. Also, I'd recommend looking for RA work early on (don't ask now.. but if you do come, start asking around in the fall). Poole, Fairlie, Friedman, Robinson are the ones that usually have plenty of RA work. Usually it's alot of STATA work. Actually, I think the MA students entering in September will be even more unlucky with TAships. The department makes a conscious effort to fund PhD students, but not MA students. Here is something else to consider for many of you: alot of other departments are desperately looking for TAs. It is unlikely that you'll find TAships in mathematics or statistics, but literature, philosophy, language, history, and art departments are always looking for TAs. (these depts don't take in enough grad students to cover all of their undergrad TA needs). Yes, there is no official visit date. I think a visit is useful in determining how much you would like Santa Cruz as a town. It is VERY quiet and chill. Lots of old hippies, tree huggers, vegans. . (Eg. there were people living in a tree house way up in the redwoods nearby the Engineering Library. They were trying to prevent the trees from being torn down to build a bioengineering complex. It took the administration more than a year to negotiate with them). I keep stressing that this is not an urban place. It is a beach town first and foremost. It makes alot of us foreign students stir-crazy because we are all from busier/faster-pace environments. Albeit, if you like outdoor activities - particularly surfing or hiking - you can't be in a better location. As for trying to determine whether you'll like the academics, well... you won't really have a feel until you take courses. talking to faculty right now about your research interests is probably not worth the money because (a) your interest will change! and (b) you'll probably get more out of looking at their CVs. If I had to guess who will be teaching your courses next year, it would be: Macro: A- growth: K. Kletzer B -RBC/Employment/central banking: CenWalsh C - NK macro/ central banking: Ravenna Micro: A- producer/consumer theory: McCalman B- game theory: Friedman C- social choice/mechanism design/auctions: Wittman (Singh sometimes teaches one of the B, C micro).