CSE PhD, Penn State: ADMITTED, but...

**aesthetic_ascetic** · 03-14-2006, 10:19 AM

No... now that you mention it I do recall reading about it in their forms for aid...

So thats why I didn't get aid... maybe I should talk to them and take the TSE? I hope its not too late for that... just how hard is the TSE? I've heard that its really complicated... would the IELTS speaking module do? So much easier talking to a human being than a machine...

**Juggernaut** · 03-14-2006, 10:19 AM

@Sarvani
when i enquired with vicki reg TSE she told me that earthlings can be given a TA without TSE too, but earthlings with TSE will be given first preference, so TSE is actually not required.

**rssarvani** · 03-14-2006, 11:24 AM

Hi Juggernaut,

What you are saying is probably true. My TSE was not all that great but I still got a TA. But when I mailed Vicki Keller long long time before about TSE she told me that taking TSE will ensure that we are given preference for financial aid.

@Aesthetic
I think e-mailing profs is the best way to get an aid. May be you should do that.

Best of Luck!

Sarvani

**Juggernaut** · 03-14-2006, 05:18 PM

I also called up vicki, she told me the same thing.

Admit, but no funding.
WHat do i do?

are there chances of getting funded there later?
What about I-20 fee?

**aesthetic_ascetic** · 03-15-2006, 12:16 AM

I'll call again today, confirm the admit, and then ask whether she can tell me which professor I'm to work with if I do join them... then I'll mail that professor about the aid thingie...

**Juggernaut** · 03-15-2006, 08:00 AM

@Ascetic

I had asked her specifically last night if the decision on funding has got anything to do with TSE.

She said not exactly, and it seems since they have had 700 Applicants, and had to admit only few earthlings, they had to allocate funding only to few earthlings.

I think we should find out by contacting profs.
But we need an official confirmation for that right?

**aesthetic_ascetic** · 03-16-2006, 01:01 PM

Got an email from Vicki Keller just now, with the following attached .doc file:

********************

March 15, 2006

Dear Mr. Aesthetic_Ascetic:

We are pleased to endorse your application for admission to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science and Engineering for Fall Semester 2006. Admission is being granted without financial aid, pending verification of your academic and financial credentials. Please note that students admitted to the Ph.D. program will not be permitted to switch to the master’s program at a later date, except under extenuating circumstances. This admission offer is valid only for Fall Semester 2006. You will receive formal notification from the GraduateSchool soon.

We have carefully reviewed your application for a graduate assistantship. Because there are so many qualified applicants for a limited number of assistantships, we regret that we are unable to offer you an assistantship. If you accept this offer of admission, you will be expected to finance your entire program of study: tuition, fees, surcharges, books and supplies, personal/living expenses, and mandatory medical insurance coverage. Please note that employment opportunities are promoted internally within the University via the academic programs. If a position becomes available for which you are suited (assistantship, hourly-wage, etc.), we will contact you. Otherwise, you will receive no further communication regarding financial aid. Contacting other graduate programs for financial support is not advised—unless you are responding to an advertised position. As required on the Application for Visa Document, you must provide evidence of your ability to meet your financial obligations as an unsupported student. By your signature, you affirmed and certified that the information you provided was true and correct. If we find that you cannot afford to finance your program of study, we will revoke your admission. The possibility of future support is always open, but it is only fair to warn you that it would be the result of outstanding performance in our graduate program.

You are required to attend orientation held by the International Students and Scholars Office. Tentative dates for ISS Orientation are August 21 – August 28. Orientation and assignment of advisors within the CSE Department will take place at 9:30 a.m., on Tuesday, August 29, in 333 IST.

The deadline for acceptance of this offer of admission is May 31, 2006. However, we would appreciate any early information that you can send us about your decision. If you need an extension on the deadline for acceptance, please contact us. We hope you will join our program in August. If I can help you in any way connected with your decision, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely yours,

Vijay Narayanan
Graduate Officer

***************

So they don't want me to contact them for aid... oh well... the wait continues...

**Juggernaut** · 03-16-2006, 05:44 PM

"If you accept this offer of admission, you will be expected to finance your entire program of study: tuition, fees, surcharges, books and supplies, personal/living expenses, and mandatory medical insurance coverage."

How rude can they be

Are we all multi-millionaires to finance ourselves for the Entire PhD

Iam yet to get this mail.

I also got the same mail now.

**aesthetic_ascetic** · 03-17-2006, 03:23 AM

Well we're in the same boat I guess... : )

I might bite the bullet and contact the Pakistani government for this one... they've got quite a few hairbrained schemes going, for producing a certain number of PhDs every year... most of those who win these scholarships go to China and Austria for instance, but I've been told by reliable sources that with an admit from a significant American school, they'd jump to the chance of financing me... normally you have to go through a test (which is called a "GRE-type" test when its nothing close to it), but I've been told I just need to go talk to them and these irritants will be bypassed... still have to find out the details of this though, and to verify it from the powers that be...

The catch? They're not going to pay the entire fee... I recall reading that they pay "up to $12,000" per year... second, I only get $1000 for living expenses... hard for two adults and a baby to survive on that...

**Juggernaut** · 03-17-2006, 06:39 AM

It seems you can live a decent life at 350-400$ per month.
The tuition fee is only goinna be a problem.

Looks like only few of the accepted students have been TAed.
Why don't you try going there ALONE for the first sem or 2, then when you find yourself some funding, you can move your family in ??

What do you think?