In at UCSC (PhD in Computer Science)

[Ancalagon The Black]

Yes, here I am to answer CalmLogic's call !!

Well, at Stern, I was asked about my own research and some latest developments in information systems which initially I had no idea off but I tried to bluff it (I think I failed miserably in that) I am a very good speaker and I have a latent American (South Georgian) accent so no professors had problems understanding me.

However, the connection wasn't that great so sometimes the line just conked out one or twice - and I made a silly joke about using Skype which I thought would be good in the presence of IS professors but which I think went down not so well.

For Iowa State, I was asked questions about myself and my application in general and some questions about the type and style of coding. I was also asked about HCI in general and I tried to divert it to the IS side - I don't think that I succeeded.

Thats it pretty much. My interviews were moderate. Nothing extra great or bad.

[CalmLogic]

That's good info, thanks. I had been curious about this before.

[rjt]

Thank you all. My interview was over today morning. I did my best, but I am sure the place is too ambitious for me and I won't make it. The first thing the proff said that I have a good rank but not stellar rank in class and that he has got apps from top 5% students from most IITs and has only one position for this Fall. It went for around 27 minutes. In the end he asked if I had taken some time to see the other researches going on. I said yes, but I don't remember the faculty's name. All I told was the group name and what work they do that interests me. He asked me to send me the names of the other Proffs I was interested to work with. Before that he was also curious to know the schools I applied to. When I said I already have a PhD admit from UC Santa Cruz, he exclaimed "Oh Good!" but I told him that I won't be able to go there without fin aid, to which he agreed.

Anyways, thank you all. I think my doors are getting closed each day. UC Santa Cruz and UToronto were my only hopes of getting funded admits. Btw, another proff has mailed from Santa Cruz saying he has no funds for RA.

[rjt]

Hamid Sadjadpour's web page

Please read the last sentence in the above page. Could it be some kind of a policy of UCSC to support as fewer applicants with a Bachelors degree as possible?

[Ancalagon The Black]

rjt: What was your rank in class again? Your interview supports my point that there is a bias towards names and reputations even if your personal profile be better than the next person. This is, once again, pretty ridiculous and the concerned applicants take it with a swagger. Its also, highly infuriating.

Might you take the chance in UCSC to try and get a TA this fall? What are the chances? Could you take a semester loan and then get a TA the next semester if nothing else works out? I think that once you get a TA, you will have a chance to continue it if you are successful in it.

I think that UCSC might have a similar policy as I have looked around and seen many candidates not getting financial aid. I think the reason why I got financial aid is because I applied to TIM which is a separate program being launched - just under the ambit of CS and might not have enough students for the first couple of years. I think that its ridiculous to offer a PhD admit if you don't give financial aid. Having said that, I think that this policy of California schools to have such a huge non resident tuition is only hurting them with respect to admitting better students but then of course, they will hire the very best.

[rjt]

@Ancal

I agree with the bias part. But I would say that I really do not have a "stellar" profile like the Proff said when he has received apps from top 5% IITians. My class rank is top 20%. However, in the last two years of study it was better and in the senior year it was top 5%.

About UCSC, I read in some page that I cannot go for a GSR untill I spend my first year in courses. During this time, I will have to take a TA, which is compulsory for atleast one quarter for PhD students. Since PhD students are preferred over MS students for such positions, naturally I have a chance of getting one. But again, there will be a few unfunded PhD students there and a risk again. I heard from a senior there that most people manage an aid by second quarter, but, there were a couple of unfunded PhD students last time who couldn't. So the risk factor comes into play again.

Again, for GSR, the proff needs to support me. But when most Proffs are replying to me saying that they do not have funds for additional students, I am not sure how much possible it will be to fetch a GSR (as it pays for the full tuition fee too apart from a monthly top up).

I have a question here, could anyone of you tell me how much liquid cash I need to show if I plan to go to the Visa Interview with an I-20 for a PhD candidate. Questions will be raised by the VO for sure about how I would manage my funds if I don't get funded, which might result in an immediate rejection of Visa. Any ideas how do people manage? (I do not have readily available liquid cash as most of you, hence I need to take a loan for the requisite amount.)

[rjt]

From what I gathered from people is that the CS department enrolls about 20 MS students every year and a bit lesser number (15+) for PhD. This number is far too less than Stanford and Berkeley who are also present in the Silicon Valley. Ofcourse, may be UCSC doesn't stand anywhere closer in comparison to Stan/Berk . But what I mean to say is, can't we expect a little better funding scenario from an univ present in the Silicon Valley where it is easier to bag sponsored research. What with a PhD admit with no funding? It is better to give a reject than such an admit which cause more stress in the head. Today the Canadian proff commented "It is not worth going for an unfunded PhD unless you are extremely rich". Even I was aware of their trend of handing over unfunded PhD admits in the past. But still I applied, thinking I might be lucky! I cannot believe that UCSC is not financially strong enough to support just 15/20 new PhD enrollments every year!!

[Ancalagon The Black]

rjt: I think you have raised some very good points here. I will try to answer them from the point. I would also request CalmLogic, MDK and other active people on this forum to try and answer these.

1. UCSC is right in Silicon Valley and hence, should be able to fund students. Also, we see from the profiles posted that most of the concerned professors seem to have a lot of funding. However, they are admitting students without financial aid - and a lot of them apparently. The reason could be because UCSC admits a lot of international students who pay non resident tuition. Since, it has been proved that Cal schools normally try and take residents first since 2-3 residents can be supported for the cost of 1 non resident. Also, other US citizens automatically become residents after 2 years stay in California so the cost becomes reduced for them then and hence is much suitable for aid than any non resident. Therefore, unless you are the top bracket international student you will not be given aid. I don't have a stellar profile but since I applied to the new program where it is basically Silicon Valley aided, I reckon I got aid - otherwise I am just a mediocre candidate with high aspirations.

2. When you get your I-20, you can go to any Indian Bank for the loan. They will need to see offer letter, aid details if any and the I-20 before even thinking about a loan. I would advise you to go to a nationalized bank especially if you know someone working there rather than private banks like ICICI since their conditions are much lower. SBI gives a maximum of 20Lakhs. I would advise you to take a loan of 1 semester or maximum 2 semesters and then go to UCSC. Mayhaps, you will not get aid in the first quarter but you might in the second quarter. If you perform well, then you can expect it to get continued but its a pain in bottom to keep on applying for it every semester since its not assured to you. I don't think that any professor will give a GSR to an unfunded PhD student simply because their budgets are all spent in admitting funded PhD students. I would request you then to complete the MS in CS and then get out of there citing funding reasons. That way, the professors will empathize and still give you good LORs when you apply to a much better place (since you will have gained a lot of brand equity value in getting a MS from UCSC) This might be an alternative for you and is something which I am also thinking of.


3. You need only the first year of funds available on a bank statement to show the VO. You can also say that you can expect to be funded by TAs from second year.

4. Do you think that you could manage a TA from the first quarter itself? Where do you have to approach and apply for it?

[rjt]

@ Anal

About TA, I don't think it is managable from the first quarter as the appointments have already been made with PhD admits methinks.

In the worst case, I would have to spend the whole tuition fees in the form of loan for MS. Do you have any idea about the kind of on-campus jobs and if it is sufficient for living? I guess managing an on-campus job is much more difficult in grad studies, specially in a quarter system where the time is very less. Rough ideas.. any takers?

[Ancalagon The Black]

Well, the problem is Santa Cruz has a high cost of living so 20 hours of part time job will only cover personal expenses and only rent partially not fully. Thats the problem with this place, otherwise with reputed places like Purdue, the cost of living is small so with 20 hours of part time work, you can manage. Many Indians do such a thing in Purdue all the time. I doubt whether its possible in an expensive place like Santa Cruz.