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We receive every year a lot of e-mails from incoming students concerning various issues.
You are welcome to send us questions, and board members will try to answer you with the information you need.
However, please take some time to read this F.A.Q. and to dig through the various websites that we refer to.
Most of your questions have probably already been
addressed. If you have any suggestions regarding the content of this FAQ,
please contact any of the board members.
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Q: I've been admitted but haven't received any financial aid yet, what do I do next?
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Congratulations! You have been admitted to the University of Maryland, and
this is a great first step! Unfortunately, the ECEGSA board can't do much to help you with financial aid questions,
after all we are only students :-)
What you can do:
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Wait to receive the good news in a few weeks that someone is
offering you a TA or RA.
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E-mail professors and tell them that you have been admitted.
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Take the risk to come early in August and apply for a TA in
another department.
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Get a job on campus in the various available positions
(shuttle, library, restaurants,...). You won't
be allowed to work off-campus if you are not a US citizen. Note
that those on-campus jobs are low-paid ($7 - $12 an hour).
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You may also find a position as a grader ($12 an hour in ECE) which
is the best option for an on-campus job.
We do know that some of you will not get their visa without an I-20 form
stating that you have financial support. Unfortunately, as ECEGSA, we can't do anything
for you.
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Q: If I go without financial aid, will it be easy for me to obtain it at UMD?
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This is hard to say. It depends on the availability of RA funds with
professors and TA positions within the department, which can vary every
year.
You may find a GA position in other departments if you come early enough, around
the end of July or beginning of August.
If you don't get financial support for the first semester, the chances will be
higher, if you perform well, for the next semester, and so on... since
you will show what you can do and get to know professors.
It is a fact that almost every student in the ECE department has a
financial support of some sort. However, there is NO listing of open RA/TA positions.
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Q: How can I get an RA with Professor X? Can you help me, can you ask him/her...?
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Unfortunately, we have no statistics to help you here.
We don't know who is looking for what, and we can't really "snoop" for you.
The best thing is to send a resume and a letter asking for a position as RA to the faculty members whose research interests you,
and wait for their answer. No student will ever be able to help you on this matter.
Refer to the directory of the faculty members to know who is doing what at UMD.
One hint: If you have some time, you can try to read some papers published by that faculty member you want to work with,
or by his or her research assistants. Refer to those papers in your e-mail, pose questions, and you can even suggest an idea!
One bright idea and you WILL get an RA position (if that faculty member can sponsor you).
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Q: I didn't receive papers from office XYZ, can you contact them for me?
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Use the phone, send an e-mail. You will be amazed how helpful most people are.
Any UMD service has a phone number that you can call to ask about forms you didn't receive, unclear statements and so on...
Use the phone and e-mails, as much as you can, but be aware that you may have to go through a long process of recording
and waiting before you actually can talk to someone.
If it's not an urgent matter, try the e-mail first, then give a call if you don't get an answer after a few days.
Check the following link to see who from the departmental staff may help you:
Directory of the staff members
If you have any serious problem (e.g., the department lost you application), please contact a board member and we will see how we can help you.
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Q: How much will my tuition cost?
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If you are admitted with financial support, the letter you receive mentions if you have tuition remission
and how much. For each additional credit that you take you will have to pay a fee.
This fee varies according to residency classification.
Check the Graduate Handbook to understand the credit based system and to compute your tuition.
If you have a full work load (20 hours a week), you will probaly take 6 to 9 credits in the first semester.
If you don't have any support or work, you will have to take more credits to be considered a full-time student
(which is an obligation for some visas). Please check the Graduate Handbook for that.
You also have to add the mandatory fees (from $280 to $460 per semester).
You can check the following link to evaluate the full amount of your tuition cost at UMD:
http://www.testudo.umd.edu/soc/feesfall.html
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Q: What are typical living expenses in the area?
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Monthly charges:
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Expect $400-600$ for renting a room + utilities.
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A figure of $150 for food seems reasonable.
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Transportation will be free if you are on a University of Maryland shuttle route.
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Phone is about $20 a month for the basic fee. Unlimited local calls in the US -> free internet :-)
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International phone rates vary, check operators websites like MCI, AT&T,...
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Assume individual book cost of about $40 to $150 and usually a book per class.
If you have financial support, it will be enough to support yourself here, unless you want a car (refer to question below).
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Q: How long does it take to finish a Ph.D.?
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4 - 6 years, typically, if you come with a B.S. degree.
The duration depends mainly on the field
you choose, and also on your advisor.
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Q: How do I find housing?
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Temporary housing information (when you first arrive) is available at:
http://www.union.umd.edu/GH/basic_needs/graduate_housing.html
You can consult the website of the off-campus housing services.
They have a search engine to help you locate housing around College Park.
You may also want to check the Graduate Hills housing, a university-related housing
for graduate students, but you have to enter the waiting list well in advance (several months):
Our best advice would be to come early if you want to secure a good spot around campus!
There is no real way to find a place to live here while you are still abroad.
We also suggest you contact your country's student association
and e-mail the folks over there to request help, like temporaty housing during summer.
Check this listing to find your organisation:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Intl/Intlclubs/
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Q: How hard is it to get a car in the US?
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Easy! Really! Don't forget to bring your international driving license with you. It will help, but you will
still have to get your official US driving license.
Expect prices between $2000 and $4000 for a used car if you want one
that will last during all your studies period.
Beware that the insurance cost is HUGE! If you are less than 25, it may cost
you up to $1100 per year for the basic liability insurance.
Otherwise, buying a car is really easy, and you will find students on campus ready to help you with your search.
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