Selecting the School
I have got admit into a few Universities … how do I know which is the best.
There are a lot of factors one can consider to select his school.
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Find out which department is better ranked. Sometimes a few areas of interest might be better for ex: a particular electrical engineering might have good instructors in DSP, Optics etc.
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You can also find out the climate of the place and select which is better suited to you.
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A few decisions are influenced by the presence of relatives (which might be or might not be useful).
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Similarly is the presence of friends.
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You can get to know about the schools from people who are already studying in these schools. (Please don’t ask us about other schools. In all probability, either we will not know or will give you the wrong information).
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All these factors considered, you should be able to find the one that works for you.
Admission
Will I get admission with a GRE score of..?
The GRE score is not the only deciding factor in obtaining an admit to any program/school. Getting a good score definitely matters. Along with GRE, the other factors that influence the decision are – TOEFL score, your academics, and recommendations from your professors as also financial aspect. There might be other factors that a department/school might consider like your school of under graduation etc. Each school has its own rules regarding admission.
When are decisions made regarding admissions?
For fall, students’ start receiving admission letters as early as March and admissions continue until late June. A word of advice is 'apply as early as possible'. MAKE SURE YOUR ADMISSION FILE IS COMPLETE. THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS ARE ADMISSION FORM DETAILS, TRANSCRIPTS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND OFFICIAL TOEFL SCORE. ONLY AFTER receiving these, will your packet (Transcripts, GRE score, Letter of Recommendation, Statement of Purpose, Resume, etc) be forwarded to the respective department.
Can you check my admission status? Do I need to submit some other documents..?
We are not authorized to find details about the admissions. The confidentiality of information of a student is maintained very strictly. The Departments and the International Student Office can provide the details of the documents.
Can I defer my admission?
Yes you can. Inform your department (administrative person in-charge) regarding this and they will provide more information in this regard.
What if I decide not to join SIUC?
Inform your department (administrative person in-charge) in this regard and you may be asked to return your I-20. It is courteous to inform that you will not be joining.
Transfers
Can I transfer from SIUC to another school ?
Yes, you can, provided that you have got an admit in the other University. Some schools have a requirement that studying for at least one semester before you can transfer. Go to the Foreign Services and Scholars office to get details and to inform them.
Can I transfer from another university to SIUC ?
Yes again, please above as the procedure.
What about the credits that I have done at the other university ?
The number of credits that you can transfer depends on the policy of the department that you are transferring to. Only those course that are relevant to your degree can be transferred.
Financial Aid
What are my chances of getting financial aid ?
It is very difficult to predict that! The funding scene differs from department to department and also on every semester and year. A department can have funds in one semester and non in the next. We would not know one's chances of getting financial aid. It is better to contact the specific department and the Professors there to know about the chances of getting a financial aid.
I haven't got any assistantship as of now….
Very few come with funding. You can probably come here and then look for funding in the department. One always stands a better chance if he/she directly talks to the professors. There is no guarantee that you will get funded, make sure that you have sufficient funds for tuition.
Whom to contact for getting financial aid?
The Department is responsible for financial aid.
How is the funds scenario in this department ...
As explained earlier, the funds in departments depend on that particular semester. We will not know the allotted funds in a department. Please contact the department for your chances of getting financial aid.
What is Tuition fee at SIUC ?
The tuition varies slightly on each college/department. Check the Bursar’s office for information.
Teaching/Research Assistantship (TA/RA) Positions
Can I get a TA/RA (the million dollar question!!!)
Please do not ask us this question, we will NOT know in any way!!! See below for further information as to how the assistantships are awarded.
TA Positions
TA positions are awarded by the department. You have to submit an application to the particular department. Departments generally have different rules regarding the awarding of TA positions. Getting a TA position is quite difficult and we highly encourage you not to depend on it completely.
RA Positions
The RA positions are awarded by the professors in the concerned dept. and not by the department. One can apply for a RA position in other department also, but the department prefers students from their own department. The professor while awarding the positions considers the following things
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If you have taken course under him and got a good score.
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If you know him and are in his good books.
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Your interest in his research areas.
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Funds available to the professor.
Travel
What documents do I need to carry while traveling ?
Carry your Passport, I-20, cash, travelers checks and entry permit (in its original sealed envelope) on your person, or in a handbag that you carry into the cabin. Do not put any cash in the baggage you check in. Incidentally, you won’t need more than $100 during travel, unless you want to do some duty-free shopping. Carry the rest of your money in the form of US travelers' checks.
What if I miss a connection ?
Inform the airlines and try and get the next flight. Call in and let us know so that we will know the exact time you will be coming in, so that we may alter your pick-up plan.
What is Port of Entry …
Port of entry is the first US city where your incoming international plane lands. In most cases, a flight attendant will distribute customs declaration forms and immigration forms before the plane lands at Atlanta. Fill all these out, while on the plane. The forms include questions about the contents of your luggage. Pay attention to signs.
What if my luggage gets lost …
If by any chance your luggage does not seem to pop up on the conveyor system, look for it for a certain finite amount of time. Beyond which, contact your specific Airline-office and fill up a DELAYED / LOST LUGGAGE form. Give them the destination address and phone number so that they can ship it there, after it arrives. There is a fair chance that the luggage might have got shipped to another destination or would not have been uploaded on your plane at your connecting airport (Frankfurt / London etc.) See to it that you fill up the form before leaving the premises. Do not be rude but be firm while dealing with the airline representatives. And do not panic too. It'll come home safe.
Coming to SIUC
When should I come to SIUC ?
Coming to SIUC depends on financial aid and your own convenience. If you do not have financial aid then, coming 10-15 days before the first day of classes is ideal. That will help you look for an on-campus job (or assistantship) and also adjust yourself to the place. Those with assistantship can arrive a week before the first day of classes.
Academics
Can you tell me the pre-requisites that I will have to take ?
Contact the respective department for all information related to academics. They will decide on it after looking through your transcripts.
What if I have done some prerequisites ?
Do get your syllabus/curriculum details along with your application packets. You may get them waived after coming here by producing the necessary syllabus/curriculum details and if the department decides in your favor.
I want to specialize in so and so ...
Please contact the volunteer for that department if you want to know about your interpreted research area. PLEASE DO NOT ask them about your chances of getting financial aid, as they will not know.
Initial Expenses What are my initial expenses ?
Bring as much money as you are permitted; initial expenses can be quite high. Here is an estimate of the typical start-up expenses for the first month.
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Rental Deposit - $ 400 - 500 or Less if you share the room
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Basic Groceries - $ 50 - 100
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Utensils/Appliances/Beds/Furniture - $ 50 - 100
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Telephone (installation/instrument) - $50
Note: This is only a rough estimate; so it would be prudent enough to pick up all the money the Reserve Bank of India releases. Average monthly expense would be between $250-$350.
On Campus / Off Campus jobs
How do I find On campus jobs ?
They are put up outside the student employment office at third floor Woody Hall. They can be also viewed on their web site.
Can I work off-campus ?
Students on F-1 visas are not allowed to work off-campus. Under extenuating circumstances this restriction may be waived, but only with prior permission from the Immigration and Naturalization Services, and that too only after completing nine months of studies here. The Immigration Department is very strict about permitting F-1 students to work off-campus, even if the situation appears desperate from the point of view of the student.
Can I pay my tuition by working on campus ?
NO, the tuition is quite high and you will be earning money through on-campus jobs, that will be enough for your monthly expenses with a little to spare.
Contact
How to join the ISA list ?
Once you are in Carbondale, your names will be added after the fresher's party. For this one must take the annual membership from ISA
Can you let me know the names and email addresses of people in XYZ department ?
ISA cannot arbitrarily give out names and email addresses of students.
Accommodation
What about accommodation when I arrive ?
Try to find someone whom you can stay with for . For the first few days ISA will help you in getting accomodation and then you have to search for your own once you are here.
Do we HAVE to live "on-campus" ?
No! Not at all. Almost all the international graduate students live "off-campus".
FAQ for Electrical Engg Students1. Please let me know how good the college in the following fields
a) studies
b) faculty
c) research
ANS: For studies and faculty this is a good university and also for research. There isn't much funding available for EE
2. How is the College compared to other similar institutes? Ranking wise and rep wise
ANS: SIUC doesn't have a decent ranking but its good and stand high in universities of its kind.
3. What is the profile of Indian students going to SIU-C? My 1st and 2nd year Acads are not great so can I make up by getting really good GRE scores?
ANS: It depends on the major u r applying to ...EE must need at least above 1800 and a decent toefl and above 65% in acads....and also the requirements change each semester.
4. What are the job opportunities after doing your graduation from Carbondale, esp nowadays? Are people graduating?
ANS: Its again a question which time had to decide...jobs are hard now a days and many people are not graduating in EE department .
5. How is the ECE dept. regarding funding ?
ANS: Funding situation is very bad.
6. Is it easy to get an aid before joining? and how is the TA/RA available, is it easy for us to get?
ANS: Everything is bad...there are people from 3 semesters without funding...in the EE department
7. How many Indians are there and what is the percentage of International/National students in the Univ.?
ANS: 200 Indian students...it may be 1:10 ratio, there are a total of 24,000 students in this university..
8. What are your overall impressions of the school and whether you felt it has helped you in your career or whether you could have done better?
ANS: Its very good with nice atmosphere and good Indian community
9. The biggest question I have about Carbondale is that my family will only be able to support me for a year, so can i somehow scrape it through by getting an on-campus job/aid or something. Is that possible or is the scene really bad now - a - days?
ANS: Its really bad....if you are into electrical engg...
10. Are on-campus jobs easy to come by, if so do they pay for the living costs?
ANS: You can get on campus jobs easily....and they will easily support for your living...the cost of living is very low in Carbondale....
EE department here is good in fields like : VSLI Design and Testing and Telecommunications and Digital Image Processing.
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