New Student FAQ

Under Construction

*** Under Construction ***

Last updated: December 30, 2005 12:46 EST

Disclaimer :-)

  1. The opinions expressed on this page are solely of the author(s).
  2. They are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or provided on behalf of the CISE department, UF or ISA.
  3. You should follow any advice at your own risk.
  4. The author(s) deny responsibility for any action that you might take based on this document.

Introduction

I wanted to write a document that would answer the common questions asked by the new Indian graduate students in the department. I have noticed that we end up answering the same questions over and over again every year. It just eats up the time of the volunteers who answer the questions on the yahoo group. In past, Pradeep used to maintain a similar FAQ. I have been thinking of putting this up for quite some time now, but my laziness had kept me. After seeing the deluge of emails on the 2005 list, finally I decided its time to wake up and get things moving. I would like to thank my co-authors for their time and commitment. This is a living document and I will keep updating it as and when needed. ~Manas (3/27/2005).

Authors

  • Manas: Manas is a PhD student in the CISE department since the Fall of 2002. He works with Drs. Ranka and Jermaine. His research work is focused on data mining. His fields of interest are data mining, databases, distributed systems and network security.
  • Vaibhav: Vaibhav is a MS student in the CISE department since the Fall of 2004.
  • Venkat: Venkat is a PhD student in the CISE department since the Fall of 2004.
  • Vibha: Vibha is a MS student in the CISE department since the Fall of 2004.
  • We would like to thank Pradeep Padala who maintained the old CISE FAQ.

Funding

  1. What is the typical funding scenario for MS students in the CISE department ?
    Manas: Most MS students don't qualify for a TA. Very rarely, do they get a RA. Quite a few of them manage to get a GA.
    Venkat: Typically, MS students are not funded right away. TA is close to impossible, though applying won't hurt. A few people have made RA after a semester, if prof has funds and is impressed with work. This is pretty rare though and usually requires student to commit to an MS thesis, which may delay graduation. Usual formula is to get an OPS with scope for GA, and converting it to GA in the second semster (or in the first semester itself if you are very lucky or good or both) . This is almost a mysterious art, about which I have no clue, so I'll leave it to the others to elaborate. Note that GA chances are esp good for CISE students and not necessarily for other department students.
    Vaibhav: No TA. RA depends on lots of factors .. including ur skills ... GAs are sheer luck ... have to be at the rite place at the rite time! Our batch (Fall 04) was lucky ... almost all of us have RAs or GAs.
    Vibha: Getting TA(Teaching Assistantship) is close to impossible and is only meant for PhDs. RA(Research Assistantship) also is a real tough bet, yet possible. GA(Graduate Research Assistantship) is the most popular/gettable kind of funding for masters students. You obtain a GA from some other department, medicine/Physics etc. you essentially work for one semester as OPS (even that is not required at times) and then you mostly get it in the following sem. Each one of these is full tuition waiver. You only need to pay 328$ from your pocket for 9 credits(3 courses).
     
  2. What is the typical funding scenario for PhD students in the CISE department ?
    Manas: Most PhD students have guaranteed funding [TA] for their first year. After that most of them are able to either get a RA or are still supported via a TA by the department.
    Venkat: A lot of PhD students in CISE are guaranteed a TA for the first year, in their initial offer itself. After the first year, they are expected to get an RA, or be recommended for TA. Since the department gives priority to funding PhD students, funding scene is better than that for MS students.
     
  3. Can a MS student get a TA position ?
    Manas: Considering the department policies regarding TA allotments, its next to impossible for a MS student to get a TA position.
    Venkat: In theory yes. I have heard stories of some MS students in the past who came early and applied, and it turned out there were unfilled vacancies. I don't know if this is true any longer, since the dept has upped its PhD intake and TA positions are hard to find. But if you are MS student, definitely apply. You never know when you may hit the jackpot.
    Vaibhav: Nope.
    Vibha: Getting TA(Teaching Assistantship) is close to impossible and is only meant for PhDs. There is not a single MS student from Fall, 2004/Spring 2005 who got a TA position.
     
  4. How easy is it to get a RA position ?
    Manas: If you are a MS student -- it is extremely difficult since you will be competing with PhD students for the same positions and most professors will give first preference to them. If you are a PhD student, you have good chances.
    Venkat: If you are a PhD student, the prof in question has funds, and the prof is impressed with your work, and you are willing to commit to a PhD with the prof, the chances are pretty high. If you are an MS student, and you can impress the prof, *and* the prof has funds to spare after funding his PhD students, there is a chance.
    Vaibhav: Depends on a lot of factors. If you've done some research before coming here that is related to what some prof is doing here ... he might consider you for an RA. If not ... come here ... talk with them about their work ... show them 'real' interest ... take their courses ... ask questions ... do well in their course ... audit classes u don't take ... in general show them potential to work and great enthusiasm ... it has worked ... and might work for you. Another way is to do some 'free' work for them for a semester ... and possibly get RA the next semester.
    Vibha: RA(Research Assistantship) also is a real tough bet, yet possible. You work for a professor for a semester or really perform well in his course and then approach him. If he likes you and has funds, you will get RA position.
     
  5. What is a GA ?
    Vaibhav: Its an RA from another department. They pay your tution and you also get a stipend. Here is how it works: you work as OPS for a semester. Then you ask your professor whether he could fund your tution. If he agrees ... your appointment is changed form an OPS to a GA. Not all OPS jobs can be converted to a GA though. For example -- working in the food-court cannot get you a GA.
    Vibha: GA is Graduate Research Assistantship. You obtain a GA from some other department, medicine/Physics etc. You initially start as OPS and then either in the same semester or in the following semester you ask for a GA from the employer. Also, certain positions are direct GA positions but are very few in number. So, you work for either 10 hrs or 20 hrs per week and lend your technical expertise (normally in the fields of web designing, Java/Python programming, VB, MS Access/Excel etc) and your tuition fees gets waived off from that department.
     
  6. How is a GA different from an OPS job ?
    Vaibhav: The work may not be any different. An OPS job gets converted to a GA ... where in they pay your tution in addition to paying you for the OPS job.
    Vibha: OPS has no tuition waiver and GA does!!
     
  7. Is there a possibility that I may not get any funding during my period of study as a MS student ?
    Manas: Yes, in past I have known students who did not get any kind of funding [TA/RA/GA] during their period of study as a MS student.
    Vaibhav: Yes there is. Even I had asked this question last year on the yahoogroups and had also asked what will be the maximum expenditure for my MS ... in case I do not get funding ... from the replies I had got and I also feel the same (now that I am here) ... it will be less than the total cost of tution.
    Vibha: It entirely depends on the number of openings available and the number of candidates. So, I guess if you try hard enough and don't leave any stone unturned, getting a funding should not be an impossible task. I would not like to guarantee anything though.
     
  8. If I have guaranteed funding, how much money should I bring from India ?
    Manas: Typically it might take upto 3 months before you get your first pay cheque. You will have a high initial expenditure when you set up your appartment, etc. So I would suggest bring close to $3000.
    Venkat: Bring atleast $2500. I would say $3500 - $4000, should be a safe amount, because the CISE payroll is notorious for delayed paychecks. Of course, if you plan to make big purchases like car or laptop right away, add that amount to the above.
    Vibha: If you have guaranteed funding for all the semesters, then you just need to bring in around 1500-2000$ for your initial expenses in terms of housing deposits, bank deposits, shopping (car/cell phone/laptop….). There are also times when people have not been paid on time initially as they have not been setup in the system. So, you don't want to take any chances.
     
  9. If I do not have funding, how much money should I bring from India ?
    Manas: With a high probability, you will be able to earn enough to cope up with your living expenses. Hence, you only really need money to pay off your tuition expenses.
    Vaibhav: Get first sem's tution + an extra $1500.
    Vibha: Get around 1000-1200$ for initial housing, bank deposits etc and fees for at least the first semester.
     
  10. Is it possible to get a student loan in US ?
    Manas: Yes, it is possible. However, you will need some one who is a US citizen to act as a guarantor for you.
     
  11. How do I search for a GA ?
    Vaibhav: Firstly you can not search for a GA or an OPS from India. You will start once you come here. Search for OPS jobs with profs (in other departments) having lots of funds and where you help him in his research by say ... maintaining some database / maintaining some web-site / coding etc. These are the 'types' that can get you a GA. This 'search' includes mailing profs your resume and telling them abt your skills and asking if they have a possible OPS opening. You'll also have to go door-to-door with copies of your resumes. Another great way is to have some senior friends graduating when you come here ... they can try and 'pass on' their GAs to you.
    Vibha: Apply online at here and also check your cise account and here. Mail professors in other departments if they have any computing needs, viz, website design, programming, msoffice etc. Apply in Shands for sure. You may look for jobs online but you would eventually have to go door-to-door. That does help. Keep asking seniors and other students who are graduating and leaving their jobs for you to take over.
     
  12. Why don't these professors respond to my e-mail?
    Venkat: Perhaps because your mail appears to be a generic email of which they receive lots. Some of them have spam filters, designed to catch such emails. Make you mail brief and crisp, and make the purpose of the email clear.
    Vibha: Because they are inundated with a zillion mails during this time of the year with every student enquiring about their research and scope of funding et al. So, if you be more specific in you mail subject, perhaps that would help.
     
  13. How do I prepare my resume?
    Vibha: Try and make 1-page resume. Your resume should reflect your contact info, educational background, courses taken so far, projects/work exp, awards.
     
  14. What is FTE ?
    Manas: Full Time Equivalent. Full time employement is defined as 40 hours / week. So, if you have 0.5 FTE means you are required to work 20 hours / week.
    Vibha: Full Time Equivalent. If you are hired as 1.0 FTE, you work for 40hrs/week and if u have .5 FTE, u work 20 hrs/week.
     
  15. Do I get any employee benefits if I have a TA/RA/GA/Fellowship?
    Manas: Besides paying health insurance benefits of upto $400 a year, you also get the same benefits as State of Florida employees for AVIS car rental, etc.
    Venkat: Yes, UF pays roughly $400 of your health insurance every year. Can't think of anything else.
     

On-campus Jobs

  1. How easy is it to get an on-campus job for a CISE student ?
    Vibha: Follow the same steps as in question 11 above. Its not so difficult.
     
  2. What kind of on-campus jobs are available ?
    Vibha: Comp related: wedesigning, DB management, programming in java, .net etc, msoffice, matlab. Comp unrelated:food court, shands labs, receptionist, mail delivery etc
     
  3. How many hours per week can I work ?
    Manas: All international students can work upto 20 hours / week when the university is in session; and upto 40 hours / week during breaks [summer included].
    Vibha: You may work upto 20 hrs per week in every semester exceptions being Summer and in the case of an internship.
     
  4. What is the typical pay rate per hour ?
    Vibha: For a cise graduate student, it is typically from 8$ to 15$
     
  5. Can I search for an on-campus job while I am in India ?
    Vibha: You can but I don't see the necessity of the same. I suggest you come here a little earlier and start seeking a job.
     
  6. How do I search for an on-campus job once I reach Gainesville ?
    Vibha: Look at answer 11 in Funding section.
     
  7. Can I do more than one on-campus job?
    Manas: Yes. But you can not exceed the limits mentioned above.
    Vibha: Yes as long as you maintain the 20hrs/week limit.
     
  8. What is an OPS job ?
    Vibha: It stands for Other Personnel Services.
     
  9. Do I get any employee benefits ?
    Manas: Mostly you will not get any employee benefits in an OPS job.
     

Placements

  1. What is the placement scenario for a desi MS student ?
    Vibha: I'd say the placements are good as all the seniors I know have been placed in well-reputed, well-paying firms. However, not all the placements happen through campus. Some of the popular hiring firms are: Microsoft, Amazon, VMWare, EBay etc
     
  2. What is the placement scenario for a desi PhD student ?
    Manas: This is somewhat of an uknown quantity. We don't have enough data to make statements. Normally there are three track options after completing a PhD -- Do a post-doc, Apply for faculty positions, Work in Corporate R&D.
     
  3. How easy is it to get summer internships ?
    Vibha: If you make a dedicated effort towards it, its not tough to get one at all.
     
  4. Can I work off-campus during regular semesters ?
    Vibha: Not till the first 9 months starting from the date entered in your I-20. Also, it gets extremely strenuous to do that with your coursework.
     
  5. Which companies visit the campus for placements ?
    Vibha: A lot of companies do but the ones that sponsor H1s are MS, Amazon, Intel, Texas Instruments, Motorola, Verizon, etc.
     
  6. Is there a Career Resource Center where I can go for guidance ?
    Vibha: Yes. The link is here.
     

Facilities

  1. How are the computing facilities in the CISE department ?
     
  2. Should I bring a laptop from India ?
     
  3. Is buying a laptop necessary ?
     
  4. Can I print documents in the CISE labs ?
     
  5. How good is the UF library ?
     
  6. Is there any gym on the campus ?
     
  7. What other recreational facilities are available ?
     
  8. Where is E114 and What is it ?
     
  9. When can I get a CISE account ?
     
  10. Before getting a CISE account where can I work ?
     
  11. Do I need to buy a desktop computer ?
     
  12. Do I get a locker?
     

Research

  1. What are the different areas for research in the CISE department ?
     
  2. Who are the professor(s) with money ?
     
  3. How do I approach a professor if I like his / her work ?
     
  4. Who are the professor(s) to avoid ?
     
  5. What should I look for in a graduate advisor?
     

Courses

  1. How many courses do I have to take each semester ?
     
  2. Which courses are compulsory ?
     
  3. Which are the interesting courses to take ?
     
  4. Do I need to plan my course schedule ahead of time ?
     
  5. Does it matter who the professor is for core courses ?
     
  6. How do I take independent study ?
     
  7. How should I choose courses for my first semester ?
     
  8. Can I take two core courses in the same semester? Is it manageable ?
     
  9. I want to specialize in Networking. What are the courses available ?
     
  10. I want to specialize in Databases. What are the courses available ?
     
  11. I want to specialize in Graphics or Computer Vision. What are the courses available ?
     
  12. What are 'special topics' ?
     

Gainesville

  1. How safe is Gainesville ?
     
  2. What would I do on a weekend ?
     
  3. What are the places to see ?
     
  4. Are there any night clubs / bars ?
     
  5. Are there any city libraries ?
     
  6. Is there a movie theatre that shows Hindi / Indian Regional movies ?
     
  7. Where do people go shopping ?
     
  8. Where can I read local news ?
     

Housing

  1. Do I live on-campus or off-campus ?
     
  2. What is the typical rent for an apartment ?
     
  3. How many people live together in one apartment ?
     
  4. Which are the apartment complexes where the desi students live ?
     
  5. Is water and electricity included in the rent ?
     
  6. Are the apartments furnished ?
     
  7. Where do I buy furniture from ?
     
  8. Is there any contract for the apartment ?
     
  9. How do I find an apartment ?
     
  10. How do I find room mates ?
     

Transportation

  1. How do I go to the university ?
     
  2. How do I go shopping ?
     
  3. Is it necessary to buy a car ?
     
  4. Can I drive on an Indian license ?
     
  5. Can I drive on IDP (International Driving Permit) ?
     
  6. Is it necessary to get a Florida driving license ?
     
  7. How easy is it to get a Florida driving license ?
     
  8. Is it necessary to buy a bike (bicycle) ?
     

Food

  1. I am veggie. What are my options ?
     
  2. How expensive is it to have lunch some where near the university ?
     
  3. Can I get free food ?
     
  4. Where do I buy groceries ?
     
  5. Can I get Indian groceries ?
     
  6. What is the typical cost of food for a month ?
     
  7. Are there any Indian restaurants ?
     

Miscellaneous

  1. What should I bring from India ?
     
  2. Which books should I get from India ? Why should I get books from India ?
     
  3. Should I buy any insurance from India ?