Graduate Advising: Graduate Program FAQ

General Questions

To which program should I apply?

The School of Engineering currently has five graduate programs, bioinformatics, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering and statistics & applied mathematics. An additional program is under development, Technology & Information Management, and is expected to be approved soon. While some areas of research clearly fall within one program, others (such as systems, networks, VLSI) are represented in two or even three of the programs (e.g. image processing).

You should consult the program pages to learn about their requirements, faculty, and research emphases in order to decide which program will best allow you to pursue your research goals. It is possible to change from one program to another after a few quarters provided you obtain the consent of the program you wish to join.

If in the course of reviewing your application, the program faculty feel that your interests would best fit another program, your application will be passed on to that program for consideration.

What are the criteria for admission to graduate study in applied math & statistics, bioinformatics, computer engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering at UCSC?

The evaluation process for applications is extremely complex, taking into account all the material submitted with the application. Grade point average (GPA), GRE scores, GRE subject test (optional, but recommended), TOEFL (for international students), letters of recommendation, research, industry experience, and statement of purpose all play a role.

Academic Performance

The GPA is not the only criteria in evaluating transcripts. Grades in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering and related disciplines (e.g., math, biology, physics) count more than grades in other areas. We pay particular attention to upper division classes relating to your major. Generally students we have admitted in the past have a GPA in the 3.5 range. You must have your original sealed transcripts from every college level institution you have attended sent with your application.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters must give a detailed, factual, and candid evaluation of the applicant's intellectual and problem solving capabilities. Rankings and comparisons with other students are very useful. Ask your recommender to follow these guidelines. If your recommender is sending the letter directly, check to make sure the deadlines are met.

Research Experience

Research experience, although not required, can be helpful in evaluating an application, especially for those applying to a Ph.D. program. If you have worked on a research project, please tell us about it and ask at least one of your recommenders to comment on it. If your work is part of a joint project, the recommender should indicate your specific contribution to the project. Include urls of abstracts or reprints of any papers you have published in journals or presented at conferences on your resume with your online application.

Examples of our research are available.

GRE Scores

Because the only consistent measure across all applicants is the GRE, the ranking process relies on assessing qualitative factors. These scores let us compare the basic skills of applicants of diverse backgrounds. You will be measured against the applicant pool when you apply for admission. While we do not have a minimum required score for admissions, the quantitative and analytical GRE scores of admitted students have historically been in the 90th percentile or above.

We do accept both computer based and paper based scores of GRE. Educational Testing Service will supply scores for tests taken in the previous 5 years. We will accept a photocopy for older scores and may, in some cases, request that the test be retaken.

The code for the SOE is the same as UCSC: 4860. There is no need to put the department code.

See the Graduate Record Exam site for GRE information.

GRE Subject Test

Although we highly recommend you take the subject test, it is not required for admission.

TOEFL scores:

Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not received a college degree from an institution in an English-speaking country must take the TOEFL exam. The minimum passing score for the TOEFL exam must be 570 on the paper-based , 230 on the computer-based or 89 on the internet-based test. If you have received a degree from an American institution and have lived in the United States for a number of years, you may be able to request a TOEFL exception through the department.

See the Test of English as a Foreign Language site for TOEFL information.

Statement of Purpose

This should be a concise, well-written essay about your background and your reasons for pursuing graduate study in the field you have chosen. Selection committees place particular importance on the statement of purpose. It exhibits your ability to present ideas in clear, coherent language. Your statement of purpose should indicate how knowledgeable you are in the desired field of study, what area of research you intend to pursue, and how your undergraduate Studies and other experiences (work, community involvement, and so forth) serve as a foundation for graduate study. In addition, how and why you intend to build on this foundation of knowledge and apply your training to social or theoretical problems. Please mention in your personal statement why you want to pursue graduate work in bioinformatics, computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering or statistics & applied mathematics and why you would like to do it at UCSC.

Work Experience

Please describe your work experience in the application and, if related to bioinformatics, computer science, computer engineering or electrical engineering, mention how you think it will help you in graduate school.

Do I need an BME (Bioinformatics), CS, EE, CE or SAM degree to be accepted to your program?

No, but it certainly helps. To be considered for acceptance into any of our graduate programs, student usually have a Bachelor's degree in bioinformatics, computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering or statistics and applied mathematics. Occasionally applicants with degrees in fields such as mathematics, biology, chemistry or physics are considered for admission to the program. In special circumstances, alternative undergraduate preparation will be considered (e.g., a biology major may be appropriate for a student interested in the application of information and computer science to biological problems). The MS program might be suitable for those with some background in BME*, CS, EE CE, or SAM who wish to get a more complete education.

What kind of background should I have before applying to the program?

We expect most entering students to have a solid background in applied math & statistics, computer engineering, computer science or electrical engineering as well as some programming experience. Knowledge of discrete mathematics, data structures, and programming languages are particularly important. In addition courses in algorithms, computer architecture, and logic design are an essential preparation for graduate courses in computer engineering.

For bioinformatics, strength in at least 2 of the 3 core areas: programming and computers, mathematics and statistics, and biochemistry and biology. We generally do not accept students who have not had any advanced mathematics. Knowledge of programming before entering the graduate program is also advised.

For electrical engineering, we expect most entering students to have a solid background in mathematics, physics, electrical engineering, or computer engineering, as well as some programming experience. Knowledge in three of the following areas, devices and circuits, electromagnetics, systems and signals, optics and optoelectronics, applied mathematics and statistics, are particularly important. In addition, courses in integrated circuits, solid state devices, optical electronics, fiber optics and integrated optics, applied electromagnetic theory, digital signal processing, random processes and linear systems are useful preparations for graduate courses in electrical engineering. Students are expected to have certain depth knowledge in their chosen field of research, as well as breadth knowledge in other areas.

I don't have an academic computer background, but can I apply for your department's master's programs?

Students with no computing background will most likely face difficulties in being admitted to the program.

How do I choose whether to apply to the Ph.D. or Masters program?

Our Ph.D. program is designed for people primarily interested in research and education in the computer field. If you like working on unsolved problems in computing and/or teaching computing to others, the Ph.D. program would be a good choice for you. It takes 4-6 years to complete. Typical careers are as a professor at a research university or liberal arts college, or as a researcher in an industrial or government research laboratory, although the opportunities are endless. Our MS program is designed to expand and deepen the knowledge and skills acquired as an undergraduate.

Recent graduates have accepted tenure track positions at Purdue University, Santa Clara University, Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Massachusetts. Other graduates are employed by prestigious research facilities such as ATT/Bell Labs, IBM Almaden Research Labs and the NASA/Ames Research Park. Some of our recent graduates have also been hired by companies such as Nokia, Cisco and Oracle, to name a few.

I can't afford to pay for graduate school. Can you help?

Yes. Most of our Ph.D. students are offered support for at least the first year, and can expect to have support through their degree if they continue to make adequate progress. Support comes in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships (TA), or graduate student research assistantships (GSR). Graduate student assistantships are 20-hour/week positions that pay a stipend, tuition and fees, and health insurance. Typically a Ph.D. student will have a fellowship or TA the first year and then be offered a GSR in subsequent years by their advisor. Students should also look into applying for extramural fellowships. Masters students may also be offered a teaching assistantship upon acceptance to the program, and can also apply for them once accepted to the program. Once a faculty member gets to know you, you may also be offered a GSR.

Does a request for financial aid affect my chances of being admitted?

Admission and awarding of need-based financial aid are handled independently. Awards made at the time of admission (fellowships, TA, fee tuition waivers, research assistantship) are made on the basis of merit only.

The financial aid office can assist if you intend to apply for need- based support after your admission.

Financial Aid Office
201 Hahn Student Services Building
University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95064
831-459-2963

More information regarding financial aid is available.

More information regarding fees is available.

Stipends and Pay

Fellowships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and nonresident tuition-fee waivers are available on a competitive basis. Stipends for the academic year (three quarters) range from $14,000 to $20,500 in 2006-2007. In addition, summer research assistantships ($9000 approx.) sometimes are available. For international students, the nonresident fees are also paid for graduate student assistantships.

International Students

Criteria for admission are the same for domestic and international students with the exception of the TOEFL requirement.

Further information regarding international applications is available.

More information regarding the UC Santa Cruz Office of International Programs is available.

Can I still apply if I cannot have all the material ready by the deadline?

Every applicant is urged to be certain that all parts of the application are complete when it is submitted. If a file is incomplete, it may not be considered. The graduate admissions will not accept applications after the application deadline has passed.

I cannot afford the application fee. Can you waive it?

Funds for waivers are extremely limited, but you can obtain a "Request for Graduate Application Fee Waiver" from the Graduate Division to submit with your application for admission.

International students are not eligible for fee waivers.

How much is the application fee, and who do I make out the check to?

Your completed application must be accompanied by a $60 (subject to change) fee. This application fee is nonrefundable. Applications submitted without the fee are not considered.

Are photocopies or faxes of any of the application materials acceptable?

Photocopies and faxes are acceptable only as place-holders in the initial application; original documents are required to complete your application.

What is the university's and department institution code?

The code for the SOE is the same as UCSC: 4860. There is no need to put the department code.

What are my chances of being admitted?

Competition is keen for admission to the graduate programs in bioinformatics, computer engineering, electrical engineering and computer science. Students entering the graduate programs must have completed the equivalent of a bachelors degree, demonstrated strength in their undergraduate studies, and performed well on the GRE. We cannot estimate your likelihood of admission based on your letter, resume, or email message.

I've already applied to the program and am waiting to hear back. When will I know if I'm accepted?

The review of applications is generally complete by February. Most offers of admission are prepared and mailed before March 15. Denial letters are sent thereafter. By a general agreement to which UC Santa Cruz and most graduate schools in the United States are signatories, admitted applicants have until April 15 to reply with their acceptance of offers.

Can I contact the graduate program by email?

For questions regarding the graduate program you can contact the Jack Baskin School of Engineering, statistics and applied mathematics, Bioinformatics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering Graduate Programs; email us at soegradadm@soe.ucsc.edu.

Who decides whether you are admitted?

The Graduate Dean at UCSC is responsible for admissions. Faculty committees in bioinformatics, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, and statistics and applied mathematics evaluate the applications and make recommendations to the Dean. These recommendations are usually followed.

Can I just take a couple of courses without being admitted?

Students who just want to brush up, or are unsure of their interest in a graduate degree, can enroll in individual graduate classes through University Extension's Concurrent Enrollment options only with permission of the instructor. A small number of these classes can be applied to your MS or Ph.D. degree if you are later accepted to one of these programs. You should discuss this option with the SOE graduate advising office.

Do your departments have a probationary admission policy to allow some applicants to enter your program first and then asking them to finish those prerequisite courses before starting their graduate courses?

No. We do not offer probationary admission into any of our graduate programs.

Bioinformatics

For further information regarding the UCSC graduate programs in bioinformatics, computer engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering please contact soegradadm@soe.ucsc.edu.