Frequently Asked Questions
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 May 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.

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.

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
  • If you have taken course under him and got a good score.
  • If you know him and are in his good books.
  • Your interest in his research areas.
  • 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.

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.

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.
  • Rental Deposit - $ 200 - 300 or Less if you share the room
  • Basic Groceries - $ 50 - 100
  • Utensils/Appliances/Beds/Furniture - $ 50 - 100
  • 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 $350-$450.

On Campus / Off Campus jobs
How do I find On campus jobs ?
For On campus jobs, please visit the this site http://www.ilstu.edu/home/jobs/

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.

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 accommodation 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".