- Applying – questions about the application process
- Department life – what it's like to be a grad student here,
- Timeline – the stages you go through, from applying through defending your thesis
- International students – special questions for international students
- Rochester – our fair city
When is the application deadline?
Candidates for fall admission should submit their applications by January 15.
What is the application fee?
Applications for Graduate Study must be made using the University of Rochester's Online Application for Graduate Studies.
There is no fee for applications. After applying you may track your application using our online website.
When will acceptance notifications be sent?
In March, we invite our top local (i.e., in the U.S. or Canada) candidates for a site visit and conduct phone interviews with our top international candidates. Final decisions are normally sent in April.
What is the purpose of the site visit? Do I have to go?
The site visit allows us to meet our top candidates before making admission decisions. You are not required to attend, though a good site visit can significantly bolster your chances for admittance. Also, candidates can use the site visit to learn more about the URCS program through one-on-one interactions with faculty and graduate students.
If accepted, how do I get funding?
All students in good academic standing receive a full tuition waiver and stipend.
What is the typical profile of a graduate student at URCS?
One of our measures of excellence.
How many courses do you usually take per semester?
First year students typically take 4 courses, with the course load lightening for second year and dropping off sharply after that.
Will I be teaching anything?
Probably not. Teaching Assistants typically help to administer a course and provide lecture/grading support, but traditionally do not teach courses. The amount which the grad student will teach in a particular course is dependent on the professor and the course, so those who are interested in teaching should mention this when they are preparing to be a TA.
How many years does it take on average to graduate?
Most grad students complete their Ph.D. work in 5 or 6 years.
Do people work with faculty outside of the department?
Several of the department faculty are cross-listed with other departments (especially the Brain and Cognitive Studies department), so a significant amount of research is done with members of other disciplines. Current projects also include members of the Center for Future Health, which is part of the medical campus.
Should I visit?
If you can make it for the candidates' weekend in March,
you absolutely should visit then. In addition to meeting most/all
of the faculty and staff, you'll also get the chance to meet the
current grad students and your potential classmates. This is
probably your best opportunity to really get to know what life is
like at the University of Rochester.
Does the department have any weird/fun/amusing traditions?
Absolutely. The grad student lounge (located on the seventh
floor of the Computer Studies building) is a common hangout location
for grad students, and is best known for the shelves of empty
champagne bottles which line the west wall. As tradition goes, each
graduating Ph.D. student opens and signs a bottle with their name
and date of completion, resulting in several decades' worth of
bottles. Near the wall of bottles is a board for the Canadian game
crokinole, usually occupied by several students. Also, every Friday
at 5pm, we have happy hour, a gathering for everyone in the
department with free beer and snacks being served. Once a year we
have a department picnic to welcome the first-year grad
students. Over the last several years the picnic has also been the
venue for our annual
river run. The best way to find out about these and other
traditions is to visit (see "Should I visit?" above).
Do I get an office? What about a computer?
Each student shares an office with 1-2 other grad students, each with their own desk and workstation. Though these aren't technically assigned to any particular student, most grads will claim one particular desk and computer and will use it exclusively. In the case when several students need to collaborate on an assignment or research project, students typically make use of area-specific labs or the general grad student lab on the seventh floor.
Are students involved in department work?
Every year, each grad student is assigned one or two departmental committees, like curriculum committee, grad lounge committee, lab committee, etc. The job involves providing a student perspective on important issues. Working on these committees provides students a great perspective on the functioning of an academic unit and may help in their future academic careers.
How are you connected to the outside world?
We have department seminars every Monday mornings where researchers from industry or other universities give a presentation of their work. Apart from that, we have regular group meetings involving valuable exchange of ideas.
What will I be doing in each year of the program?
Is there a separate application deadline for international students?
No. The application deadline for all students is January 15.
How diverse are grad students in the department?
As of October 2007, the department has 44
Ph.D. students. Of these, 13 are citizens of the US or Canada. The
rest come from a variety of countries around the world, including
Bangladesh, Greece, China, Colombia, India, Italy, South Korea,
Iran, Iraq, and Poland.
What makes Rochester unique?
Rochester, N.Y. is known as "The World's Image Center" based on its extensive and unique imaging heritage (home
to both Xerox and Kodak). The city of Rochester has also been central in the women's rights and civil rights movements (home of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass); a commitment shared by the University of Rochester.
Does it snow all of the time?
Well...most of the time. Expect snow between the months of November and March. There are many venues available for winter and indoor sports, such as skiing, snowboarding, ultimate frisbee and basketball. Autumn and spring in upstate New York are breathtaking.
Is there anything to do in Rochester?
Ummm...yeah! Art, theater, fine dining, parties... what are you looking for? The Rochester metropolis has over 1 million people, so you are likely to find many things of interest.
Are other cities nearby?
Buffalo/Niagara Falls,NY (73 miles). Syracuse, NY (87 miles). Toronto,CA (176 miles). Pittsburgh, PA (284 miles). New York City, NY (333 miles).