Frequently Asked Questions: Graduate
What degrees do you offer?
The Masters (M.S.) and Doctorate (Ph.D.) degrees in Computer Science.
How many professors does the department have?
There are about twenty-two faculty in the department. We continue to increase the size and diversity of our faculty.
Do I have to do a Thesis?
There is a course work option for the M.S. degree, in addition to the thesis option. The Ph.D., of course, requires a written dissertation.
What are the formal steps needed to obtain an M.S. or a Ph.D.?
The details of formal steps needed (e.g., courses, examinations, proposal, thesis) are described in WPI's Graduate Catalog.
Where can I find information about applying to WPI for a Graduate degree?
The Office of Graduate Studies & Enrollment handles all graduate admissions. Send your application to them, not to CS. A description of the CS department's Graduate Admission and Financial Aid Information provides additional details.
Do I have to take the GREs?
Yes. The GRE General Test is required, unless you have a degree from WPI, or are a current WPI undergraduate.
As of January 2003 the WPI CS Department recommends the GRE CS Subject Test for all M.S. and Ph.D. applicants. The test will allow us to assess your abilities. It is an excellent method to demonstrate that you have sufficient CS background, especially if your record does not clearly show previous formal CS education.
Note that some Fellowships require a GRE General Test score, and in some cases a GRE CS Subject Test score as well. Consequently, if you are interested in applying for Fellowship funding we encourage you to take the GRE exams, otherwise you may automatically disqualify yourself.
Do I have to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)?
TOEFL scores must be submitted by all applicants for whom English is not their first language. This requirement is waived for students who have attended a US college or university, full-time, for one year. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 is required. The minimum score for the computer-based TOEFL test is 213. Your TOEFL scores are only valid for two years.
What do I need to send before my application will be considered?
In order to proceed with the application process WPI will require all of the following items before your application will be considered:
- A completed WPI application form;
- Your "Statement of Purpose";
- Your TOEFL scores (originals, not copies);
- Your GRE scores (originals, not copies);
- The nonrefundable application fee (no waivers considered);
- Three letters of recommendation;
- Official copies of your Transcript, containing grades or marks for all your years of college study.
All information is taken into account for admission. It is not possible to assess an applicant without a complete application.
Do I have to pay the application fee?
Yes. However, it is not required if you are a WPI undergraduate or if you already have a degree from WPI.
What is the lowest acceptable score for the GREs and TOEFL?
A minimum TOEFL score of 550 is required. There are no other minimum scores for either admission or financial aid.
Can I send a copy instead of an original of the scores?
You must send originals of all official documents. For example, you should have ETS report your scores by listing WPI on the registration form or by requesting additional reports directly from ETS.
What is the expected background of applicants?
We expect a B.S. or M.S. degree in Computer Science or a closely related field. Most of our M.S. students have Computer Science or Computer Engineering backgrounds. If you have a weaker CS background you will be expected to study more introductory material, perhaps by taking undergraduate courses, although you may not be able to count those course credits towards your graduate degree.
Can you review my qualifications before I send in my application?
No. We receive so many applications from qualified applicants that we do not have the time to review qualifications by e-mail. We need the completed application before we can consider you.
If I get accepted and I applied for funding, when can I expect to be notified of funding?
There is no fixed date but applications completed by January 15th generally receive notification in March about admission and funding. Applications to start in the Spring should be completed by October 1st, and notification should be sent to you in November.
When do I have to tell WPI whether or not I am going to accept its offer?
You have to tell WPI by April 15th if you are starting in the Fall, or by December 15th if you are starting in the Spring.
What types of funding are typically available?
The Office of Graduate Studies provides general information about Assistantships and Fellowships.
The department gives financial assistance to selected applicants in the form of teaching and research assistantships to either current or newly admitted students. Assistantships cover tuition and a monthly stipend sufficient for living expenses. Teaching assistantships (TAs) are selected from among qualified students by the department. Research assistantships (RAs) are chosen by the principal investigator of the research. WPI also has a very limited number of Fellowships available.
All admitted full-time students will be considered for support. We do not have any targets for the number of supported students from any country, and we support students from all over the world. The department does not have tuition waivers or any other means for partial support for students.
How difficult is it to get funding?
It is not possible to answer this question, as the funding available, the number of applicants, and the supported students who graduate, vary every year.
What are the selection criteria for funding?
The primary factors in considering students for admission and for financial aid are: your academic record (i.e., degree and grades), GRE scores, TOEFL scores (for foreign students), recommendations and the applicant's statement of purpose.
Students who come to WPI without support will be considered for support when they're here, based mainly on their success at WPI.
Can I attend without support?
Yes. Each year we have more well-qualified, newly admitted, students than we can support with assistantships. Some of these students enroll without support and pay all expenses themselves. Each year we award assistantships to a few current, but unsupported, students who have come to WPI and are doing well.
What about jobs?
Many graduate students have lucrative and beneficial summer jobs at startups or well-established companies. International students need to check the requirements of their entry visa before taking any off-campus employment. Somepart-time jobs are available on campus.
How large are the classes? What subjects are available?
Graduate classes vary in size from about about 4 students to about 40 students. This depends on how advanced the class is, whether the course is required or not, and the semester. The Graduate Catalog lists all the descriptions of graduate CS courses.
What exactly does a Teaching Assistant (TA) or Research Assistant (RA) do?
Teaching Assistants typically do a mix of tasks such as: grade (mark) student homework, programs, or exams; have office hours where they are available to answer questions from students who need extra help; organize in-lab problem- solving sessions. At WPI, TAs do not teach courses.
Research Assistants help faculty members with their research. Usually RAs are also doing their Thesis work in the same area. RA duties may involve: programming; finding, collecting and analyzing technical publications; writing papers about the funded research project.
How are TAs assigned to classes?
TAs are asked to provide a list of courses that they would prefer to assist with. Professors are asked to provide a list of TAs that they would prefer to have as assistants. The CS department's undergraduate committee makes the assignment of TAs to courses based on both those lists.
Will I get an office, and will I be sharing it?
All funded students are assigned to an office, and all offices are shared. Often we try to put students who are doing similar research together. This is especially important for RAs.
Will I get my own computer?
If you receive funding, yes. All TA and RA offices are equipped with a computer, X-terminal or workstation for each student in the office.
What kind of facilities does the department provide?
The department and WPI have many resources that are available for your use (e.g., computers, printers, rooms, labs, library, mailboxes, lounge, etc). An orientation meeting for new CS graduate students, held just prior to the start of the Fall Semester, will also provide you with information.
Will I get an Academic Advisor?
An initial academic advisor will be assigned to you when you first come to the Computer Science department. Your advisor will help you by answering your questions and providing advice about what courses to select. Later, when you start doing research it is possible to change your advisor to one who shares your research interests. If you are doing a thesis, once you get a thesis advisor, that professor also becomes your academic advisor.
What are the Research Groups?
The Research Groups are a way for people with similar interests to meet regularly to discuss current research topics and results. We suggest that when you first come to WPI you attend at least one group in order to meet people and to find out what research is going on.
If I attend a Research Group am I making a commitment to do research in that area?
No. Unless you are supported as an RA you have no commitments to a particular research area.
Is there an organization for graduate students?
The CS department has the Computer Science Graduate Students Organization. It helps new graduate students in the department, and handles suggestions and grievances to the department. The WPI Graduate Student Government represents all graduate students at WPI.
Will my assistantship salary be enough to cover my living expenses in Massachusetts?
Assistantships cover tuition and a monthly stipend sufficient for living expenses. You will have enough money to be able to rent a place to live, buy food, and take care of all normal living expenses.
Can I get help with finding housing before I come here?
Most people find housing by themselves, perhaps with assistance from the WPI Residential Services Apartment Finder System.
What are the first few things to do when I get to WPI?
Our collection of Information for New CS Graduate Students should get you started.
Maintained by webmaster@cs.wpi.eduLast modified: August 21, 2007 14:15:35