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| RI | Education | FAQ | |
Frequently Asked Questions About RI Graduate Programs
When is the application deadline for fall admission?
The deadline is December 15 for entry in the following fall semester. The application form and all supporting documents, including recommendations, must be received by that date for your application to be reviewed. We strongly encourage you to submit all materials well in advance of the December 15 deadline.
What if all of my supporting documents do not arrive by the deadline?
They will not be considered in the review of your application. It is your responsibility to make certain that your application is complete and that all required materials reach us by December 15.
Can I apply to the RI PhD program with only an undergraduate degree?
Yes. You do not need a master's degree to apply to a RI PhD program.
Can I transfer into the graduate program from another College/University?
No. You must submit an application, and be accepted into the program.
If I applied last year and was not admitted, can I reapply this year?
Yes. All application materials must be resubmitted, including resume, statement of purpose, and application fee. Submit transcripts and test scores only if changes have been made. At least one new recommendation is required.
Is there spring admission?
No.
On average, how long does it take to complete the Robotics PhD program?
About 5 - 6 years.
Is it possible to work on a PhD degree part time?
No. Our programs require that you be here full time.
When will my application be evaluated?
All applications are evaluated during the months of January and February. Our first offers of admission and financial aid will be sent out by February 25.
Is it possible to visit the campus and the Robotics Institute?
We ask that you wait until you have been admitted to a program before you visit. If admitted to the PhD program, you will be notified early in February and invited to attend our Open House in March. We then make all travel and hotel reservations, as well as schedule appointments with faculty members and graduate students. If you are going to be in the Pittsburgh area at any time, you are welcome to stop by the Robotics Institute. However, we will not be able to make any appointments for you at that time.
Should I contact faculty members directly?
You should feel free to contact professors with very specific questions about their research. However, we do request that you not ask to be accepted by a particular faculty member as a student, since under our admissions system individual faculty members do not make admissions decisions. Selection is by decision of the Admissions Committee, and students are not assigned an advisor until the beginning of the fall semester--after having an opportunity to attend project presentations by all faculty.
Will I be considered for financial support if I am admitted?
Admitted PhD students will receive financial support (tuition, fees, monthly stipend). Students are encouraged to apply for outside funding and fellowships; research assistantships are available for students without their own funding. Students in the Master's degree program are expected to be self-supporting, either on their own or through their employer. Research Assistantships may also be available for some students. These pay for all tuition and fees, and carry a supplemental stipend.
How and when will I be notified if I am admitted?
If you are admitted, you will receive an email or phone call informing you that you were admitted. This will be followed by an express mail package with your formal acceptance letter and other important information on the program. Our programs make their decisions at various times during the month of February. All applicants will receive notification of their status by March 1. We realize that waiting is very difficult; however, we request that you do not call our offices to inquire about the status of your application.
How do I track the status of my application?
Use the same user ID and password to access the submitted online application form. When the required documents (score reports, transcripts, letters of recommendation, or fee) have been received, this will be indicated in the corresponding section. Please allow one to two weeks past the deadline for documents to be recorded. We receive a large volume of mail, and it does take time to process each application. Our offices are closed during the Christmas and New Year holidays (Dec. 22 - Jan. 2) which may further delay processing.
What if want to apply to more than one Doctoral program within the School of Computer Science? Do I need to fill out two applications?
No. You should complete one on-line application form found on the School of Computer Science application website, http://www.cs.cmu.edu/education/admissions/doctorate/application.html.
If I am applying to the Robotics Institute, should I send an application to both the Robotics Institute and to the School of Computer Science?
No. Please submit only one application through either the Robotics Institute admissions website OR the School of Computer Science admissions website.
How many programs can I apply to within SCS?
You may apply to one or two PhD programs within the School of Computer Science. The fee is $65 for one program and $120 for two.
What institution and department code should I use for the GRE test?
For the institution code, you may use 3361 or 2074. For the department code, you may use 5199 or 0402.
What institution and department code should I use for the TOEFL test?
For the institution code, you may use 3361 or 2074. For the department code, you may use 99 or 78.
I plan to take the GRE subject test in either November or December. However, the score will not be reported until after your December 15 deadline. What should I do?
The score report will be added to your file when it arrives and will be considered in the review process. This is the only exception to the deadline; all other required documents must be on file by December 15.
What scores should I enter if I have taken the GRE test more than once?
Please enter the scores from your most recent test. All scores will appear on the official score report for the committee to review.
Should I include a copy of my GRE and TOEFL score reports?
If you have not used the correct institution and department codes, we advise you to either mail or fax (412 268-5571) a copy of your GRE and TOEFL score reports, in addition to requesting an official copy from ETS.
Do you accept the computer-based GRE test?
Yes. We accept any scores that we receive from ETS.
My undergraduate degree is from a foreign institution. However, I have received a Masters degree from an institution in the US. Do I still need to submit a TOEFL score?
Yes, the TOEFL is still required. However, you may either mail or fax a copy of your previous score report, if it is more than two years old.
I am in a five year program and will be awarded a masters degree. Do I enter this in the Undergraduate or Graduate section of Colleges/Universities?
This information should be entered in both sections.
What format do I use to enter my GPA and College/University Point System?
Please enter your GPA exactly as given by your College/University, e.g. 3.5, 4.9, 9.6, etc. In the box to the right indicate the Point System that your College/University uses, e.g. 4.0, 5.0, 10.0, etc.
How many transcripts should I send?
Please send ONE copy only of your transcript from each college or university attended, whether or not you received a degree. If you submit a transcript from a foreign country, you must include an English translation. Do NOT send copies of awards and certificates with the transcript.
What if my fall semester grades are not on my transcript by the December 15 deadline?
We do not require that you send a copy of your fall semester grades. However, if you would like for them to be included in the review process, you may send them as soon as they are available. If you are admitted, you should send us a final transcript.
What happens if some of my transcripts, or any other supporting documents, arrive before my application?
If any supporting document arrives before your application, a file will be started for you.
Where do I mail my transcripts?
Robotics Graduate Admissions Committee
Robotics Institute, Smith Hall 208
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3891 USA