BS/MS Program FAQ
Application Materials
Q: What application and supporting information should I consult to apply and learn more about the 5-year program?
A: All materials and program information
are available online at the BS/MS Program
Admission page as well as from the Academic Office in 1210
Siebel Center.
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Deadlines
Q:Will late applications and/or materials be accepted?
A:No. The application deadline of
March 28, 2008 is firm and all materials/credentials you wish to have considered must be received by the Academic Office (1210 Siebel Center) by 4:45pm on this date.
Note: Items postmarked on or before March 28, 2008, but received by the Academic Office after this date will not be considered.
Q:What happens if I miss the deadline this semester?
A:You may apply during the next application period if still eligible.
Q:When will I know if I am provisionally accepted/declined?
A:Decisions will be sent out from the Academic Office around the end of the Spring 2008 semester. IF admitted, you will meet with Tony Hooker (244-2745) to review your Fall 2008 schedule and remaining requirements for the program. If you should be enrolling for graduate hours in certain courses, the procedure for doing this will be discussed during the review meeting.
Q:For what term will I be admitted to the 5-year BS/MS program if I apply by March 28, 2008?
A:You are being considered for
provisional admission to the 5-year program for the Fall 2008
semester.
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GPA Requirement
Q:Is the 3.5 GPA firm? What if I'm close (say a 3.4)?
A:The program is highly competitive and 3.5 GPA is the very minimum for consideration. References, statement of purpose, and other supporting credentials are all considered.
Q:If I am a transfer student, which GPA is considered for provisional admission to the program?
A:If you haven't received grades yet for any UIUC courses, the GPA used for consideration will be your transfer GPA. If you have a UIUC GPA, that is the GPA used to determine if you qualify for consideration. Any transfer coursework would be part of the "other credentials," and considered along with references and statement of purpose.
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Q:This is my second year at UIUC, but by hours my junior year. Counting my credit hours, AP and other credit I technically have senior standing. Am I still within the window? And if I were to reapply next semester, would I still be in the window?
A:Junior standing is 60-90 hours of credit or the third year of college. This time frame is to ensure people have had enough time to complete enough CS coursework to judge their performance in the major, but also to make sure they are provisionally admitted before satisfying ALL the BS requirements. Apply once you've had a decent amount of coursework and at least a few solid references. You are not eligible to apply to this program after Junior year. If a Senior, you may apply to graduate school through the traditional application process.
Q:I have already completed most 400-level classes (including CS 421, CS 473 and CS 433). Am I ineligible to apply because I did not take those courses for graduate credit?
A: You may apply. If admitted, where appropriate, we will change your undergraduate hours to graduate hours and make any appropriate grade adjustment to convert the grade earned as an undergrad to the equivalent grade on the grad scale, if there were different scales used.
Q:I am a transfer student, may I still apply? Do I need to send in the transcripts from my other school?
A:We have access to any records you have
already submitted to this university. If your transfer grades were
given to the Office of Admissions & Records for evaluation when you transferred to UIUC, you do not need to order another copy for the CS Department. Any transcripts sent to the department by mail must be official copies.
Q:If I am denied provisional admittance, may I reapply?
A:You may reapply if you are still within the appropriate time-frame (Junior standing) and there has been a significant, substantive change to your record since your previous application was submitted.
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Q:I have already completed most 400-level classes (including CS 421, CS 473 and CS 433). If I am provisionally accepted to the program, do I need to retake those for graduate credit?
A:We will change your undergraduate hours
to graduate hours and make any appropriate grade adjustment to
convert the grade earned as an undergrad to the equivalent grade
on the grad scale, if there were different scales used.
Q: If I have 400-level CS courses beyond those required in the traditional BS program, may I have those retroactively converted to graduate hours?
A: Any 400-level coursework not applied to your undergraduate requirements may be petitioned to apply to the MS, once admitted to the Graduate College.
Q: If I am planning to apply to the 5-year program, but am not yet admitted, and I am enrolled in the graduate section of a course, may I take it for 4 hours of undergraduate credit?
A: No. Courses such as CS 433 and CS 473 which
regularly offer graduate sections are approved for no more that 3 hours of undergraduate credit. These undergraduate requirements may not be taken for graduate hours unless you are already admitted to the 5- year program. If at some point you are admitted, the 3 undergraduate hours will be converted to graduate hours.
Q:If provisionally admitted must I do an undergrad thesis?
A:No, it is not required; however, it is
highly encouraged. It will help prepare you for the MS thesis and
possibly help you obtain a MS thesis advisor.
Q: Will the OS requirement for undergrads, CS 241, fulfill the software
distribution requirement for the MS portion of the 5-yr degree?
A: No. Coursework cannot be applied to the MS portion of the degree
unless it is 400-level or above. You can take CS 423 as one of the
CS 400-level electives if you wish. That course with grade B- or
better, would fulfill the software distribution requirement; a B- or
better grade in CS 421 is another option.
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Q:How many references are required? Will more than the minimum increase my chances of being admitted?
A: There is a minimum of 3 letters required. Any additional supporting credentials which further emphasize your potential to succeed in the program my increase your chance of admission.
Q:For the letters of reference, should we hand them in with the application, or have the letter writers send them directly? If so, to what address?
A:If a faculty member of the department is writing your letter, they know they can walk it over to the office; if it will be mailed, it should be sent to the Academic Office. The address is on the reference letter template, which should accompany all references submitted. Letters do not have to be submitted at the exact same time as an application but must be received by the deadline for consideration.
Note: Items postmarked on or before March 28, 2008, but received by the Academic Office after this date will not be considered.
If you are delivering a reference letter, it must be in a sealed envelope, with the seal signed by the author. Generally, an author will not want you to deliver the reference, and if you sign the template stating you waive your right to read it, then it is considered confidential. You will not be able to read the contents of their letter.
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Q:When am I officially admitted to the Graduate College?
A:After completion of 120 undergraduate
hours (and all traditional BS requirements such as Comp II, two CS 400-level electives, the application sequence, etc.) plus three courses (Theory- CS 473 or CS 475; Architecture - CS 431 or CS 433; Software - CS 421 or CS 423) must be taken for graduate hours.
Q:If I am provisionally admitted is there any chance I may not be able to continue on for my MS?
A:Yes. You must maintain a 3.5 minimum GPA throughout the BS component of
the program. You must also have a 3.0 or better in all graduate coursework
applied to your MS degree. If you do not satisfy these points but do satisfy
the requirements for a BS degree you may petition to be reverted back to
traditional undergrad status and receive only the BS degree.
Q:Once provisionally admitted may I begin taking courses for graduate hours credit even if I haven't yet satisfied all the BS requirements?
A:Yes, that is encouraged. You will not be
admitted officially until the undergrad requirements are all
satisfied though, so it is important to make good progress toward
fulfilling the BS portion of the combined program while also
working in any advanced courses as appropriate.
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Q:Why is this program restricted to CS majors only (i.e. why aren't Math/CS or Stat/CS majors eligible to apply)?
A:The College of Engineering and the Graduate College together have approved this combined curriculum, which works only with the CS Engineering requirements. This program is not approved by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences for Math/CS or Stat/CS majors.
Q:Do I need to submit a transcript of my UIUC record?
A:No.
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Last Modified February 05 2008 12:23:08.
