New Student FAQ

This FAQ has been compiled to help incoming Indian graduate students. No claims are made for its correctness or accuracy. The conditions encountered by any student and also the expenses, could greatly vary from student to student. This has been compiled keeping an average Indian graduate student in mind, and is therefore very specific to this breed of students and that too at UH only.

Q. I've got admission to UH. Should I go? How good is UH?

The ranking varies every year, and it varies for every department. The current ranking of UH maybe obtained from one of the rankingslist provided in the Reference links.It was relatively easy to get funding here, though very few students come here with aid. but due to the sudden increase inthe number of incoming students, it is becoming harder by the day, though getting an on campus job can be easily managed.If you don't expect to get admission into one of the better schools, UH might be a better bet.

Q. I haven't got any assistantship as of now.

Very few come to UH 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. UH is a pretty big campus, and there a lot of on campus jobs available. Most of the on campus jobs fetch a tuition fee waiver along with a basic monthly salary. So even if you don't get a funding from the department, you can easily manage with an on campus job.

Q. What are the part-time job opportunities, assistantship possibilities etc?

There are two types of assistantships you can get. Either a Teaching Assistantship (TA) or a Research Assistantship (RA). These kind of funding are invariable given by your own respective departments. Only a few lucky ones, get an offer for RA or TA with their admission. Most of the professors will not fund you till you have talked and convinced them personally of your virtues.It is relatively easier to get a TA than a RA. Research Assistants are usually hired based on their previous academic performance and also their experience. Your GRE and TOEFL scores have very little to do with it.

TAs on the other hand are relatively easier to get, and they have more to do with your GRE and TOEFL scores. Also you have to convince the professor who will recommend you to the department, you are good enough.

The option which most students depend on is the on campus job which provides an out of state tuition fee waiver. Many departments, will want students for their daily work, like System Administration, Data Entry , tutoring etc., and they fetch a basic salary which comes along with an out of state tuition waiver. UH being a pretty big campus, offers scores of such jobs in various departments like, Psychology, Optometry, Biology, Learning Support Services etc.

Q. Do I need to arrive in Houston at least a month before school starts?

You need not arrive very early, unless your classes start early, or you need to meet someone.Usually there is no one available on campus between the semesters, even if you want to search for a job, or talk to some professors.It would be ideal if you land here about 1 or 2 weeks before classes start.That way you will arrive at the same time asmany of the new students and can go around looking for room mates, and start the process of getting settled simultaneously.

Q. Should I take the University Hostel or is it preferable to stay off-campus?

On-campus housing are a bit expensive than Off-campus housing (around 100-150$ more) but are more comfortable. On-campus apartments are close to the University and hence a lot more safer than Off-campus housing. Most of the girls and those students who have funding prefer to stay on-campus (in Cambridge Oaks or Cullen Oaks). Most of the students who come without funding prefer to stay off-campus as it is definitely cheaper.

Q. If I don't take up the hostel accommodation , where will I stay when I land in Houston?

Most students who come here, just stay with others for a week or so before they can find roommates and rent an apartment. Even if you don't know anybody, please send us an E-mail to the Graduate Indian Students Organization, and we will arrange to put you up temporarily somewhere.

Or if you want to stay in the hostel, you can get temporary place there for a couple of days. But not for long I think. As soon as school starts, they close down the temporary accommodation and you have either move out or move in for the whole semester, which is pretty expensive and no one does. But as a last resort, if no one is willing to put you up (which is a rarity), you can take up temporary accommodation there,

Q. Will there be anyone from the University to pick me from the airport?

Yeah, Someone can be there to pick you up, but you have to let someone/GISO know well in advance. Fill in the pickup request form in the following webpage http://www.uh.edu/giso/travel.htm and one of the pickup and accomodation committee member will be in contact with you and will make sure that someone is there to pick you up.

Q. What do I have to bring with me?

Most of us usually carry one hand baggage and a couple of check in luggage. Carry all your important documents, like your passport, I-20, university acceptance letter etc., with you in the hand baggage. Also carry clothes for a couple of days, and some daily requirements.

About clothes, Houston has hot and humid summers, which last most of the year. So pile up your summer clothes. The winters here are short and not very harsh. It almost never goes below freezing. So a couple of sweaters and a leather jacket should see you through the winter.Jackets are exorbitantly priced here, and it would be advisable to get it from India. Don't stock up on your formals also, as you will be rarely wearing them frequently as students. Get your cooking utensils, frying pan, Pots if you can, etc.

Get a pressure cooker, everybody gets one. it helps cook faster, esp. cook Indian food. Maybe a rice cooker is a good idea, but that has a voltage problem. Remember the difference in voltages before you put hair dryers, iron boxes and what not into your luggage. If you get masalas and dals, it might save you that grocery for a month, but I don't think its really worth it. Anyway, pack some of those masalas if you have the urge to. You get almost all the masalas, and other Indian items here for a pretty decent price. Get some stationary (not paper), but other stuff like stapler, scissors, pens, etc. but not too much.Audio tapes are one thing you would get from India. Then, get whatever you feel like.

As far as money is concerned, assuming that you get a TA or any other "instate" job, you don't need much money. About $2500 would be enough to take care of your instate fees (1300) and about $1000 to set you up here till you get paid. Now, if you don't get a TA or a job immediately, you would be needing at least $5000/$6000 because you would be out-of-state fees(4000) for your would have to manage life for at least a couple of months till you find some part-time job.

Q. What will be my approximate monthly expenses?

A moderately priced apartment will cost you between 150 to 250. There are scores of such apartments around the campus, and you will be sharing the apartment with 2 or 3 people. Most of the on campus housing will cost between 250 to 400. An average student spends about 200, for his/her utilities and groceries.

Q. What are among the first few things that I must do upon arriving there?

Just go to the Orientation and they will tell you everything, But here are a couple of things that I can think of. First of all, go to your department and find out what courses you have to take and register for them. Usually there are a lot of students in fall and very few courses. Most of the good courses get full even before you can arrive here. Also, if you delay registration you may end up paying a late registration fee of $20. Once, you've registered, go to the financial services office in E-Cullen and pick up your fee bill. Find out where you can make the UH-ID and get that done. You will need your fee-bill and maybe your passport. Once you have a UH-ID, that helps as a picture ID until you get a license or something.

Then, go to the admissions office in E-Cullen and change your address else, all your letters will still keep going to India. Among other important things, Go and apply for a Social Security Number. Find out if the orientation people will take you there and also to get your Texas ID or driving license. Then, Start a bank account, by default at the University Center, and put all that money, checks that you've got from India.

And of course, Run around for that job and if you still manage to find time, make yourself familiar with the campus. You have a long long time to spend here. Look around for roommates and also apartments. Try to start your apartment hunting as soon as you get here, if you plan to stay near school. So initially, don't worry too much about your courses. You will have a lot of time to catch up on them. Try to get all these things done.

Visit UH's pages on Information of Interest to Graduate Applicants and International Applicants.