New students: If you have not already done so, contact the CSGSG to notify them that you have found this information.

This page is intended to give incoming CS and CpE graduate students all the information needed to make a successful transition into the department. We present these events in roughly chronological order and provide links to authoritative sources when possible.

This information is aimed particularly at CS students. CpE students are encouraged to read the Computer Engineering program's web site as well as this page.

The current draft orientation schedule is available here.

Before arrival

• Find housing. Prices tend to range between $400 (multiple roommates) and $1000 (single apartment) per month. Parking near the CS building is expensive and in limited supply, but university and city buses are available. See our housing page for more information.
• Provide money for your first month at UVa. Stipends from TA and RA positions typically provide their first payment in mid-September. Most students spend at least $1500, often more than $2000, before receiving their first paycheck. See the Engineering School's Financial Aid Page for more information.
• Obtain Immunizations and Register for Health Insurance. The University of Virginia requires all students to obtain certain vaccinations, as outlined on the student health website. Students with TA and RA stipends are also provided with health insurance; you should register for this in August by visiting Aetna's student health website. Note that you'll need to re-enroll in the health plan every August throughout your time as a studnet.

When to arrive

You should move in before any of the following events (roughly by mid-August):

• Graduate Orientation, mandatory for all students.
• TA Training, mandatory for students with TA positions in the Fall. You should get an email notice from the teaching resource center if you need to attend this.
• International student registration (listed on this site), mandatory for all who are not citizens of the USA.
• SPEAK and UVELPE tests (listed here), mandatory if English is not your native language.

We maintain information on these in the orientation calender.

When you arrive

Come to Rice Hall and check in with Brenda Perkins, in Room 524. From the elevators, turn right and go into the lobby. Her office is the third office from the right, facing from the lobby door.

This step is essential! Brenda Perkins can answer most of your questions, but she also needs to confirm with each graduate student that all of your acceptance paperwork is in order, including things such as getting your final transcripts from your previous school. Bad things can happen if you do not check in with her, so please take care of that as soon as you can.

Orientation

You will have a few days of orientation, as outlined here. This will include, among other things,

• Getting a computing ID (your initials followed by a number and one or more letters, which is your email address and login name for UVa computers) and a university ID card (which shows your 9-digit university ID number).
• Being assigned a temporary faculty advisor. They have both the desire and the responsibility to help you.
• Discussion of what courses you'll take Fall semester. Usually this will be three credits of TA or RA duties, CS6190, and two or three other classes. It's helpful to come to this meeting with some idea which courses you'd like to take.

Registration and Paperwork

You should:

• Register for classes with SIS after faculty advising at orientation.
• Do the paperwork to get financial aid.
  1. You'll need to bring a U.S. social security card or U.S. birth certificate. International students can get a social security card by taking their passport to

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  2. You need a checking account at a U.S. bank in order to receive your stipend payments.
  If you do not have one, visit a local bank (list here) and open a bank account before you see Joan Wicks.
  3. Go see Joan Wicks in Thornton A205, where you will fill out several forms.
     1. Provide proof of a bank account in the form of a canceled or blank check.
     2. Bring your U.S. Social Security Card with you, as well as your passport and/or other identifying documents as mentioned here.

During your first semester

• Take 2–3 courses.
• Fullfill your TA or RA duties.
• Visit with faculty about their research. They'll come talk in CS6190, but you should also visit one-on-one to best match with a research advisor.
• Participate. The more colloquia, research luncheons, tea-times, etc., you attend, the more rapidly you'll feel at home here.

End of first semester

Submit a prioritized list of desired advisors. Advisors will also submit lists of desired students, limited by their funding and ability to take on more students, so make sure they know you are interested.

Second semester and beyond

Work closely with your advisor. For the most part, the remainder of your acitivites at UVa will be decided by the two of you.