Linux:
The Web
Useful Information for New Students:
1. Whom to inform about your arrival?
2. How early to come?
3. How good is funding at CS dept?
4. Whom to contact for funding?
5. What are the criteria for selection of RA/TA?
6. What are semester timings?
7. What are on-campus (part-time) jobs? And how much can we earn?
8. What are in-state and out-of-state tuition fees?
9. What is the cost of living in Norfolk?
10. What Text books to get from India?
11. What is the fee structure?
12. What are the immunization requirements?
13. What to get from India? (From ISA website)
1. Whom to inform about your arrival?
Arrival and Temporary Accommodation: Mr. Abhijit Shinde (future_oasis@yahoo.com)
[Tel: 757-489-8222 (resi) 757-683-3771 (work, between 1-5pm, avoid calling, unless urgent)]
ISA President: Mr. Mahesh Hanjagi (h_amash@yahoo.com)
[Tel: 757-489-8222 (resi) 270-3355 (Cell. Call after 9pm, unless urgent)]
General Information (Mechanical Engg): Mr. Aniket Deshpande (aniket8@yahoo.com)
My Contact: Mahantesh Halappanavar, 1017 W, 48th ST, Apt-W, Norfolk, VA-23508
(757) 423-4108; mhalappa@cs.odu.edu; mahantesh7 (Yahoo! Chat ID)
2. How early to come?
The earlier the better, you would want to come earlier for following reasons:
· Look for places to reside and meet your future roommates
· Look for on-campus jobs
· Meet CS faculty and forward your resume
· Acclimatize yourself with the environment at ODU
You wouldn’t want to come early for following reasons:
· You will have to bear the extra-expenses for your stay
· You wouldn’t want to stay long at your senior’s place
You need to strike a balance. I would recommend a week before the classes’ start gives enough
time to settle.
3. How good is funding at CS dept?
This is the toughest question to answer. Even though funding is not guaranteed for your first
semester, reasons being your background to lack of adequate number of positions at the
department. However, there are many students who have had assistance right from their very first
semester. The department has considerable amount of funding for research and teaching
assistants.
4. Whom to contact for funding?
Teaching Assistant: Dr. Irwin Levinstein (http://www.cs.odu.edu/~ibl)
Research Assistant: Individual faculty member (http://www.cs.odu.edu/cspage/faculty.html)
5. What are the criteria for selection of RA/TA?
Teaching Assistant:
· Speak Test (Similar to Test of Spoken English (TSE), administered at ODU and sponsored
by CS department for limited number of attempts).
· Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) training, administered at ODU and sponsored by CS
department.
· Prior teaching experience.
· Previous academic performance.
· Fill out the application: https://www.cs.odu.edu/ibl/ta/ta-fall02.cgi?action=NewForm
(This is not a comprehensive set of criteria; contact Dr. Irwin Levinstein for further details.)
Registration for the Speak Test must be made prior to the GTA institute by contacting the
English Language Center, Tel: 757-683-4424.
SPEAK TEST: December 4th and January 6th 2003
Contact person for GTA training: Suzanne Finnerty, sfinnert@odu.edu (Extn: 4885)
Spring GTA institute: January 9-10, 2003.
Orientation Program: January 7th and 8th, 2003 by ISSS.
Source: Mail from Dr. Wild, GPD, dated 25th October, 2002
Research Assistant:
· Prior experience on research areas.
(Selection criteria for RA are subjective and you need to contact individual faculty
members.)
6. What are semester timings?
There are three semesters:
· Fall: August to December
· Spring: January to April
· Summer: May to July
7. What are on-campus (part-time) jobs? And how much can we earn?
Full time students (registered for at least 9 course hours (6 course hours during first semester, if
RA/TA, or with special permission) can work for maximum of 20 hours per week (40 hours during
summer).
Types of part-time jobs and the typical payment:
· Research Assistant (typical range of remuneration: $2,500 - $6,000 per semester)
· Teaching Assistant (typical range of remuneration: $2,500 - $5,000 per semester)
· On-campus jobs like those in Cafeteria, OCCS (as lab consultants), Math department,
Physics department, Chemistry department, Nursing department, Education and Testing, Tele-
Technet (media services), etc., have an average payment of about $6.0 per hour, and can also
have in-state tuition fees (in which case a minimum of $2,500 per semester is guaranteed).
8. What are in-state and out-of-state tuition fees?
Instate tuition fees means that you need to pay only one-third part of your regular fees. All TAs,
RAs and some graduate positions, as mentioned above, allow students to pay instate tuition fees.
A minimum of $2,500 per semester remuneration is also guaranteed if you are given instate
status.
For out-of-state tuition fees, you need to pay the full amount of fees.
9. What is the cost of living in Norfolk?
A decent living in Norfolk (especially suited for Indians) is about $220-$400 per month. The major
components of this cost are housing costs and food costs. Decent housing is available for about
$450 (single bedroom) and $550 (double bedroom), which can be comfortably shared. Housing
facilities are available in the vicinity of college and within walking distances. Food expenses vary
according to individual tastes and preferences; rice being the most popular. Friends and seniors
with vehicles help others buy groceries and other items. HRT (Hampton Road Transport) and
private cabs are other means for conveyance.
10. What Text books to get from India?
Buying textbooks in India is much cheaper than buying them here. You would want to buy
textbooks for the following four core courses (core courses are compulsory for Masters students):
· CS455-555: INTRO-NETWORKS & COMMUNICATION
Book: Tanenbaum, “Computer Networks”, 3e, Prentice-hall, 0133499456
· CS450-550 DATABASE CONCEPTS
Book: ELMASRI, “FUNDAMENTALS OF DATABASE SYSTEMS” 3d AW 0-8053-1755-4
· CS 600: ALGORITHMS AND DATA STRUCTURES
Book: CORMEN, “INTRODUCTION TO ALGORITHMS” 3e 02 MCG 0-07-013151-1
· CS665: COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
Book: Hennessy, “Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach”, 2002, Morgan-K, 1-
55860-596-7
You can bring the textbooks for prerequisite courses, if you have any, and for courses that you
intend to take. List of prescribed textbooks can be found at: (http://www.cs.odu.
edu/~ibl/courseschedpage.html). Some of the most popular courses include CS518, CS519,
CS576, CS595, CS744, CS775 and CS795 (you can take maximum of four 500 level courses). A
brief description of these courses is available at:
(http://www.cs.odu.edu/~home_g/grad_info/handbook/hand/GradCourses.htm).
You might also want to carry some basic books on C/C++/ VC++, Java, XML, Oracle, etc. Have a
look at Bruce Eckel's Free Electronic Books before you buy any of these.
11. What is the fee structure?
Generally one courses consists of three credit hours. Graduate tuition fees for on campus
classes for summer’02 is $574.00 per credit hour for out of state rate and $216.00 per credit hour
for in state rate. The official site for fees is (http://www.odu.edu/webroot/orgs/AF/FIN/fin.
nsf/pages/tuition_rates).
12. What are the Immunization requirements?
State law requires that documentation of immunization and a health history be submitted for full-
time students enrolling for the first time. Students who have not submitted documentation to the
Student Health Center will be notified and will not be permitted to register until verification is
received. For additional information on immunization requirements, see the Student Services
office at the Center, or contact the Student Health Center at (757) 683-3132.
I am not sure about the exact requirements, but these are the general requirements:
(Source: http://www.evms.edu/students/handbook/handbook.pdf)
1. Hepatitis B Documentation of three doses and/or serologic testing showing HbsAB > 10 or
begin the Hepatitis B Vaccine series, or sign the “Declination Form”
2. MMR Documentation of 2 doses of live virus vaccine or serologic testing results indicating
immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (Pre-Matriculation)
3. Varicella Positive history of disease, or serologic evidence of immunity, and two doses of
varicella vaccine (4-8 weeks apart) for students with negative serologic evidence of immunity (Pre-
Matriculation)
4. Influenza Students who have contact with patients at high risk for influenza or its complications
will be encouraged to have annual vaccination with current influenza vaccine
13. What to get from India? (From ISA web site)
Climate: The National Weather Service ranks Norfolk's climate among the nation's most
desirable, moderate, with four seasons. Norfolk is south of the normal path of winter storms
originating in the higher latitudes and north of normal track of tropical storms and hurricanes.
Average daily maximum temperature in July is 87 degrees. (approx. 30 C). Average daily minimum
temperature in January is 32 degrees. (Approx. 0 C) Light and heavy sweaters are essential for
winter. A heavy jacket with a hood, hand-gloves, woolen socks and monkey-caps are also useful.
Winter attire can also be purchased here, if needed. Norfolk also experiences a fair amount of
rain. Don't forget to get an umbrella or a raincoat. Summer is warm and it's time to wear T-shirts,
shorts, etc. Cottons are quite expensive here and you might want to get some from home. Try to
get some formal clothes too. These are required for professional meetings and interviews.
Unless you are fond of doing your laundry often, get clothes (especially undergarments) to last
you at least 2-3 weeks!
(Since you will be exposed to cold climate probably for first time, come prepared with warm
clothing, even during the flight.)
Health Care: You must have received a health form sent by the university. Undergo a complete
medical check-up, including eye and dental examination. If you wear glasses or contact lenses,
get spares. Ensure that all medication stated in the university form is completed before you leave
India. Health insurance is mandatory at ODU. Get your standard medicines like Crocin, Vicks,
Iodex, cough syrup, antacids etc., as they can be very expensive here.
Food: Masalas, pickles, rice, dals etc., are available in Norfolk. But you can bring some things
along to start with. Homemade items that you are fond of can be brought in small quantities and
in sealed packets. (Be warned that IF the US customs check your baggage they might discard
food or plant products if detected by the scanner) Learn to cook well so that you do not get sick of
eating your own food!!
Documents: Passport/VISA, I-20, College Transcripts, ODU Immunization Form filled by a
registered medical practitioner, Proof of Under graduation, important certificates that may help get
part-time employment. DO NOT put the originals along with your check-in luggage. ALWAYS keep
them with you during your entire flight. It is further advisable to make copies of all documents and
put a copy in each of your check-in bags.
Odds and Ends: A pressure cooker with spare gaskets and spare safety valves, a Teflon pan,
regular cooking and eating vessels, a blanket, bedspread, pillow cover, towels,
audiocassettes/CD’s (pretty expensive here). Books are very expensive in US, so it is advisable to
get in touch with your seniors at ODU and ask them for a list of standard books to get from India.
Avoid bringing any electrical appliances; you will not be able to use them here because of the
voltage difference.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
