Ph.D. Program--Applying: Frequently Asked Questions
Requirements

Research
Course Work
Teaching

Applying

How to Apply
Application Fee
Tuition
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Checklist

Contact Information

Do I have to have GRE scores?

Everyone who applies MUST have taken the GRE General Test. If necessary, unofficial scores can be accepted at the time of application, but the official score record must be supplied prior to final admission.

Do I have to take the GRE Subject test?

The GRE Subject is only required of applicants whose background area is covered by an appropriate subject test (including for example those with psychology or computer science degrees, but not for design degrees). Applicants should take the GRE Subject test in the area most closely matching their most recent degree. We can not guarantee that your application will be considered without it.

The CS subject test is not being offered (or is being delayed) in my part of the world in 2003. What should I do?

Due to the problems at the Educational Testing Serviced, if the CS subject test is not available to you, can’t be taken until too late, or represents a significant hardship for you, we will consider your application with out it (2003 applications only).

Do I have to take the TOEFL?

The TOEFL is required of students whose native language is NOT English and whose undergraduate degree was not earned in the United States. We can not guarantee that your application will be considered without it.

How high do my GRE scores need to be?

Most of our students have GRE scores near the 90 percentiles, and in general that is what we expect to see among our students. However, we don't preclude people based on low GRE scores. If there is a good explanation and/or we have other reliable data to indicate that it doesn't matter, then we can, (and have), ignored poor scores. For example, there are historical cases with scores under 60 percentile (but not many).

I'm just applying to the HCII at Carnegie Mellon University. Is that a good idea?

If you are serious about doing PhD level research in HCI you should not apply only to our program. You should also apply to other good HCI programs (see HCIBIB.org) Because our resources are limited and we are forced to turn away some very good students each year.

What are my chances of getting in?

For the Fall 2002 term, we admitted just over 5% of the applicants and we estimate being even more selective in the years ahead.

I don't have a strong programming background. May I still apply?
Will I have to take a lot of programming courses?

We expect and encourage applicants from a wide range of HCI-related backgrounds. While it is important for HCI researchers to have some understanding of the technical aspects of their work, and some technical courses will be needed in your program of study, we do not expect all our applicants to have strong programming or other technical skills.

Should I visit before I apply (and will that help my chances of being admitted)?

Typically no. We normally do not encourage people to visit before they apply since it does not generally improve one's chances of admission. However, we invite all students who have been admitted to visit at our expense during our Open House in March. The Open House provides the opportunity to meet with faculty and and current students and to explore the university environment.

Can I apply for admission starting in the spring instead of the fall?

No. We only process admissions once a year. Applications are accepted in January for admission the next fall.

Can I work on my Ph.D. in HCI part time?

No. We expect all our students to work full time on their Ph.D. studies for the duration of their time with us.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. Exact details of our financial aid package will be spelled out at the time of admission. However, it is our intent to provide full support (including tuition and a stipend) for all of our students so long as they remain in good standing within the program.

Do I need to fill out an application for financial aid?

No. All students admitted to our program receive aid without applying.

Should I apply for externally funded fellowships (such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship?)

Yes. You are strongly encouraged to apply for any fellowships for which you are eligible. Many of our existing students have fellowships from nationally competitive programs.

I just finished my undergraduate work. Should I apply for the Masters of HCI program first as preparation for my Ph.D. work?

The MHCI program is not intended to serve as preparation for our Ph.D. program (or generally to prepare you to be a researcher). It is intended to teach the skills necessary for professional practice in various HCI related careers. The Ph.D. program on the other hand, is designed to prepare you to be an HCI researcher. Because of the different emphasis of each program, applying to the MHCI program with intention to later move the Ph.D. program is normally not a good idea.

If I am not accepted for the HCII Ph.D. program will I be automatically considered for admission to the Masters of HCI program instead?

No. Because of the different educational goals of each program, their admissions processes are separate, and people are not moved from one to the other. As noted in the previous question, the two programs are designed to address different goals. Therefore, we normally don't expect students to apply to both the MHCI and Ph.D. programs.

How many students are currently in the program?

See Statistics