Admitted Student Packet Table of Contents Information for Newly Admitted Students GSPP Student Services Staff…………………………………………….Page 1 Important Dates……………………………………………………………Page 2 FAQs………………………………………………………………………..Page 2 Housing……………………………………………………………………..Page 3 Financing Your Graduate Education…………………………………….Page 4-5 Financial Aid………………………………………………………………..Page 5 Registration Fees………………………………………………………….Page 6 Graduate Student Assistantships………………………………………..Page 7-12 Undocumented Student Programs and Resources……………………Page 13 Resources for International Students……………………………………Page 14 Spring Events for Newly Admitted Berkeley, CA – April 6, 2018……………………………………………..Page 15 Washington, D.C. – March 29, 2018…………………………………….Page 16 Graduate Division Welcome and Graduate Student Handbook……………………………Page 17-33 Residency Office Residency Cheat Sheet and FAQs……………………………………...Page 34-35 INFORMATION FOR NEWLY ADMITTED STUDENTS Congratulations on your admission! We hope that you decide to join us at GSPP this fall. As you are making your decision, we hope these documents will provide you with helpful information and resources. GSPP STUDENT SERVICES STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION For questions regarding school policies, For questions regarding career services, procedures, and GSPP fellowships: internships, and alumni relations: Martha Chavez Cecille Cabacungan Senior Assistant Dean for Academic Managing Director of Career & Alumni Programs and Dean of Students Services & PhD Admissions Advisor Phone: 510-643-4266 Phone: 510-642-1303 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Office Location: Room 240, GSPP West Office Location: Room 243, GSPP West For questions regarding admissions, Kari Hamilton new student events & activities, Associate Director of Career Services registration, and degree requirements: Phone: 510-643-4868 E-mail: [email protected] Lezley Hightower Office Location: Room 143, GSPP West Student Services Advisor Admissions & Career Services If you would like to visit GSPP but are unable Phone: 510-642-7888 to attend the Open House for Newly Admitted E-mail: [email protected] Students, please contact the MPP Office Location: Room 241, GSPP West Admissions Office at [email protected] Jalilah LaBrie Associate Director of Student Affairs Undergraduate Minor Advisor Phone: 510-642-1940 Email: [email protected] Office Location: Room 245, GSPP West Noah Romero Student Services Advisor and PPIA Program Manager Student Services, PPIA Program, & Course Scheduling Phone: 510-643-6961 Email: [email protected] Office Location: Room 241, GSPP West 1 IMPORTANT 2018 DATES Deadline to Respond to Offer of Admission April 15, 2018 Math Review* August 6 -17, 2018 GSPP Orientation* August 20, 2018 Fall Semester Begins August 15, 2018 Instruction Begins (Classes Start) August 22, 2018 *dates subject to change FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS When can I expect to receive my official admissions notification from the Graduate Division? It can take up to 3 weeks to receive official notification from the Graduate Division. The notification will be sent to the email address you listed on your Graduate Application for Admission. What is your deferral policy? For information on deferral requirements and procedures, please contact Lezley Hightower, Student Services Advisor, at [email protected]. Can you tell me more about Math Review? The math review is free and open to all, and you can sit in on all or part of it. Those of you with strong math backgrounds may choose to skip the whole thing. The first week is devoted to general math concepts and the second week to calculus, with computer orientation as needed. More details will be available this summer. How can I learn more about teaching and research assistantships? Please see enclosed document titled "Graduate Student Academic Appointments.” When do I register for courses? Registration for new UC Berkeley students begins in July. You will receive detailed information about registration and courses in the early summer. Can I register for courses in departments outside of GSPP? Absolutely. Students have the flexibility and freedom to enroll in courses practically anywhere on UC Berkeley’s campus. Where can I find GSPP course listings? For GSPP course listings, please visit: https://gspp.berkeley.edu/academics/course-information You may also be interested in viewing a sample course structure for the MPP: https://gspp.berkeley.edu/programs/masters-of-public-policy-mpp/core-curriculum Please note, the Fall 2018 course listing will not be posted until late March. What kind of summer internships and full-time jobs do GSPP students get? Please see the “Career Services/ Employment Statistics” section of the GSPP website at: http://gspp.berkeley.edu/career-services/alumni-graduation-facts/gspp-employment-statistics 2 HOUSING University Housing The options for graduate student housing are described in detail on the UC Berkeley Housing website: http://housing2.berkeley.edu/ International House International House is a program center and campus residence for students around the world, including the U.S. Their mission: to promote cross-cultural experiences and leadership skills for a world of greater understanding. Please see the IHouse website for room & board rates, room descriptions, amenities & services, and application details. http://ihouse.berkeley.edu/ [email protected] (510) 642-9470 Off-Campus Rental Housing Many graduate students reside in rental housing in Berkeley or in nearby communities and find their housing through CalRentals. Rentals advertised include shared apartments and houses, rooms in private rooming houses and private homes, and apartments and houses owned by landlords in the community. Cal Rentals offers rental resources and rental listings for new graduate students; you may subscribe to the rental listing service online for a small fee. Many landlords who list vacancies with Cal Rentals are especially interested in having graduate student tenants. You can visit the Cal Rentals office in person at 2610 Channing Way, Way (M-F, 10am–4pm), call (510) 642-3644, or email ([email protected]). http://calrentals.berkeley.edu/ https://och.berkeley.edu/ Rent Prices: According to the City of Berkeley’s Rent Stabilization Board, market medians for 2016 were reported as follows: 2017 (new tenancies) 1st Q 2017 2nd Q 2017 3rd Q 2017 4th Q 2017 06/30/2017 (Year) #BR Rent #Units Rent #Units Rent #Units Rent #Units Rent #Units Studio $1,500 79 $1,750 326 $1,650 447 1 BR $1,995 169 $2,150 526 $2,095 739 2 BR $2,600 75 $3,012 456 $2,995 574 3 BR $3,240 10 $4,100 105 $4,062 117 *These figures are provided for planning purposes only. The Graduate Assembly’s Housing Guide: Best Practices for Finding Housing The Graduate Assembly (the official representative body of the graduate and professional students at UC Berkeley) maintains an on-line housing guide for graduate students. This guide provides authoritative advice on how to navigate the local rental market on a student budget. https://ga.berkeley.edu/resources/housing-guide/ 3 HOW TO FINANCE YOUR EDUCATION AT THE GOLDMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AT UC BERKELEY YOU CAN MAKE GSPP AFFORDABLE! FINANCING YOUR GRADUATE EDUCATION Graduate Student Assistantships Many students can choose to apply for Graduate Student Instructor, Reader, Tutor or Research Assistant Positions, which can cover most of the in-state fees and also provide a monthly stipend. Please find the enclosed "Graduate Student Academic Appointments" document which provides the details and benefits of these positions. For the latest information on tuition and fees, please visit the registrar website: http://registrar.berkeley.edu/tuition-fees-residency/tuition-fees/fee-schedule Graduate Student Assistantship Positions: Teaching (GSI), Reader, Tutor, and Researcher (GSR) (See attached FAQ’s for details) Typically, over 50% of GSPP students take on these positions Receive Partial Fee (Tuition) Remission and Salary o Includes remissions for Student Services Fee, Tuition & Health Insurance Fee. When to apply: Once you accept GSPP’s offer of admission, advertisement of positions will be sent throughout the late spring and summer. The majority of opportunities are posted in August. Where on campus: Economics Department, Gender & Women’s Studies Department, Goldman School, Statistics Department, Haas School of Business, History Department, International & Area Studies Department, Institute for Research on Labor & Employment, School of Public Health, Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Studies, & many more! Savings in Tuition for Non-Residents If you are an out-of-state student and a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or hold a particular visa, you can apply for California residency prior to the second year of the program, thereby saving you the cost of out-of-state tuition your second year. In order to establish residency, you need to follow the UC Berkeley Residency Office procedures as soon as you arrive this coming fall. For details, please visit the Residence Affairs website: http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Residency/establish.html Federal Student Loans The university offers unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans (up to a maximum of $20,500) (US Citizens only). Please visit the Financial Aid website at: http://financialaid.berkeley.edu/federal-direct-unsubsidized-loan for more information or contact the Financial Aid Office at: (510) 664-9181. Graduate Fellowships & Grants If you were not awarded a departmental or university fellowship, there are a number of fellowships