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what is this? i routinely receive email from prospective students and interns regarding admissions, housing, research, and other related issues.  in order to help out these folks, and save myself some repetition, i've compiled a list of frequently asked questions. 



i have {a,b,c} credentials. will i get into berkeley? i am not associated with the admissions process and cannot give you an accurate assessment of your chances of admission.  admission to any berkeley program is highly competitive, but i encourage you to apply.  refer to the online resources for  mechanical engineering (graduate and undergraduate) admissions and undergraduate admissions.



i am interested in {x,y,z}.  who i can do research with? most faculty have detailed descriptions of their research on the web.  reading these overviews - as well as posted publications - is the best way to find out.  because of the overwhelming number of people that apply to the graduate program in mechanical engineering, some professors discourage direct contact until you have received admission.  if you are interested in the work we do in berkeley expert systems, feel free to contact me directly (at any time).



can you help me find a place to live? if you have been accepted as a student or intern, the accepting office may have more information regarding housing (remember, you're probably not the first student from abroad or out-of-state that they've accepted).  aside from that, craigslist is an excellent resource.  search under housing (rooms and shares offer the cheapest deals).  realize also that the east bay (where berkeley is located) is large; most graduate students choose to live between el cerrito (to the north) and oakland (to the south).  driving to campus/lab isn't a wise option for most folks because parking in berkeley is difficult and/or expensive.  note that there aren't parking issues for motorcycles.  public transportation (bus and train) is available, but can involve long commutes.  when looking for accomodation, use a map site like yahoo to estimate distance.



what are the costs associated with living in berkeley? this is a difficult question to answer, since it is highly dependent on your style of living.  in any case, the bay area is one of the most expensive regions to live in the united states.  rent makes up a significant portion of these costs, so make sure to find a place according to your own budget.



last updated may 2004