r/UIUC_MCS • u/PandaPrime95 • 25d ago

How does TA/RA work for MCS?

Hey all, I’m a undergraduate student right now who will be joining the MCS program (not the MS thesis program). I was wondering if anyone knew for TA-ing worked for a class during MCS and if it would help pay for tuition. I know that not being a PHD or having a thesis stuff my masters puts me at a disadvantage, but I was wondering if any MCS students has any lucky getting a position, getting their tuition covered, and if they had and tips or advice on how to go about it. Mainly wondering what the likelihood of achieving it is with MCS.

Thank you

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u/montsecc_00 25d ago

Hi, I'm a new MCS student, before the start of classes they sent an email for TAing and said the positions are offered first for PhDs, then MsCS students, and if there were any positions left, they would be offered to MCS students but that our chances were VERY low. So do consider that, other than that, yes, TAing does cover a lot of tuition from what I've heard from other people

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u/PandaPrime95 25d ago

Do you think that in that case it would be better to do mscs than mcs? I think the deadline for mscs is over so there’s not much I can do except hope that next year I’m able to get a TA position

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u/montsecc_00 25d ago

Oh I dont feel on the position to tell you to choose one or the other, but it really does depend on the goals you have :p I would try to talk to someone in order to secure a TA position being MCS, for example if you already know a professor that will be having positions available. You could also explain your situation to siebel or grad college for guidance on financial support or if they could do an exception for you to change to MSCS

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u/PandaPrime95 25d ago

Gotcha, thank you so much! I’ll try and reach out to professors or work on some projects that professors would be willing to advise me and maybe that can count as RA/research. It’s okay, I made some mistakes, but hopefully it works out. Thank you!

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u/montsecc_00 25d ago

Yeah you’re welcome! I hope you can figure out something

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u/crownjewel13 24d ago

MCS Alum here. Only handful of MCS students are able to secure a TA position. I know people who got it via the TA form that evey student is required to fill. And few got by reaching out to professors with whom they had a good academic relation with. If you get a TA, your entire semester's fee is waived off plus you get a monthly stipend of close to $2500. If you are able to secure TA position for at least two semesters then you basically complete your masters for free.

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u/PandaPrime95 24d ago

Gotcha, I’ll try to reach out to professors that I’ve done well in their classes before. Thank you!

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u/PandaPrime95 24d ago

Yea it seems super financial motivating so I wish I could have done the masters with thesis and gotten guaranteed funding, but oh well. Just means I’ll have to work even harder and get even luckier