FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

This list will likely grow over time. Anything else that you might want to know can be answered over email: desightechncsu@gmail.com

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

When is the deadline to apply for your program?

April 15th. However, late applications will be considered depending on the availability of positions. You will be informed of late acceptance at potentially any time during the summer.

When will I be notified of my acceptance status?

No later than April 22nd but outstanding candidates that submit early might be notified much earlier.

Where should I send my application materials?

We encourage applicants to submit ALL materials via email ( designtechNCSU@gmail.com ) but you are welcome to mail materials by post:

Design Tech @ NCSU
Department of Computer Science
NC State University Campus Box 8206
Raleigh, NC 27695-8206

Recommendations, in particular, are sometimes more comfortably sent via post. Whichever makes the sender more comfortable is fine but EMAIL IS PREFERRED.

PLEASE NOTE:

NO MATERIALS CAN BE RETURNED so please do not send us precious originals of your artwork. Copies are perfectly acceptable.

I am going to graduate in May this year. Can I apply to your program?

Unfortunately, because of the nature of the program, only undergraduates are eligible to participate.

I am grad student attending XXX University. Can I apply to your program?

Unfortunately, because of the nature of the program, only undergraduates are eligible to participate.

I am currently in high school but I will be attending XXX University as an undergraduate in the fall. Can I apply to your program?

Yes! But realize that because of the intensive nature of this program you will be expected to be able to perform at a high level. Typically, CS students, for instance, would have the necessary skill set to succeed in the program by their Junior or Senior year of their undergrad program.

The computer science professors that I have had so far do not know me on a personal level, but I have worked as a research assistant for a computer science PhD student for the past two semesters. Is it acceptable if he writes my recommendation letter even though he is not an actual professor?

Yes. The real goal here is to make sure that we understand your skills and to demonstrate how you have used them. Make sure your recommendations are verifiable so if there is anything that is unclear we can always follow up with a phone call or something. Additionally, GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS. They are great resource. If they don’t know you, why have you been hiding?

PROGRAM QUESTIONS

This is a PAID position?

Yes! The general pay for the session is $5,400! PLUS, up to $350 in airline fares will be reimbursed (or milage to and from Raleigh and parking will be covered). We will also provide rooming in an on-campus dormitory. The applicant will be responsible for their own meal expenses.

What will I be doing?

That is a difficult question to answer specifically. The mentors/professors involved in the program have dozens of different research projects that are on-going and you may be involved with any one of them, a collaboration between them, or something completely novel. Exact assignments can’t be made until the program begins because teams will be built around the individual skills and goals of each of the students involved. You can expect to be a member of one of three-to five teams with two-to-three members each. Also, expect to be pushed to produce a significant result that will impact an important area of research. A previous team produced publishable work and we’d be thrilled to duplicate that success this summer. Come ready to rock.

Can we take Summer classes while we are doing the research?

No. In fact, there won’t be time to do both! The projects you are working on will require considerable effort -- roughly the equivalent of a full-time job. You won’t want to work on homework after you leave the lab, anyway.

What are the program START and END dates?

The required program check-in date is Thursday May 28th. The first day of work will be Monday, June 1st. On Thursday, July 30th, program ends with a 'Summer Research Seminar' where all of the various programs get together to show their work in a poster session. You'll be able to stay in the dorm until Friday July 31st. Checkout and departure is Saturday, August 1st.