Q&A With Jennifer Knupp About International Student Application, Admissions and Internships

Jennifer Knupp is Graduate International Student Admissions and Services Advisor at University of Texas at Tyler (HSB Sponsor).

Jennifer Knupp – UT Tyler

I reached out to her via email for some of the frequently asked questions about Graduate School Admission.

1. Can you give a short intro about you and your role at UT Tyler

My name is Jennifer Knupp. I am the Graduate International Student Admissions and Services Advisor at UT Tyler.

• I provide prospective graduate international students assistance with our admissions process.
• I receive and process their applications.
• I issue Forms I-20 and provide pre-departure information and advising.
• I coordinate UT Tyler’s International Student Orientations with my colleague in Undergraduate International Student Admissions and Services.
• I advise current international students on maintaining their F-1 status and other immigration issues.

And I assist with the development of programming for UT Tyler’s international students.

2. Can you give an overview about admission process for an International student?

International applicants to The Graduate School at UT Tyler submit an application for admission through www.applytexas.org and pay the application fee.

They then submit their admission materials to the office of graduate admissions which includes: GRE scores or GMAT scores if applying to the MBA program; IETLS scores or TOEFL scores; official academic transcripts of their bachelor degree work and an international transcript evaluation of those transcripts.

Students who completed their undergraduate work at a recognized academic institution in India and who are applying to either the master’s in computer science or master’s in electrical engineering program are exempt from the international transcript evaluation requirement.

Some of our academic programs require additional application materials such as letters of recommendation and statements of purpose. Currently, students are advised to send these additional materials directly to the academic department.

Applicants should determine if additional admission materials are required by going to http://www.uttyler.edu/graduate/gradprograms/ and selecting their program for a list of admission requirements.

They should also confirm the application deadline. We have a few programs that admit only once each year or have earlier admission deadlines.

Typically, international applicants also submit their Form I-20 eligibility requirements at the same time they submit their admission materials. Doing so speeds up the process of issuing a Form I-20 should the applicant be offered admission.

3.  Can you explain how application is processed after you receive online application and other supporting documents?

When we receive an application for admission, the data is loaded into our student information system. A UT Tyler student ID number is generated and emailed to the applicant along with instructions for logging into our student information system called myUTTyler.

When an applicant logs in, he or she can check on the status of the application and also determine what application materials have been received by looking at the To Do List panel on the right-side of the screen. We update this checklist as we receive an applicant’s admission materials.

For example, when an applicant’s TOEFL scores are received, we remove that item from the To Do list. Therefore, if an applicant notes that an item on the list is no longer there, this means that the item was received.

4. How long does it take once you receive the supporting document in mail with completed application to decide on admission status?

An admission file is complete when TOEFL or IELTS scores, GRE or GMAT scores, transcripts, and international transcript evaluation (if applicable) have been received and the TOEFL or IELTS scores satisfy the minimum requirement for admission.

When complete, an applicant’s admission file is then forwarded to the academic department for evaluation.

The applicant’s To Do list in myUTTyler will indicate that the file has been forwarded for evaluation. Applicants should allow up to two weeks for the evaluation of their files. When an admission decision has been made, applicants are notified by email.

5. After admission, what is the process to issue I-20?

I strive to issue Forms I-20 within 1-2 business days after admission. I will review a newly admitted student’s proof of financial support, and if acceptable, I will issue the student’s UT Tyler I-20.

The student is notified by email that the Form I-20 has been issued and posted via standard US postal service to the mailing address they provided in their application.

The email also includes instructions for purchasing a shipping label should the student wish to have their documents delivered via Fed Ex express delivery.

In the email and in a document attached to the student’s I-20, information is provided about paying the SEVIS fee and applying for an F-1 visa, important dates, transportation to Tyler, housing, and other important details to help student as they prepare for their arrival at UT Tyler.

We also invite them to join our Facebook group for their class so that they can begin to develop some early connections with one another and have a forum to ask questions. The Facebook group is moderated by two current graduate students serving as I-Ambassadors.

6. Do you have an option to mail I-20 via Express Mail?

Yes, students can purchase Fed Ex express shipping labels at https://study.eshipglobal.com/. When a student purchases the label, we are notified by eShip Global. We print the label and then post the student’s document.

7. Can application package reach the campus after the deadline?

Our international application deadlines are April 30 for fall admission and September 30 for spring admission. We will continue to accept application materials that arrive after those deadlines; however, we cannot guarantee that an applicant’s file will be reviewed and an I-20 issued and received by the student within a timeframe sufficient to obtain an F-1 visa and report to campus for international student orientation and the start of classes.

8. What are some of the common application mistakes done by International Students?

Fortunately, we do not see very many mistakes. The most common that do occur are not submitting an international transcript evaluation and submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores that do not meet our minimum requirement.

We do our best to communicate with applicants to ensure that they are aware of the materials required for admission. When a prospective student submits an application for admission, an email is sent listing exactly what materials that student should submit to complete their file for evaluation.

As I mentioned earlier, we also maintain an current list of items in the student’s myUTTyler account. It is updated immediately upon receiving an applicant’s materials, and students can log in and check the list at any time.

9.When I did MS in UT Arlington, I was able to get 2 semesters of CPT for Internship (Fall and Spring). I know some schools allow only CPT (internship) in Summer break. What is the process followed in UT Tyler.

CPT is one of those things that can vary from school to school. At UT Tyler, the requirements of the academic program and the internship course guide how CPT is authorized. To be authorized for CPT, students enroll in an internship course for which they will receive credit that will be applied toward their degree program.

CPT will be authorized part-time during the long semesters unless the student’s program specifically requires full-time participation in an internship. Most programs at UT Tyler do not require participation in a full-time internship. CPT may be authorized full-time during the summer session.

There are several companies in the Tyler area with whom are students have interned such as Brookshire Grocery Company, Ingersoll-Rand, and SPEA America. And, of course, the Dallas, Houston, and Austin areas offer a wealth of opportunities as well.