UCSF School of Pharmacy

Internet Requirement Fall 2004

We require that your computer can connect to the Internet because of the Internet's significant usefulness in delivering information. To connect to the Internet, you must have an Internet service provider which provides the connection between your computer and the Internet.

Need Financial Help?

For students using financial aid, the student budget allows US$40 per month to contribute to the cost of monthly dialup or high-speed access (your choice). If you expect that your monthly cost will be greater than this and/or if you need assistance in funding installation or setup costs, contact the Financial Aid office once you receive your award letter to see if your budget can be increased to cover this expense.

Internet Service Choices

To meet our Internet requirement, choose either dialup service or high-speed service with an Internet service provider of your choice, as outlined below. Unfortunately, we do not provide Internet connectivity for you, so you are responsible for purchasing it.

• Dialup Service:
  Use a 56K V.90 modem with dialup service such as AT&T or Earthlink or any other Internet service provider of your choice. (However, we do not recommend America Online -- see sidebar "America Online Users.") You are responsible for the cost of this service, which is typically about US$20 per month. You might choose this option if you already have such an account and don't want to learn a new system, or if you have address books or files or old e-mail that would be difficult to transfer, or if you enjoy certain features offered by that provider. If you have an existing dialup account, contact your Internet service provider to find a dialup phone number in the San Francisco 415 area code. The List is a Web site that may help you find a service provider.
• High-speed Service:
  Use an installed, high-speed service such as DSL modem, cable modem, or satellite. You are responsible for the cost of this service, which is typically between US$40 and US$80 per month. You might choose this option if you don't mind paying more for faster Internet access, or if you prefer the convenience of an "always-on" connection, or if you prefer the convenience of being connected while having your phone line free for voice calls. The availability of these services depends on where you live. The pricing depends on which installed service you choose and what level of service you choose. The service you choose determines what kind of device (DSL modem, cable modem, or other hardware) is used -- a DSL modem from a previous provider might not be compatible with the provider you choose in San Francisco. Consequently, it is unwise to buy a DSL modem or cable modem or other such device without knowing that it is compatible with your chosen service provider. Broadband Reports is a Web site that may help you find a service provider.

How do I choose?

If you aren't certain which option to choose, we strongly recommend that you use dialup service (standard). This option is significantly less expensive and more easily installed than high-speed service. You can always choose a high-speed option later. Learn more: What is DSL?, What is a cable modem?

More Resources

To obtain advice on selecting an Internet option, use resources such as: newspapers, computer magazines, friends, co-workers, search engines on the web, your local library, your local business directory.

Questions?

Send e-mail to Web & Data Services Manager Frank Farm at farmf@pharmacy.ucsf.edu.

Go To: Computer Services or Information for Current Students

Housing Services

Student housing does not have direct connections to the UCSF network. You may use any of the methods described here except satellite dish installations, which are not permitted. More than one phone line may be installed. Contact Housing Services with any questions you may have.

Access to Restricted Servers

If you need access to servers that are restricted to members of the UCSF community, you'll also need to install Virtual Private Network (VPN) software, which is provided at no charge by UCSF. You don't need to do this right away; when you need this access, someone will direct you to it.

America Online Users

Because a significant number of our students have reported difficulty in handling e-mail attachments with the Internet service provider called America Online (AOL), we do not recommend using this service. These troubles are so widely documented that we feel compelled to offer this suggestion in the interest of saving you time and frustration. If you use AOL and prefer it, be warned that during the PharmD program you will be expected to be able to open e-mail attachments on a very frequent basis.

Also, AOL users may need to resort to additional tricks to get things to work properly with some systems. For example, you'll need to use our course curriculum site called WebCT, which documents special instructions for AOL users on its WebCT Supported Browsers and Settings page.