UCSF School of Pharmacy

Internet Requirement Fall 2006

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

If you have applied for and received Student Housing at Mission Bay, your apartment includes a direct connection to the UCSF network, and this automatically meets your Internet requirement. All other students are responsible for selecting an Internet service provider and purchasing service.

• 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. 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.

Go To: Computer Services or Information for Current Students

Student Housing

Mission Bay

Student Housing in Mission Bay includes a 10/100 Ethernet LAN connection directly to the UCSF network. This is like DSL in that it's always on, but it's many times faster than a typical residential DSL connection. A single jack exists in each living room and bedroom. Routers, hubs, and wireless networking are not permitted.

Other Student Housing

Student housing locations other than Mission Bay do 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.

Questions?

Contact Housing Services with any questions you may have.

Access to Restricted Servers

If you need access to resources 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.

Students living in student housing at Mission Bay won't need VPN since Mission Bay housing includes direct connections to the UCSF network. However, these students might need VPN to access UCSF-restricted resources at other times, such as at Internet cafes or while traveling to other cities.