Comments | applyingtograd: Computer Science: Reasonable plan?

warwasbeginning in applyingtograd

Computer Science: Reasonable plan?

May 04, 2009 18:39

I've just finished my junior/3rd year of undergrad as Computer Science major at a large public university on a peninsula in the southern US. I'm on track to graduate during the Spring of 2010. So, as you can probably tell, I'm thinking about applying to graduate school. Alas, I don't have any research experience, but I will be completing two ( Read more... )

Comments 8

anonymous May 5 2009, 01:57:56 UTC

You're selling yourself short. With a good overall GPA and an even better CS GPA, and success in graduate classes, you're a competitive candidate for CS PhD programs. All you need is a decent letter or two and a senior thesis that gives you something to write about, and you're good to go. Of course, there are no guarantees in life and even good candidates get turned down from time to time, but applying straight to PhD programs is worth your time ( ... )

warwasbeginning May 5 2009, 14:50:16 UTC

My work in industry thus far has been systems focused while programming language theory has been more of a hobby that I'd like to pursue professionally, but alas, there aren't many opportunities for it. I'm more of a dilettante with regards to Computer Graphics, so that is probably not very realistic :-)

And yep, the great Benjamin Pierce is at Penn. I'm definitely aware of their programming languages groups. :-)

hkitsune May 5 2009, 04:32:23 UTC

I have a friend whose GPA (and I believe this includes his CS coursework) was a 3.45 and he got into UIUC for NLP. I'm pretty sure you're going to be okay, though I would highly suggest doing some research over the summer just so you can get a better idea of which faculty you'd like to work with (research interests are soooo important) in graduate school.

warwasbeginning May 5 2009, 14:54:01 UTC

Thanks for this. I actually had the opportunity to participate in a summer research program at my school, but I accepted an industry offer.

zoomama May 5 2009, 13:50:33 UTC

I didn't have any research experience at the time I applied (I had arranged to do research but hadn't started yet), but I got into Ph.D. programs in chemistry.

If I were you this is what I would do:

(1) Find something CS-related to do over the summer. Research, internship, whatever. (I agree with whoever said that you should focus your interests; working in the field is a good way to do this.)
(2) Study HARD for the GRE--a top (90+ percentile) score may open doors. And don't write off the verbal portion because you're a CS major. Lots of people get high quant scores; few engineering & science majors get high verbal scores. You want to stand out from the crowd.
(3) Cultivate some professors who can write you EXCELLENT letters of recommendation. The LoRs are going to be vital at getting you in to schools.

warwasbeginning May 5 2009, 15:00:40 UTC

It's comforting to hear that you don't need to be a hot-shot researcher in undergrad to be admitted. :-)

(1) I've got a couple of industry internships under my belt. Nothing research oriented, but hey, a lot of the work I've done (and will be doing) is systems-related (which is probably where I'll end up...)
(2) I'm planning on getting a help guide or two for the GRE verbal. This is definitely part of my plan of attack. I really don't expect anything less than 760 on the quantitative section. I mean, I am a CS major after all.
(3) I've taken courses and will be performing research with professors in my areas of interests. This should be no problem.

Thanks.

(The comment has been removed)

warwasbeginning May 5 2009, 15:03:51 UTC

Thanks for the recommendations on schools with strong PL groups.

I actually have that CS PhD program document sitting on my harddrive. Thanks for reminding me of it :-)

Also, good point about the URM thing. Maybe I was a bit misguided... :-]. As a sidenote, in your examlpe about the person being admitted with lower numbers, I'd definitely include being admitted on the basis of research experience as something merit-based.

Thanks for your info.

roseofjuly May 6 2009, 21:59:47 UTC

On a peninsula in the southern US? LOL

I'm a URM, but I'm leaning towards not indicating it on my applications because I want to ensure that I'm admitted based on merit alone.Quite frankly, this is silly. Graduate schools don't admit unqualified applicants, so regardless of whether you are an underrepresented minority or not, they will not admit you based on anything but your merit. But beyond it being silly, it is impractical and will hurt you rather than help you. There is a lot of funding that is designated for or prefers underrepresented minorities in science and engineering fields. They may contact you if they have one that you did not apply for, but if you neglect to mention it, they will not (example: one of the professors in my department, right after I was admitted, called me personally to ask if I wanted to 'apply' for a fellowship that was open to URM students. By 'apply' she meant I would most surely get it if I submitted the application. Although I was already funded, this funding package was bigger and covered ( ... )