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Agrippa

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  1. First, let me say that i am extremely grateful and moved that people from this community would spend part of their valuable time to help out a complete stranger. It is enormously helpful to receive this kind of impartial feedback. Thank you so much! I will definitely dedicate some of my time to helping out others from this community in the future. I only wish that I could repay your kindness in a more substantial way. Second, I considered the criticisms of my first draft and completed the second draft of my SOP, and I would be grateful if someone would look it over. As before, you can comment on this Google Doc of the draft or I can PM it to you. Again, thank you for taking time to consider my request! Also, is it possible to host a document permanently on Google Docs? I very much want other who come to this forum to see my mistakes, improvements, and criticisms so they can learn too, but they won't be able to see those if the links to the documents went down.
  2. Indeed, ETS and its associated test centers have a pretty good racket going on with the GRE. It's almost the same as the racket textbook makers run. Still, the GRE does cover fundamental areas for anyone going into graduate studies. It offers admission deciders a quick glance at your abilities, which they can then weigh against the other parts of your application. Of course, they also understand the GRE is timed and you might have had a bad day, and will take that into consideration too. boomerang, since HCI is usually viewed as an intermingling of Computer Science and Psychology, it is probably the case that HCI programs to put more emphasis on the quantative score, since Psychology and Computer Science both require a firm grasp of quantative concepts. That being said, as others have pointed out, you have extensive experience in performing research in your intended program's area. This will be weighted considerably heavier than your GRE scores, since the admissions committees are looking for research potential. Furthermore, you worked with CMU before, so I am assuming you will have an advocate at that program at least. Write a strong SOP and get some good letters of recommendation and you will improve your chances. I hope you fare well
  3. To me, you seem like a strong candidate. I am unfamiliar with the Computational Neuroscience ranking of the schools you selected, but I'm certain they are all ranked in the top 20. As you mentioned, one weakness of your profile is your earlier grades. In order to counteract them, you must show you have improved by getting high marks in your current classes. This may also be worth mentioning in your statement of purpose. I think GRE-Q scores at or above 160 are usually good enough for most PhD programs related to science, but since you are applying to top programs, this average might shift to 163 or 164. Since your score is GRE-Q score is 163, I think you are okay. Of course, your GRE-V score is high enough for any PhD program in science. As for the rest, I think it is good. You have demonstrated that you have an interest in a specific area and are capable and willing to independently devote time and energy in the pursuit of knowledge related to that area. Since a large part of a PhD program revovles around independent research, your summer schools and projects will be a big benefit to your application. As always, remember the admission committee considers all parts of your application, so a strong showing in one area will help cover weaknesses in another. Your letters of recommendation and independent learning experience will help make up for your first year grades. They should pose absolutely no problem if you can show you have improved with grades for the current term. I apologize, but I can't recommend any other programs to you, since I am not familiar with computational neuroscience. Also, if for some reason you aren't admitted to one of your choices, then you will have an excellent opportunity to make your next application completely ironclad. Because of this, don't slack off once your applications are sent, since you will want to be ready in case this opportunity arises. Think of how much you would then be able to accomplish between now and the next application season!
  4. I apologize that I can't offer an evaluation for you hausinthehouse, however, I am a little interested in how and why you switched from philosophy to biostatistics. Would you mind elaborating?
  5. I had the opportunity to visit Iowa State's Statistics department not too long ago. Their program seems very strong and is a little unique in the flexibility it allows students in designing their graduate experience. The only thing is, I mainly conferred with PhD students, so I'm not sure what things are like on the MS side, although I would reckon they are similar. Of course, things may be different online as well. The students I talked to came from various backgrounds, and, although Iowa State's Statistics program is fairly prestigous, they admitted not all of them were totally amazing Stats students as undergraduates, and they still got into the PhD program. I don't think you are reaching too far with Iowa State. Furthermore, you might as well try applying, right? The only thing you have to fear is denial, and the only thing you have to lose is the application fee.
  6. I am applying for PhD Computer Science programs and I was hoping someone would be willing to critique the first draft of my statement of purpose. If you would like to do so, you can comment on this Google Doc of the draft or I can PM it to you. Thank you for taking the time to consider my request!
  7. It seems that brevity will usually serve you better than having a lengthy introduction. Furthermore, as onzeheures30 noted, it is probably the case that the admissions committee already understands the importance of computer science in the world. Perhaps you can shorten and strenghten it by talking about the specific area of computer science you're interested in and why it specifically is important in the world.
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