dat_nerd

@fall13applicant Good luck on the UC Merced interview. Go ace that interview! None of my programs required an interview and the decision emails were out of the blue. I'm not absolutely certain what the chances are if you have an interview, but I believe it means your chances are good. Keep us posted!

Government studies

@fall13applicant Congrats!! How'd the interview go?

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I was a bit surprised to see only a single admit from Cornell, but it doesn't seem too early to be possible. I imagine they'll send the rest of their acceptance letters in a couple weeks however.

@fall13applicant My apologies, I didn't mean to cause any panic! I've heard that not all programs send out admits/rejects at once, but that some instead send them over a few weeks. Good luck everyone!!

I noticed a couple of CS PhD applicants just posted their acceptances on the results page. Whoever you are, congrats!!!! And as for me... I believe it's time to commence the "frenzied email checking" mode.

Crossing fingers for you too. Your profile looks really great, so I'm excited to hear how it goes! My "interview" also happened before I applied. My profile is two research projects, an unpublished technical report, 3.93/4.0 GPA, and 327 GRE score. I know it's not up to the level of several of the places I've applied (especially on the publications side), but you never know unless you try, right?

That's what I had heard. I decided not to list my other applications since I was nervous it might affect my chances of being admitted...

@fall13applicant Thanks! Congrats on the two interviews! It definitely seems like a good sign and a way of expressing yourself outside the application. Did you have your interviews before or after applying?

I had a similar "interview" with one POI a while ago, but it was months before I submitted my app. I'm not sure whether I'd really like an interview so I can hear even SOMETHING regarding my application, or if that'd be a cause for more freak-out.

I changed my desktop email client to retrieve mail every minute (rather than the original five minutes) and changed the notification sound to one louder and higher pitched so I won't confuse it with my music. The wait is killing me.

Does anyone know if CS adcomms conduct interviews? I haven't seen it referenced on any CS admissions site, even though it's so common in other disciplines.

I met with several POIs prior to applying. It made a complete difference. For one, I realized that the professors I thought I would like to work with weren't good personality matches for me. When I met a professor who was a great personality and research match, we were able to discuss potential projects that we would both be interested in. At the very least, meeting with your POIs can't hurt. Hopefully it would also give you some recognition when they see your application, while also helping you decide whether they would be a good advisor to work with.

Diagnostic breakdown as in which types of questions, such as quant comps, you got wrong or right?

I wouldn't. You don't want to give the adcomms any reason to decline you, and making a negative statement could be a reason. Perhaps you could rephrase it as improving on their work or how their work inspired you to consider a different research direction?

Most universities will consider you without an undergraduate degree in computer science. Each university does, however, have a list of topics you should know before applying to their program. A good next step would be to email admissions coordinators or professors at the universities you are considering and asking for their advice. I imagine that most will want you to take computer science classes as a post-undergrad student.