dat_nerd

I like to sign with "kind regards". It's friendly, simple, and professional.

Is there a way to append code to your application without making it *the* writing sample? As a computer science major, there's no such thing as "impressive" code. There's also a lot of stylistic and "syntactic sugar" battles out there in the CS world that can make a reviewer hate your code based on your style alone. Oftentimes what one person considers "impressive" code is a jumbled mix of headache-y code to another, so be careful! Even so, I don't know how much a code sample would actually matter... I mean, the CS applications don't even ask for a code sample. It's assumed you're either good at programming, or will learn quickly.

When will you be finishing classes, and when will you officially have your degree?

I don't know that you'd need to address it at all. Neither of my undergraduate research projects are related to what I want to research as a grad student, and no concern was raised whatsoever. I don't think there's any expectation that you'd continue your undergraduate work into grad school.

I'd start with a Verbal section prep book. I used the Kaplan and Princeton Review books, and those seemed to work well for me. I'd really recommend getting a good set of GRE flashcards so you can start memorizing them. Memorizing vocabulary will take a few months to work on, so the sooner you can start, the better. I'd recommend this set: http://www.amazon.com/500-Essential-Words-Vocabulary-Flash/dp/1935707892 Or one of these free, online sets: http://quizlet.com/subject/gre-verbal/

It depends on what classes you'd be taking during the summer. Most programs have a list of prerequisite classes that you need to have taken prior to applying. I'd look into that first.

No, you don't need to finish the second degree before applying. I don't think the grad schools will think poorly of you at all, but if you're concerned, you could address it (briefly!) in your statement of purpose.

Yes, I do think you can get into a school. However, to do so, you'll need to start getting some research experience right away. Your research experience and letters of recommendation are the most important aspect of your application, and you can get both by starting on a research project ASAP. Since the summer is coming up, you have the perfect opportunity to start on a project. The more experience you have, the better. Would your professors be willing to advise you on an independent research project? While the school may not have research opportunities, it's my experience that professors are more than happy to give guidance to an independent student researcher. You could also ask if your program will let you do a thesis option instead of a capstone project. My view is that GPA and GRE scores can't substantially help your application, but they can hurt you if you don't make it past the cutoff point. I'd try to get the quantitative score to at least a 160 for a CS program. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about the CS applications.

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I agree, I think it's important to contact POIs before applying, but for any discipline. It shows that you are committed to your applications and helps you make sure that you're applying to the right places. My point was more along the lines that an applicant shouldn't expect an enthusiastic or detailed response until accepted to the program.

I had the same reaction as well. It would seem that many professors aren't interested in talking unless you've been accepted to their program. Most of the email responses I received were along the lines of: admission decisions are made by a committee, not me...talk to me later if you've been accepted. Despite this, I still found it helpful to email POIs before applying. There was one university where the POI wasn't taking students, one whose research interests differed from the lab's website description, and others who were genuinely interested in talking with a prospective student.

What kind of experience have you had since graduating? You could get a letter from a work supervisor, research supervisor, etc. The key is to ask people who can describe qualities that make you a good researcher. For example, you could ask a work supervisor to write about your work ethic.

Hello, I've added my comments below. These just are my two cents, so feel free to take or leave them as you would like. Unless specifically requested, the applicant information at the start isn't necessary. This paragraph isn't necessary. Your next paragraph is a better introduction and gets straight to the point. This paragraph is a better introduction. You'll be sending them your transcript, so I wouldn't list the classes you've taken unless a particular one sparked your interests. I'd remove this paragraph. The GPA information will be on your transcript, and there's no need to talk about the prestige of your undergraduate university. The adcomms have an understanding of which universities are well known in your field. Your research is an essential part of your application, and the SOP is one of the only chances you'll have to explain it. Maybe you could expand on what you did in your projects, what you learned, why it's helped you become a better researcher, etc. This paragraph does not contribute much toward your overall story. You could remove this paragraph or you could add more details about how this experience impacted you and changed your goals. Great paragraph. I like how you explained the details of your project here. Another sentence about why this project was meaningful to you would be the icing on the cake. Great paragraph. Again, you could add a bit more about how this has changed you or was meaningful. If you're looking for words to cut, I'd remove this paragraph. Extracurriculars don't usually factor into admission decisions. This paragraph would be more relevant and stronger if it tied your leadership skills to your ability as a researcher. At some point, you may want to mention who you'd be interested in working with at the university. I like the content toward the middle of your SOP where you get into the details of your project. If you can focus on these points a bit more, I think you'll have no problem reducing the statement length. Best wishes!

Taking the GRE is not a fun or cheap experience. Why force yourself to take it twice by not studying the first time? The GRE only measures how well you take the GRE, so how can you possibly do well on it by being unprepared? At the very least, I recommend that you take the practice exam first. It's free, and you can get an idea of what you'd realistically score on the real exam.

I don't live in Texas, so I can't give any advice about which city would be better to live in. I would look into each program's job placement rates, and see whether it lines up with your eventual career goals. You could ask the program coordinators directly or ask students at each program about their job hunt.

How much of a rank difference is there? I would also look into the cost of living at both places. Does the TA position give you a full tuition remission?

What were the application deadlines? If they were in December or January, I'd recommend that you follow-up with them via phone soon.

What's your learning style like? For some people, getting a tutor or taking a GRE prep class is the best way to learn. Either of these options will be more expensive, but you'll get a more personalized study plan. For others, self-paced and self-guided studying is more effective. If this is the case for you, a comprehensive GRE study book would be the way to go. I can only speak to the self-guided approach, so if you want any suggestions for study books, just let me know.

Yay! Which school are you headed to?

I was surprised by how much the location of a school impacted my decision. I tend to make my decisions with a kind of emotional detachment, so the location hardly crossed my mind in comparison to the strength and research fit of a program. It makes sense though, since I'll be at the school for 6 years or so. Also, I could usually get a sense for the program after talking with faculty for a few hours or so. The personality-fit made a much larger impact on my decision than I'd expected.

I'd ask the physics peoples at http://forum.thegradcafe.com/forum/30-physics

EE majors may have a higher acceptance rate in the overall EECS joint program, but for a CS-specific graduate program, I'd recommend a CS undergraduate. You'll be much better prepared for a CS graduate program with a CS undergraduate degree. If you go with a EE degree, you may have to somehow prove your CS knowledge via research experience or work experience in order to get into a place like MIT or UCB.