Hi, I am a Computer Science and Mathematics double major and Economics minor at a top 10 university and want to apply for a PhD in Computer Science (in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or Algorithms). I have a 3.8 overall GPA and a 4.0 in Computer Science. I've had 2 Microsoft software engineering internships. Since I am a junior I don't have my GRE score yet (but I got a 35 on the ACT in high school so I expect it to be decent). LORs should be great and the profs who will write them have all written be recommendations before. I hope to TA next semester in/close to my research area, and I have many other CS/math extracurriculars.
I have worked on various research projects. One dealt with computer science education and resulted in conference publication (one of several authors). I am working on math research with a professor that might end up getting published but I'm not sure. I'm writing my thesis on game theory algorithms to graduate with distinction in CS, and hopefully I can try to get a publication from that before I apply for grad school. I have done other research which naturally did not lead to publication—a paid research assistantship in the business school, and some CS/optimization work for a committee that has real-world applications for my uni rather than a theoretical basis for a paper.
Although I have been involved in all this research and have loved it, I am nervous about my chances of getting into top PhD programs if the only publication is the one on computer science education since it's not in my CS interest area. I'm also worried that if this happens my research will seem scattered. If I only end up with that one publication, would it be better for me to apply for Masters first if my aim is to attend a top PhD program?
Do you think I could be competitive in the PhD programs below, and if not what range should I aim for?
Carnegie Mellon (Computer Science- Algorithms, Combinatorics and Optimization)
Stanford, Harvard, MIT, etc.
