dontworrybehappy

Received no answers in a while, bumping since I really need some advice here:)

Thanks mrmalawi, I will definitely consider that, however, that seems to narrow down the choices. Any other recommendations?

Hi there, I will be applying to a couple graduate programs for M.S in Computer Science. I am targeting schools on the East coast, California and Canada, although I haven't shortlisted them yet. My research suggests that most schools grant scholarships to international students only if there exists academic excellence. And I don't have that Say, I can barely get accepted. Now, what options do I have here? I don't think I will be able to get loans - as I am not a citizen nor a permanent resident. Anyone been through the same path, I would appreciate any suggestions or sources to look into. About the TA/RAships; how common are they for M.S in CS? Can one count on that? What is the average ratio (MS students with TA/RAships vs. those without)? What is the expected income? Well, I know these extremely vary from school to school, year to year and individual to individual. Nevertheless, it'd be great to get a general picture of the situation in my mind. Any recommendations on the "types" of schools I should consider? I'd highly appreciate any suggestions or experiences so I can set my expectations (and hopes) accordingly.

Thank you. I am very much enlightened =) What ranks would you recommend me to target for a PhD admission? Would ranks 30 to 50 be a dream? Or can I call a rank 70+ school my safety PhD program?

josefchung, thank you very much for the reply. You're right, I forgot; my writing score for the GRE is 4.5. Unfortunately, it's only a little above the average. My undergrad institution is an elite one, but in Istanbul, Turkey. It seems like I will be applying to schools between the ranks of 20 and 70. I am okay with going to a safety school. Can you also elaborate on my chances of getting a scholarship or some sort of funding? Any chances with the PhD programs? Any other replies? All will be highly appreciated =)

Hi all, I've been following theGradCafe for some time now, just got the chance to sign up I will be applying for an M.Sc. in CS by Fall 2013. I am highly interested in practical applications of AI and software engineering. I don't have an outstanding profile, but I do have some skills and experiences that stand out. That's why I need the guidance of those who have been through the process of grad admissions. Looking forward to relocate to the west coast or the east coast. Or how about EPFL, ETH, or even TU Delft or Eindhoven? All seem great to me GRE: Quantitative: 800, Verbal: 570 TOEFL: 107 GPA: 2.97, but this is because all my non-major courses are mostly C's or D's. My CS courses make up an average of 3.55/4.00. Algorithms, data structures, AI and introductory CS courses are mostly A's or A-'s. Research Experience: There is one; my graduation project on mining mobility data streams with the ultimate goal of early-prediction of the Alzheimer's disease. This work was part of a large project funded by the European Union's FP-7 Department. Published a conference paper at a C-class health conference in Europe. Pretty cool for an undergrad, though not mind blowing. First author after my professor (does that make me second? ) Work Experience: Will be 2 years by the time of my application. Software Engineer on financial systems at one of Europe's leading GSM operators. Great, but somewhat irrelevant References: 1) My supervisor with the graduation project: Highly recognized in his own field; bioinformatics Will write a pretty good one. 2) Second supervisor: Will write an average one. (CS prof.) 3) My manager and/or Assistant General Manager at work: Will write a superb one. SOP: I'm good at writing and making sure I consider the opinions of people I trust. My question is, what level of schools would you recommend me? It seems like an application to Stanford or EPFL would be based on pure luck. How about state universities, SFSU etc? What would be my chances in that kind of schools, in the U.S or Europe (mostly Switzerland, Sweden, Germany or the Netherlands)? Furthermore; I require funding enough to cover my most of my living expenses; be it loans, T.A/R.As or just scholarships. I don't know if my GPA would allow me to consider a PhD at a somewhat lower-ranked school. I know the questions are very broad and not easy to summarize in a paragraph. I just want to have an idea on what sort of schools would be safe for me to get in. And which ones I could force my chances? Any help appreciated