MikKar

Georgia Tech and U San Diego both have very strong programs in Computer Science. Aside maybe from the cost of tuition + living costs, there's nothing between them. You are best placed to know about this, but try picking the university whose program matches more closely with your research and possibly career ambitions. Congratulations on getting admitted in both programs by the way

I will reiterate what keawood said. Emphasize on your growth between the time when you were an under-graduate student and the time you were a graduate student working towards your Masters. Now, this will depend on the admissions committee, but it's possible they'll still put more weight on your UG scores than your Masters' score (possibly because GPAs in Masters tend to be slightly inflated). Your GRE scores will obviously not be a reason to cut off your application so no worries on that. Assuming your LORs are strong and that your SOP is rock-solid, there is no reason why you wouldn't make it. From what you are telling us, I think you have enough material to compensate and even put your UG scores aside (though obviously that may also depend on the adcom, if the guy reading your application is just hellbent on looking at UG scores, well...). As a side-note : would you not need a GMAT score, rather than a GRE ? Or maybe I am completely off the mark...

Dear all, I will submit my SOP for a M.A.Sc in EE program shortly. Guidelines are that the SOP should be on a maximum of 2 pages, outline goals for the program, aptitude, preparation for the field of study, and information about funding. I tried to make it as focused as possible and highlight my strengths and preparation (well, I think I did) so I would like to have opinions as it is possible that I have some sentences which might be shortened or just taken out. Feel free to shoot me down I edited out the names of Professors and University for easier readability by inserting X, Y, etc. Here is the SOP : To the respect admission committee, I am writing to express my interest in pursuing a Masters of Applied Science (M.A.Sc) in Electrical and Computer Engineering at X. With courses such as detection and estimation of signals in noise, mobile communications networks and wireless communications systems and excellent researchers such as Professor Y and Professor Z driving the field of wireless communications forward, preparing for a Masters of Applied Science at X will give me a strong grounding in wireless communications. This program will be a thorough preparation for my career path as a research engineer in the field of wireless communications and help me fulfill my goal of contributing to the standardization of advanced wireless technologies at the 3GPP. I am most interested in the research conducted by the Data Communications Research Group, in the Communications Systems research area. More specifically: I am interested in leading research on the design and performance evaluation of signal processing techniques for wireless communication systems and investigating cross-layer design issues in cellular networks. There are two ideas that I have been exploring for my graduate level research plan. The first plan I would like to propose for my graduate level research is the investigation of the impact of modeling imperfect channel state information at the transmitter in OFDMA relay-networks and quantitatively evaluate this impact at the system level through computer simulations. The second plan I would like to propose is to lead graduate level research on novel and efficient ways of sending data at the physical layer in massively MIMO systems in OFDMA networks, and quantitatively evaluate the gains in performance through computer simulations in low mobility environments. My research interests and proposals for graduate research will be well complemented and supported by UBC faculty members: Professor Y, whose research interests are in wireless communications at the physical layer and cross-layer design, and Professor Z, whose research interests are in the area of efficient, reliable and secure transmission of information in mobile radio communications. What makes X stand out from the rest are the topics its Data Communications Research Group focuses on: the design and evaluation of algorithms for communication systems. This is precisely the sort of research that I want to lead in my graduate studies since I have been doing similar work at A for the last three years, using system level simulators. I am also particularly impressed by the Data Communications Research Group’s supportive attitude towards innovation and collaboration with companies and academic institutions, as I have the ambition of working in the 3GPP standard and such an attitude is required in that sort of environment. My academic experience at B and my research experience at A have provided me with a strong background and preparation for a graduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at X. My colleagues at A gave me the opportunity to do applied research in wireless communications. This opportunity helped me grow both as a researcher and as a person and gave me the inspiration to pursue graduate study to further my education and build on my experience. X’s strong graduate program in electrical engineering, with excellent researchers and broad coursework, the plans I am proposing for my graduate level research at the Electrical and Computer Engineering department and the research experience I have acquired at A are all key parts that feed into my penultimate goal of working as a leading researcher at the 3GPP standard and drive and contribute to the development of advanced cellular technologies. The M.A.Sc program will help me grow further as a researcher, and I am very confident that my experience in the industry will help me make a very positive contribution to the on-going research work at X. Finally, as far as funding is concerned, I have not applied for any scholarship or funding as I can financially support myself. I have been working for the last 4 years, during which I have saved the amount of N, which I can use for the whole length of the M.A.Sc program. My parents can also provide me with financial assistance if at any point it is needed and I am able to accept an admission offer that would not include any form of funding. Also, there are no scholarship programs based on performance in France, so I have not been awarded any of these. I would like to thank the admissions committee for reading my application, and look forward to your decision.

Research experience does help though. I won't say it's impossible but it reduces the chances of getting in a PhD program. Perhaps you can try doing a Masters first ? Or do you really really want to do a PhD ?

I'm not sure how your GPA translates into the American system (like, how much out of 4.0) but I will assume it was above the cut-off point of all universities you applied to. Your GRE scores are pretty solid. Assuming that all your LORs were solid, my belief is that you were rejected because of your SOP. Perhaps you should try reworking it because it plays a considerable part in an application and that's where you can tip the balance in your favour. Also : getting any form of research experience will help you.

Try your best but don't try looking beyond the first year since you need to know how things are once you get to work. While funding is important, what matters is that you can make the most of this opportunity without it ruining you personally. If the program is right for you, by all means go for it and embrace the opportunity. Don't let your mind get crushed because of money (though it can be soul-crushing in some instances).

Good for you that you got accepted to that many programs, but to the point that your letters of rejection would be stained with tears is a bit extreme (and it's greedy on your part to want to send clones of yourself...).

Well... YOU are the one who will know if schools are the best for YOU. Even if a lot of universities offer programs in Computer Science, what you want is a program that is right for you. For instance : you might be more interested in theoretical research, in which case universities where professors have a more practical or pragmatic approach to education might not be the best one for you. Or maybe you want to specialize in a particular field of Computer Science that is not really of interest to professors in some other university... The best thing is to take the time to go through all programs of universities, and then pick the ones which catch your eye. Then check what each faculty member does and check the ones that do the kind of work you are most interested in. Then you'll know whether that person is right for you, and as a consequence : if the program is right for you.

The Verbal test is really about having a super large vocabulary range, it does make things a lot easier. Quite often, the texts are easy enough to understand as a whole but because of specific words some sentences are obscure. My personal experience is that, if you are lucky enough to get paragraphs on domains you already know then good for you, otherwise just do what you can on the day. I got 155 in the Verbal test (hardly stellar but 160 is probably the highest I could aim at), some texts were ok, others were not so I got a mixed bag. I'm not a native speaker myself, my English is fluent enough to get me through most situations but GRE's Verbal test is really about academic vocab and I feel the best thing to do is to memorize words as much as you can.

Yes, call them. And you might even let them know about your situation, especially in the case of Purdue.

Dear me, this is a scary situation. If this guy is just being a prick for the sake of being one, then try to get the rest of your committee, your advisor included, to push this guy out and defend you. Because at the end of the day, you are the victim here and you haven't put 5+ years of your life just to have some random bully prevent you from getting your doctoral degree. I can't imagine how difficult this is for you, but stay strong : do NOT let this prick ruin your work and endeavour. Use all the help you can, your professors and advisor are the best placed people to help you and unlock your situation. If it's any use : try getting the higher-ups of your university to look into your case, who knows he might just play the bully against that prick.

I don't have any teaching experience personally, but I like helping people by explaining things, especially what solutions I found to a given problem. Sometimes, I realize while I'm explaining something to someone that I missed something and all of sudden everything clicks (I don't know if that makes sense to people). I don't know if I would definitely try, but ideally I would like to prepare myself to it thoroughly, and see other TA's in action just to get an idea of it.

What did you apply for ? Masters ? Ph.D. ? I believe that top universities will at least interview the students that they are interested in taking in, so if you have received a call for an interview, I would say it's a good sign as it means you were short-listed to be interviewed.

Honestly, it's difficult to say. In some cases it might mean you're doing very well and have made the final list, at least. In others, it means you've been rejected but the admission committee is just super slow in notifying you. Some schools will call you to have an interview before they actually accept you, so if you get a call : you know you've made the short-list. Best of luck,

Well, at least you won't waste 2 years doing a M.Sc if you went to Johns Hopkins... Then, it depends on what you want for yourself. Last I heard, Stanford gave all their MS positions to those who applied for a Ph.D. so I don't even want to start thinking about what exactly it is that they want. In my opinion, If you have a Ph.D. offer vs a M.Sc offer, there's nothing to hesitate about. Even if it's Stanford. And I am guessing your Ph.D. is fully-funded ? That makes it even better.

The way you are phrasing things, I am wondering why you even applied to a university in Chicago... If you prefer staying close to home, and after reading your post it seems that way, by all means stay. Just make sure you get your priorities right, family being at the top is not a bad thing, but it will be if you have a lot of ambition.

Hmm, I am going to be very critical here, but your SOP feels a lot more like a biography than a SOP... I think that most of what you say in there, that has to do with your past I mean, can just go as it doesn't bring anything. You're not explaining why it's even relevant, admission panels won't care and they have gazillions of SOPs to read. Try focusing on what you are interested in and why you want to do it, why at this school and not another, I think this is what your school will want to see. What exactly are the guidelines the school/University/Institute has outlined for their SOP ?

ECE department has its own site for checking decisions, mine still says that the application is under review but given I never got a call for interviews, I am not holding my breath anymore.

It depends on what you will want to do later on. I am sure there is some form of Applied research in your field, by which I mean : you use statistical methods combined with heavy computer simulations to model a given system. Now for sure : if you specialize in theory then you are more likely to end up in fundamental research.

Fair enough, it is indeed field-dependent. In my field it doesn't look like it is highly critical but the few I tried to reach by email never answered me back. The others I thought about contacting clearly stated in their personal web pages that they receive millions of emails and as such : their standard policy was to not answer them, so... That's that. Back on topic though : yes the waiting process is tense but then again, if you weren't tense then it would mean you don't really care, which is generally not true. It's part of the game, one where we are not in control of things

Graduate Schools cost. A LOT. And international students almost never get any funding so they have to put all the money in all by themselves. So, for me, it's all about money.

Basically the absence of knowledge and inability to control the proceedings leads to anxiety. When I had applied for graduate study last fall, I was a nervous wreck the whole time, especially around February. And then I would receive the "We regret to inform you" email the one day I somehow forgot to check my email. Those days I wanted to smash the university to pieces and set off nukes, though I also realized my application needed more time to mature it's probably what killed me. Actually : it's not even guaranteed whether professors will even read your email before you apply. They're overwhelmed with emails generally so unless you built a Death Star yourself or he/she knows you personally, there's really not much you can do. Except maybe cross your fingers but that doesn't generally help. It never worked for me.

My 0.02€ on this matter, mmpp, I agree with niven2 and Arcanen, your GRE scores are probably getting you eliminated before your application even reaches the faculty members. A GRE score of 170-170-6.0 will never guarantee an admission, but anything below 145 (in the new format) is an application-killer. I dare say that foreigners should have at least 153 if they are aiming at top Universities (I am one myself, and I got 155, which is hardly setting the world alight, I don't understand how people get 165+ on the Verbal part). My personal opinion regarding the reason for your rejections would be mainly on your Statement of Purpose and possibly your letters of recommendation. Getting your Statement of Purpose right is critically crucial, because that's the one part where you are fully in control and you want to give your very best in it. It is also the place where you can convince an admissions panel that you are the right candidate and why it is so. The "why" comes by investigating the Program itself, the Faculty members, their approach to research, etc. It requires a lot of work and is not as easy as it looks. You will find very valuable advice about how to write SOPs in this forum (for which I am grateful because it really makes a lot of sense). I won't comment on the fairness of admission panels in American Universities. Honestly : I don't know, I haven't been in one so I definitely have no idea on how they work. What I will say, though, is that the admission process in itself is pretty fickle and there is always a degree of luck/randomness somewhere along the line. There is nothing we can do about that though.

Hello codejunkie, Thanks for your comment. Actually, the nature of my research has more to do with potentially patented stuff, rather than publishing articles in journals/conferences. I think the LoRs should be good, though none of my recommenders are native English-speakers so perhaps I should make sure they write some really good stuff. I am also working on my Statement of Purpose, hopefully it will be strong enough as I have been working on it for 6 weeks now. I found some very very valuable advice on this forum in that respect. I don't know if you will be applying as well but best of luck to you too for whichever program you apply to. Admission panels are known for being fickle so I will just do the best I can and see whether it is enough or not. MikKar

I won't say I disagree, but for one program I applied to last year, I made my SOP by explaining how through my experience and coursework, my desire to do research came to be and solidified, ultimately I didn't speak as much as I should have about why University X was the right program and how they would help me grow with their program or what future I would build if I did my graduate studies there. I got no answer at all so I take it that my SOP was plain disastrous. I think an SOP should really and only be about what you focus on, what makes you a right fit to the program you are applying to and what you are going to do with the path you choose. Your passion should be reflected through your commitment to the field you are choosing for graduate study. That's how I perceive it, after having read the enriching comments from intextrovert, fuzzylogician and others in the "SOP mistakes: what to avoid" thread. Of course, there can be variants depending on what recommendations a University gives about the SOP, but overall, the logic of elaborating on your focus, how you fit and what future you build remains the key thing. That's my 0.02€/£/$/whatever.