jdoe192

Hey guys, Im wondering if anybody knows anything about funding at the CS program (area 2, CSAIL if we're being specific) at MIT. I got into the program; their acceptance letter vaguely said something about guaranteeing funding in the first year but then it's almost up to the student to find funding. They also say that no student has ever had to drop out because of lack of funding. After talking to someone (someone big) over at MIT, she said that in her long stay at MIT she's only known one student that had problems with funding. She did say that I would be taking a risk and that funding is not guaranteed. The problem is; I have another offer (from a very VERY prestigious school; not going to mention what it is. I am this paranoid about my identity!) which doesn't fit my research interests as nicely as CSAIL does (but they do REALLY exciting things too) yet they flat out tell me in the acceptance letter that im guaranteed funding for my first 4 years (unofficial conversations with faculty indicate that I'm actually guaranteed funding for all 5 years) Advice on how to proceed?

Same here! I'll see you there!

Hi guys, I've gotten the MIT acceptance email (as in into the CS program), which said that we should receive more information about the visit days "shortly". Nothing but silence and its been over a day. Did anybody get that follow up email?

I did both ETS tests a while ago. The problem is a mixture of time and panic. And maybe stupidity? I wish I knew.

Hey! I have an overall strong application: BS in Mathematics top 100 US university, GPA 3.97, All the important classes (A- in real analysis), two publications, very strong letters of recommendation. Applying to mostly Operations research programs (MIT, also MIT EECS, princeton, cornell) and some biostats (harvard, yale, BU, johns hopkins). My problem is the GRE. I've taken it once, got 165 (V), 155 (Q) and 5.0(W) so obviously the quant is NO GOOD. I'm retaking it in a week. I have gone through all of the magoosh videos, done a plethora of practice tests (like 6 magoosh practice tests) and 2 manhattan prep tests. Im also working through the manhattan prep 5 pound book. BUT I CANNOT SEEM TO GET PAST THE 160 SCORE. Any advice on how to proceed the next week would be great. Gah. Standardized tests ARE RIDICULOUS.

Erm. I will obviously not write these excuses in my app. But thanks for the insight.

Ya that's pretty much my question. Some background information: Applying to OR, stats and biostats programs, international student with a BS from a US school (top 100 nationally) in Mathematics and Economics. GPA= 3.96. took all the important classes (all A's, A- in real analysis, B+ in probability --annoying professor, some grad level econometrics classes). Have one publication in a top medical journal (2nd author). Projected GRE score 160Q 159V , there is no telling what my W score will be, i guess (taking it this week). Four very solid rec letters. Applying to: 1- OR: MIT Columbia Cornell Princeton 2- Stats Harvard Columbia Cornell 3- Biostats Harvard Johns Hopkins BU here is my question: I have another publication in a pretty low ranking machine learning journal. It's actually a pretty good paper, if you ask me, but we just didn't have the time to submit it to fancier places. I am the first author on the paper though. Does it help/ hurt my chances to list the latter publication? Side question: I cant seem to get my practice score higher for the GRE. is this something that i should be worried about?

Hi all, Let me just start off with a bit of background here: Graduated summa cum laude from the top state school, double major in math and econ, working in research since graduation ( a couple of years ago). I took all the important math classes (calc 1-gazillion, linear algebra, the infamous real analysis, programming classes, stats, probability, some grad level classes... you name it. All A's/A-'s) Applying to Stats/ OR programs this December (dec 2014). I'm shooting for big schools (MIT, or. Harvard, stats to name a couple) Now that you know my rap sheet, onto the question: I was wondering if someone could tell me how the different authorship positions are perceived in the fields of stats and OR, this way I can prioritize the projects that I'm working on right now. For example: First authors will be perceived by the admissions committee as the person who....? [wrote the paper? did the analyses?] Second author is....? Third is...? Is moving from 2nd to 3rd author a huge deal (especially for someone who is apply as a post-bac...I'm getting the sense that not a lot of post-bacs have any publications at all)..How much weight do the journals in which these papers get published carry? For example, does a 3rd author position in a top journal matter less than a first author paper in a mediocre journal? Is overall number of publications more important than authorship position? I know that there might be no answer for these questions, I'm just trying to get a feel for how my application will be perceived and trying to prioritize my projects accordingly, so any help is appreciated here Thanks!

Ah. should have mentioned. Medical journals :/ The best nonetheless.

Ah Princeton OR not stats.

Thanks! And yes I'm very aware of that. Do you have any suggestions for safety schools?

Hi all, As the title suggests, I would love it if someone out there gives me an idea of my shots of getting into a good stats/ml (/cs?) program. I would be submitting my application this Dec. I- Background: 1- Graduated with a BS in Math and Economics (double major) and a GPA of 3.98 from the biggest state school in my state. 2-Been working as a research assistant in a top research university for a year, in the process of submitting 6 papers and expecting at least a couple more before december. 2nd author on most but might be 1st author on one...New papers are mostly apply machine learning techniques to existing problems 3-specific classes I took, all A's unless otherwise noted. Calc 1-4 (vector calculus, the only class i ever took P/F), linear alg, intro to probabilities (only B+ ever), Computing for statistics, Regression models, intro to proofs, Intro to programming (Java), PhD level classes: advanced econometrics and advanced statistical methods. I feel like im forgetting a handful.... A bunch of econ classes (no game theory!) all A's. Real analysis (took this class in an ivy league school, not where i graduated) A- 4- Programming languages: R, stata, python in that order. 5- SUPER solid recommendation letters from pretty high up professors at Ivy league colleges (econ and biostats dept) . 6-International student. 7- I intend on taking the GRE, and the TOFEL and the GRE subject test (and acing all of them) II- Programs: Sooo, now for the more important question. I fell in love with machine learning and data mining. I know this is what I really truly want to do. I do not, however, want to limit myself to one application, for example Biostats will limit me to only public health/epi stuff. I want to dabble with energy markets, fraud detection, public health, political sciences...the works. As I look more and more into programs I'm starting to realize that maybe my interests align better with CS but I dont know if they will take someone with minimal CS background. I would also prefer to find a program in Massachusetts. Here is what I was thinking so far, these are my pipe dreams obviously. Please tell me if you think that these programs wont be good for me/ are too unrealistic. 1- MIT, OR 2-Harvard stats 3-CMU ML/stats (this would have been my first pick if it wasnt for location) 4-MIT CS 5- Princeton stats 6- UW stats 7- Umass amherst stats and CS Also, I dont know of ANY safety schools so suggestions appreciated. Finally: Any advice/ suggestions on how to make my app more competitve would be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!!!

im going to be a complete noob here and ask what "spec" is! I've been feeling more inclined to get into a stats/cs/or program because i feel like they're more heavy on the methods, which i prefer. could you suggest a specific econ program? what i usually do is look at the research interests of the faculty/ student dissertations and see if what they're researching is of interest to me. thanks a lot!

I am a little all over the place. First here is my profile: Graduated from a top 100 school in the US with a double major in stats and econ GPA 3.98 (dont know what the rankings of the 2 depts are ). During my undergrad years I always thought that i would go on to do a phd in econ which is reflected in my choice of classes. i'm aware that i lack so many classes so guidance on what i need to take is appreciated too! Got A's in all my classes except for intro to probability (I KNOW, ah. freshman year) and took vector calc pass/fail. other than that took: 1-calc 1 through 3 (A) 2- calc 4 (P 3-linear algebra (A) 4- Regression analysis and variance (A) 5-intro to stats (A) 6- design of experiments (A) 7-Applied econometrics (graduate class using Stata, A) 8- Fundamentals of Math (math induction, proofs...etc: A) 9- statistical computing (SAS, R: A) 10-into to probabilities (B+) 11- intro to CS (Java: A ) currently taking Real analysis , expecting an A. And obviously a bunch of other econ classes. Programming languages in order of competency: 1-Stata, R (tied) 2-python 3-Java. Graduated and working as an RA, where my job is really heavy on the computational side So far published 2 papers, one in a big journal and the other in a decent journal (sorry im not giving their names away, dont want to be too detailed here!) 2nd author on both. both use advanced methods, like ML and network analysis. I have really good recommendation letters from Harvard professors (Like REALLY good) one is from the Econ dept and the other is from Biostats. the tricky part: im not so sure which program fits my interests best. im really interested in big data and data mining, so something that is computationally intensive but at the same time applied to social sciences (not crazy on epi stuff, that's why im not too excited about biostats). I know that CMU has a very good stats/ml program but it's CMU so my chances are really low there. I think a CS program would fit my interests best but i dont think i have the necessary background. would prefer to stay in the northeast area but that's low on my list of priorities. i feel like i'm capable of handling being in a hard program but i have nothing to prove it..which sucks. so to be specific, my questions are: 1- which programs do you think would fit my interests best: applied math, stats, cs or OR? 2- which programs do you think i have a good shot of getting into? 3-what do you think i could do to prepare? im intending to apply for fall 2016 so i have some time i think.