foreignstudent

@HBKss Yes I may try next year but age is surely catching up.... I guess I need to give some time off to deal with the rejections and see if I can still motivate myself for another round of applications next year as a lot can happen over a year and the motivation becomes a little weakened when you have failed already. How do you motivate yourself as I am so off the course that I no longer even check my mails as it sort of triggers my sense of disappointment more... And you were exactly right about the interview: I was far away from the person they had short-listed

@Tolman's Rat I sent my thank you mail now and yes I did send a link containing my work and told that it would be updated with implementations of other techniques discussed over the talk... Hope it doesn't sound like I am imploring for a place or any such things

I have not the sent the thank you note yet !! and the POI did tell me to mail if I had any questions.. Would it be ok if I send some demos or stuff that I make to strengthen my chances?? I have a feeling that I would be rejected by the way the talk ended...

@HBKss The interview hardly went the way I expected.. it was more sort of a semi guidance talk about what program I had to take and I could sense that there was no way I would be offered a place.. I am applying for a PhD and interview was about taking up a masters.. Its time for me to pack my bags and I have to think of starting new with my career and move on from this disappointment of failing to secure a graduate study..

I just had an interview and was told that results would be out in a months time..and judging by the tone I knew my result immediately!!.. You could always make out that way...

Hello.. I am from India and I have a Phd chat over skype tomorrow..I am applying for PhD in CS.. and yes I keep checking this forum and my mail dreading the inevitable rejected application mail!!!

Yes that is very obvious but from what I can discern this prof B has very recently joined the University (in 2015), so there could be a possibility of not knowing.. Regardless as you said they would figure it out. But I would like to know whether I should mention about that or should I just send an affirmative mail. I just want to know the proper etiquette.

I have already posted about an earlier invite I got to talk over skype regarding my PhD application. Now I have got another mail from another professor B from the same university as the previous POI A to talk on whether our research interests align. Now I have a doubt on whether I should mention that I have been contacted by Prof A already or should I inform Prof A during interview that I have also been contacted by Prof B??? Is that a proper etiquette.. please do advice..

@HBKss... Whoa with a strong research background you felt it tough... that is something then...I have no research experience to speak of and I keep wondering how was I considered for the talk!!!! Did you feel your lack of research exposure hurt you in your chances.. but with your publications and research background I thought hey would only judge your capacity to do research.. This is really tough luck for you.... I will post my experience as soon as it gets over...

was the interview that tough??? which dept did you apply to...even I have a interview in a couple of days time....

Thanks a lot this sounds better.. some of the posts in other forums and stackexchange were talking about solving problems and such. It sure made me very nervous and anxious. My plan is to understand once again the profs research interest and projects and to look through all the projects I have done in game programming. The questions to the profs is another worrying aspect as I dont want to sound too stupid and also not to irk them regarding their methods or techniques. Hope I dont blow this away

I have already posted this topic in the Waiting it Out forum, but decided to post here to get more CS specific answers. Recently I have been contacted by a Prof who wants to talk over skype regarding my PhD application. I have mentioned my interest of working under this Prof in my SOP. I have no research experience which I know is a serious handicap but apart from that I would be really glad if anybody could tell me what questions I can expect from CS related fields in general or related to game programming and AI. Would I be quizzed on Mathematical and algorithmic concepts? Should I brush up on my basic CS skills in algorithms and data structures as it has been some time since I last used them academically Any pointers would be great

I desperately hope so.. I'll post the CS specific questions in the CS forums and hope for answers there...

Thank you so much Chubberubber for the wishes!! It made me feel positive!! I am more worried about the technical aspects like asking me to solve or use an algorithm from the top off my head. My brain would practically freeze especially knowing the reputation and expertise of the professor. In cases where I am unable to answer how do I put it positively without a blunt "I don't know".. Should I start brushing up on my CS basics like algorithms and data structures.. any idea whether PhD candidates get a job interview kind of questions This really must be a miracle of sorts for my profile to get accepted and I feel like I am going to mess it up badly!!!

Just as a doubt .. wouldn't the POI know about my lack of research experience as it is evident in the application form and by reading through the SOP before setting up the talk?? I would really appreciate any pointers on what may be expected?? I have seen through some of the posts in Stackexchange and there have been instances of asking to solve problems from papers and other similar queries. Is it okay if the answers are not perfect??

Hi All, I have just got a mail from one of the Universities asking for a talk in skype regarding my PhD application. I am from a CS background with no research experience, the mail is from one of the profs I had mentioned in my SOP. I dont want to blow away this chance and would want to make full use of the opportunity given. My questions are: Would the talk focus on research aspects? Like do they expect me to have a concrete research proposal? Will it be kind of like a semi technical interview touching upon algorithms and so on? What should i focus on to do well in this skype talk? The mail states it is going to be a talk regarding my application so any positives I can glean from this regarding my application? This is my first time and I would really like to do well, so any help would be really appreciated

I am an international applicant and got my undergrad degree in 2010 back then there were no GPA metrics . My GPA would be 3.00 and my GRE is 152 in Quant and 156 in verbal. The low quant scores literally shut the doors but the real factor that nailed them to be shut permanently is my lack of research papers

Can anyone beat this!!!.... I have applied for a Phd in CS with such a profile knowing very well that unless there is a fortuitous clerical error by which my profile gets selected, I don't stand a chance. So I would like to hear any miracle stories from anyone out there who have managed to get into a PhD program in CS with a collective low in GRE and GPA and zero research experience. One point however is that the research experience is lacking due to dearth in opportunities rather than a ack of interest. It would be nice to hear if any such profiles ever got selected.

Universities that I know are Wayne State and Oklahoma State University which have their deadlines in march..you can try them

You may not find sample on MEM but this link has original SOP' in physics and engineering. Use them as a reference http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~natalia/studyinus/guide/statement/samples.htm

One of the universities I am applying to have a essay word limit of about 300 words. I find it to be way too short to express my ideas. In such cases should I really condense my SOP with the trade off being losing some important points or can I upload my original SOP??

Thanks a ton agnibann, I have PM'ed you my SOP

Hello I am applying for PhD in CS in Fall 2015 and as the deadlines are nearing I would appreciate if anybody could evaluate and give feedback for my SOP. I'd be happy to PM anyone who would help me

Bump!!! any pointers would be great... I have begun to write stating my interests in AI without delving too much into my childhood days where I was hypnotized by computers and stuff. Is it okay to start upfront talking about my interests in various AI techniques and how specifically it relates to my interest. How do I overcome the lack of research handicap??

Hi All, I really need advice on writing a SOP for CS Phd in AI. My area of concern is how do I portray my strengths as a candidate when I have had no research experience and relevant work experience in AI. I have made couple of games using some of the AI techniques and I am mostly interested in research about learning agents/ creating believable NPC's which interact with human like behaviors I have made games using some of the AI techniques and I can make more .. but these have all been my independent study as my area of work is different. I am sure my application may seem out of place to many and may question why I am applying at all in the first place. But I would appreciate any genuine advice on writing a SOP for candidates like me