ahmadka

Hi guys .. So last year I was all over this forum when I was going through my phase of choosing universities, giving the GRE, etc., and often wondered why there isn't an app on the App Store which is a calculator designed like the one available during a GRE exam (there wasn't one at least till last year this time). So recently I developed such as app which is now available on the Apple App Store. This is the link to the app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gre-calculator/id1137504482?mt=8 If there are others like me who desire such an app - well now you have one :). The intention of this post was not to self-publicize, but rather to let others know that there's now a GRE calculator that you can use on your iPhone or iPad which mimics the real thing. The message was for the benefit of others. However if this message offends anyone still, mods are free to remove this message. Hope you guys like my app

Hi guys ... So I applied to a bunch of schools for Masters in CS, and so far I've received offers from 3: University of Waterloo, Brown University, and Arizona State University. My criteria is that I want to join a program that gives me the best overall CS experience to maximize my chances of employment within the Software Dev industry in the US following my graduation, because my undergrad was in Computer Engineering (which some IT companies don't like that much, so I want to make up for this). Secondly, I'd like a program which offers maximum help in career services, such as better internship chances, co-ops, better employment chances, etc. Waterloo has a Co-op program, but I believe its only for the undergrad CS students (correct me if I'm wrong). Also, it seems that Waterloo is only famous for it's undergrad CS, not grad CS. Other factors, e.g cost, weather, etc., aren't that important to me. Other schools from which I'm still waiting for a decision from are: USC, UFL, Gatech, Northeastern, Uni of Toronto, UW - Madison. Need opinions

Hi guys, I have two sets of GRE scores, and I don't know which would be better to use for MS Computer Science applications. Both were taken in the last 3 months: Score 1: Math: 161 (80% below) Verbal: 152 (54% below) Analytical: 4.0 (56% below) Score 2: Math: 164 (88% below) Verbal: 150 (45% below) Analytical: 4.5 (80% below) Score 2 may seem better, but the Verbal score goes below 50% percentile mark. I'm not sure how much of a problem that may be, so I'm confused which set to use. I'm applying to about 5 Top 20 universities, and another 5 universities between top 20 and 50 marks.

I understand that he might be putting them off for now, but the thing I don't understand is why he isn't replying to my emails anymore. That is the most troubling thing for me which I can't understand.

Hi guys .. So I have a Professor who in early November agreed to write a 'good' LOR for me. Throughout November, he replied to any emails I sent him (2-3 emails in November). However his last email to me was on 1st December - a reply to a question I asked him. Since then he has not replied to any emails. I've mentioned him as one of the three References for SEVEN universities, out of which he hasn't sent his LOR to even ONE so far, and the deadline for most was 15th December. I called him 8th December, and he 'promised' me to send them 'on time'. He can't send them 'on time' anymore as he has missed the deadline, but what's troubling me even more is that he isn't responding to any of my weekly email reminders. Please advice, what should I do ? Is there a possibility that he doesn't intend to send those LORs at all, even though he 'promised' me earlier to send them on time ? Do I need to be prepared for this ?

I guess you might be right, but I felt it was needed to sort of elaborate on my true interests. It explains why I studied the CompE program for my bachelors, and also helps explain my reasons for needing another Masters degree in retrospective. Plus, it serves well as an intro too.

Thanks, but are you suggesting that I remove the reference section (If I'm separately providing LORs through my referees), or leave it in ?

Hi guys .. So I'm applying for the MS in Computer Science program, and I wanted to know if the points I'm discussing in my SOP are okay. I'd also like to know if there's something I'm leaving out, or something which I'm discussing which is not needed. The length currently comes down to exactly two pages, while using default parameters in Word. Please note that I already have a previous Masters in Electrical & Computer Engineering, so I have to discuss why I feel that I need to do a second Masters now, this time in CS. My bachelors was in Computer Engineering. Paragraph 1: How my interest in computers developed as a child, and what skills I had developed in the area as a teenager. Paragraph 2: How I got interested in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence during my Computer Engineering Bachelors program. Also discussed my Undergraduate Research project which involved Computer Vision (object detection and tracking via an FPGA). Paragraph 3: Reasons for doing a second Masters. How I was misguided into studying Elec. & Computer Engineering for my previous Bachelors and Masters, and how I realized that's its not what I was really passionate about. Paragraph 4: How my current academic profile is not inline with my professional goals, and how a Masters in CS resolves this issue, and prepares me for the IT industry. Paragraph 5: What areas I'd like to study within CS, and why. Their importance in the technological world today. Paragraph 6: Why I'm applying to XYZ university. Paragraph 7: Concluding paragraph. If anyone wants to see my SOP, I can give them access if they have been a member on the forum here for a while. Please PM me in this case.

Another question, is the 'Notable Projects' worth including ? I mean it does have relevance, although I haven't come across many academic CVs meant for CS Master's admission, which have a Projects section.

1) Are you guys sure about removing the references section ? Because I looked at lots of college application CV samples, and all had a references section. 2) Sadly no publications .. I'm an industry oriented guy and am not going the academic route. 3) Technical Skills section has been removed entirely. I agree that it might not be relevant in an academic setting. Let me know if anyone feels the opposite. 4) The 'wide' layout, yeah I have to agree. I did this intentionally to utilize more left-right space, to try and decrease page count. For now I'm not changing it as I personally feel it's not a big issue, and because it will take a considerable amount of time to change the whole layout to 'fix' it. However if more people feel that it is an issue, then I might try to fix it. 5) Regarding doing a second Masters, I'm addressing that in my SOP. 6) Regarding not including my Grad supervisor as a reference (you have a sharp eye gorki! ), well to be honest it's because I felt that he wasn't all that happy with me. But the reasons behind that are quite complex: such as I realized eventually that I didn't want to study the field I was studying at the time, the professor was also a pain in the ass sometimes, etc. But the university should not automatically penalize for not having him as a reference, right ? I mean its up to me to decide who to have a referee, as I know they'll best represent my traits.

Would appreciate if someone can help me with this ..

Hi guys .. I've made an academic CV (which I've never made before) for sending along with my CS Masters application submissions. Please have a look and tell me if something is wrong or can be improved, or is not needed, etc. Please note that for privacy reasons, I've replaced all hard info with dummy data (changed names, university names, addresses, company names, locations, etc.). But all other data is actual data. Page 1: Page 2: Page 3:

Would really like some more replies ..

Hmm .. Question :: How would you start the first paragraph, in which you're probably going to discuss your qualification highlights ? Do you open with some cheesy though provoking sentence, or just get right to it with not punchy expressions ?

So basically I should just do exactly what they're asking ? That is, things like, "In 2008 I was awarded XYZ, and then I went onto do XYZ at XYZ. I researched on XYZ concepts, and did 2 publications, etc." ?? It just seems really stupid to do this because they can easily see all this info from my CV ..

Hi guys .. So I've written and finalized (I think!) a full 2 page version of my SOP, however I still have to write a shorter 500 word SOP for the few universities which require this. In the case of North Carolina State University, their prompt for their CS masters program states that the following points need to be addressed within 500 words: I understand the 2nd and 3rd points, but I'm having difficulty understanding the purpose of the 1st point. I mean, can't that be addressed in the academic CV which I'm attaching with my application ? After all, the whole purpose of an academic CV is to "highlight your qualifications". So why are they asking for it here as well ?

Thanks for the feedback. I thought academic CVs are supposed to be between 3 - 5 pages, while resumes are supposed to be 1 to 2 pages. Am I wrong here then ? Also, can you provide specific examples of which descriptions seem long ?

Thanks, and yes its a second Masters .. Long reason behind it Anyways, I'm wondering if I should or should not include the Technical Skills section on Page 3 .. It's something that every software engineer's *resume* has, but I'm not sure its relevant for a CV. I'm hoping that a Computer Science professional can guide me on this ..

I have to submit my first admission application in a few hours, so would really appreciate some quick replies ...

Hi guys .. So I've spent the last 2 days making a CV especially for applying for admissions. Please have a look and let me know for you think. Also FYI, I'm applying for MS in Computer Science. Please note that to ensure privacy, I've replaced all hard info with dummy data (changed names, university names, addresses, company names, locations, etc.). But all other data is actual data: Page 1: Page 2: Page 3:

Although I didn't particularly like my previous job, I don't think they will object at all if I decided to go back in January. But I'm worried that if I don't explain this thing, it might create doubt in the reader's mind when he/she glances over my resume.

If a university asks you to attach your 'resume' with your application but also asks you to list your academic stuff in it (research, publications, awards, teaching experience, etc.), do you really attach your resume, or do you instead send your CV ? Because normally universities are more interested in the candidate's CV rather than their resume, especially in a non-business field. So what should I send ?

Had a question to ask .. A few months ago I quit my job intentionally, because I wanted to prepare for my admissions properly .. I had been out of touch from academics for 3 years, and since I had to prepare for GRE, TOEFL, and all other stuff, I felt that my job will be a distraction in the bigger scheme of things, simply because it keeps me so busy .. This is why in August I intentionally quit my job, but plan to rejoin my company in January or so, once I'm done with my university applications. I just realized that universities who see my resume will probably realize that I don't currently have a job .. But like I said, I had reasons to quit myself intentionally, and wasn't fired or anything. Do I need to explain this in my SOP, so that adcom don't just assume that I got fired back in August, which is why I'm now thinking of applying for graduate studies ? My hesitation is that if I blatantly explain this in my resume, then every reader will know that currently I'm unemployment, even if they might not have realized it had I not explicitly mentioned it in my SOP ... On the other side, if I do mention it in my SOP, then it might protect me from adcom just assuming that I just got fired .. So need advice ..

Yeah I guess I probably agree too in a way. The thing is that I actually already have a previous Masters through Fulbright scholarship, and when I was writing the Study Research Objectives essay for the application, I did the same thing. Namely, I reserved the first two paragraphs as an introduction discussing the important and recent advancements of that field. Because I got selected for Fulbright scholarship, and managed to get offers from Georgia Tech, Chicago Urbana-Champaign, etc., I assumed the strategy worked, and I thought I can repeat it. But I guess I'm a bit clueless now, don't know what to do

Hi guys ... So I'm applying to a bunch of universities for Masters in Computer Science, and I wanted to get your opinion on this. I've seen a few sample SOPs, and in those the writers start discussing themselves from the get-go .. E.g., how their interest started, etc .. I on the other hand, reserved the first two paragraphs to serve as an abstract introduction, discussing the importance of computer science in the world today. This also sort of allows me to start the essay with a punchy opening line and concepts to get the blood going in the reader. However I'm not sure if this is a good strategy or not. I start discussing myself from the 3rd paragraph onwards. Please let me know what you guys think.