velua

It's easy to have that mindset to just decline the offer when you got into 6/8 or 8/10 schools. Not so easy if you get into 1 school and have no job lined up after graduation in a post-2008 world.

Unless you can defer (and if defer means you're not actually committing to them next year), they'll probably reject your application next year if they know they're your safety. I don't have any issue with calling schools safeties either... everyone seems to take issue with it, but it's not like the schools don't admit safety students after some of their top choices decline.

I think it depends on the field. In many fields, you should have a pretty specific idea of what you want to research. In math (and possibly other fields), you're really not supposed to know. Most people in math come directly from undergrad and know nothing about their interests except that maybe they like analysis over algebra or they like topology or something like that. In many cases, these students do complete 180s and end up studying a different subfield. When working on applications, you still need to write about your interests in your SOP, so you'll probably need to research some open problems in your declared interests, but once you get in, you're not bound to studying these areas.

Also, while the list of pre-reqs I wrote is probably pretty accurate, give or take, you should look up schools you're interested in and see what pre-reqs they specifically require.

I recommend going to talk to a specific professor. Look some people up and try to see if it looks like anyone might be open to a chat. You could even talk to math professors if you know them (or maybe they could direct you to someone in the CS department). Lots of math folks know programming, have taken classes like algorithms or AI when they were in school. I wouldn't even bother with some CS advising office if it's just staffed by some department secretary. Only talk to such a person to see about rules for taking classes as a non-degree student or in the post-bac program or something like that if you choose to consider such plans after talking to a professor (many professors are totally clueless about all the red tape involved in these situations).

I know how you feel about sitting around in undergrad classes though. Being 5-7 years older than everyone else in my classes has gotten old. If I get into an M.S. program and start next spring, I'll still probably be 5 years older than most of the grad students in my classes.

I know what post-bac means... but what do you earn, a 2nd B.S., a certificate, what? You can always find schools that will let you just take classes as a non-degree student (but you won't get financial aid). You can do this until you have the pre-reqs. I'm sure you already have first year calculus under your belt, so here's what you probably need. Essentials: Discrete Math, Programming, Data Structures, Algorithms, Automata Theory, Computer Systems Probably should have: Operating Systems, Programming Language Design/Comparison/Implementation Could help: Probability, Statistics, Networks, Software Engineering, Cryptography, AI, any other CS electives you can find I mean you could always apply... there are some terminal professional master's programs for people with no CS background that bring them up to speed, at places like Penn, Cornell, maybe Illinois. But these programs are a rip-off IMO. Just a waste of money. For example, Penn has a job placement page for its program and of those who went on to study for a CS Ph.D., half of them seemed to go to places like Drexel and Delaware, major downgrades from Penn. The industrial jobs were at local companies that didn't sound too impressive. I'd rather just spend money on classes at your local uni until you feel you have enough to go get a Master's or Ph.D. How are you going to get a CS Minor if you're already a senior and it's the spring semester and you've never taken a CS class?

I agree with you except that in many fields people do care about the GRE for some reason, even in CS as I'm finding out. When I applied for Math programs, yeah, it was just a formality, and the subject test is what really mattered.

What is a CS post-bac? Just take some CS classes this year/after you graduate. If you like it enough, take all the pre-reqs for admission and apply to programs.

We tip waitresses because they make less than minimum wage and people think it's fine for customers to have to pay for the food and their salary instead of just increasing the menu prices and paying them minimum wage (or a little more). We tip other sorts of people because we live in a culture that guilts us into doing so when it's really not necessary. When you're a TA in grad school, you'll probably be friendly when your students come to class or to your office hours (unless you really don't care about teaching), but they won't be tipping you. People should be putting in effort at whatever their job is. "Working hard and not getting much money" is not really a good reason to feel forced to tip someone (I'm talking about haircut people who make $25+ for a 20 minute haircut, not waitresses who make $2/hour). I once had a student who gave me a gift (was some chocolate or candy or something like that) at the end of the semester. This was someone who came to office hours for extra help a fair amount. I thought it was a little strange, and I don't view it more favorably than when students emailed me or came to my office in person at the end of the semester and said thanks for making it a good class this semester or whatever.

It seems dishonest to waive that right only to personally ask your reference for a copy of the letter.

Well I didn't see anything to answer the original question about the general rule in my GRE book, but I found the following online: http://www.newgre.org/preparation/gre-math-tips-tricks/(Problem #2 is a "between" question). In their solution, they are using strict inequalities, so I guess this means the answer should be exclusive if it happens to affect the answer. Assuming this website is a legitimate resource, that is.

Grad school admissions are hard to predict, and I don't think I'd find out if I got in because of some detail on my SOP or because of 2 extra points on the GRE. Either way, getting a 170 is something I can do to maximize my chances.

If you're not counting 100 or 500, you're counting 399 integers, not 400. Suggesting that translating the problem to an equal-measure domain doesn't change anything is just wrong. For example, the number of integers divisible by 11 between 1 and 100 is different from the number between 11 and 110 (whether you include the endpoints or not). I haven't seen any practice questions yet where inclusive/exclusive changes the answer, but applying for CS programs (especially as a Math major), I don't want to be the victim of a misinterpretation and get a 168 or something instead of a 170. Actually it was one of those comparison questions, comparing to 36. 4 choices: < 36, > 36, = 36, not enough info. Doesn't change it much though.

So for example, I just grabbed this from the Powerprep software: The number of integers between 100 and 500 that are multiples of 11. Are 100 and 500 supposed to be included, or is it strictly between? In this problem, it really doesn't matter since 11 divides neither 100 nor 500. But suppose we wanted to know the number of integers between 14 and 35 divisible by 7. Is the answer 2 ({21, 28}) or 4 ({14, 21, 28, 35})? Edit: This is a question for the General GRE test.

Thanks for the perspective. Hopefully I'll have an acceptance to start in the spring by October and won't need to worry about it. I'll probably ask a current professor for a rec before the end of this semester, but since stuff wouldn't be due til the summer or early fall, that's not such a big deal.

I plan to apply to a few schools this summer to start next spring but if I don't get in, I'll reapply in the fall/winter to start next fall. Anyway, if one of my recommendations came from a professor I'd be taking a class with in the fall, is it OK to ask for a LOR in the middle of the semester (some deadlines would be before the semester ended, and most would require asking before the semester ends in order to give the professor an acceptable amount of time)? Or does it put the professor in too awkward of a position? It's actually someone I took a class with a few years ago (didn't get an A though), although I doubt he'd remember me. He's very well known in his field, and I'd only ask him if I feel I'm doing very well in his class in the fall.

naive don't use the word various consider avoiding splitting infinitives five, not 5 no comma before relative today I am a strong, powerful young woman confident of my path in life and will stop at nothing to pursue my passion. Beyond that, it can be a bit risky to make political statements in a SOP, and I think you should focus more on your background/qualifications (academically). It's not going to be much with a 3.0, but can you talk about courses you've done well in? Do you have any research experience?

You should do well on the GRE. 170 should be pretty attainable for just about anyone who took a calculus class, let alone was a CS major. So I doubt that's going to be enough to make them overlook your GPA. Maybe if you have research experience or enrolled as a part-time student taking some CS classes getting straight As to prove you've matured. Have you thought about what schools you'd like to apply to? If you want to apply to start next Spring, your choices will be fairly limited. Only a handful of top 50 programs will offer spring admissions, although maybe you'd have to aim lower. A bunch of schools ranked around 70-100 do offer spring admission I believe.

It's not anywhere near April 15 yet. People are holding out and will decline their offers at many schools over the next couple months. When I applied to Ph.D. programs (in a related field) a few years ago, I got rejection after rejection after rejection, then got in somewhere after 4/15.

They know what you think of them (they also do NOT want to read a novel -- professors are awful at responding to emails, and the odds of them responding increase the shorter the email is). Send them an email saying: Hi Dr./Professor ____ (or first name if you're on a first name basis), I just wanted to let you know I got accepted at XYZ University. I'm very excited about the opportunity to study there in the fall. Thanks again for all your help! Your Name

I intend to apply to M.S. programs for Spring admission this summer, and one program with Spring admission is USC. Does anyone have any knowledge of how likely one is to be able to do the thesis option? Their program page says the following: "With the approval of a supervising professor, qualified students may be allowed to pursue a thesis option." From reading the department's website, this program does look more legit than those professional CS degrees for people with no prior background like at Penn or Illinois. But it also requires no statement of purpose and no letters of recommendation, which seems fishy to me (their Ph.D. program does require these documents for admission). USC would probably be a reach school for me, but if that means I won't have a realistic option of doing a thesis and it's really just a big cash cow program (moreso than a "real" Master's would be anyway) that wouldn't give me much benefit in terms of job prospects or even future Ph.D. admissions if I eventually went that route (which I doubt, but you never know), I'd rather just go to a lower ranked school. Of course, I'd still have to get in first.

What's the big deal with gifts? If you don't know what to get and it would be awkward for you to give them a gift, just skip it. I don't think it's necessary. Just show up to their office and tell them where you got in and thank them for their time/work. If they're not there, shoot them an email. Would you be getting them a gift if they agreed to serve as a reference for job applications (where they just answer a few questions over the phone)? Would you give your boss a gift 10 years down the road if he agrees to serve as a reference for your next job? What they want to see is their students succeed. This post isn't really directed at you specifically, but I see tons of threads around here with people stressing about gifts.

Even if you do waive your rights, that information gets out. I applied to the NSF fellowship when I was applying to grad schools, and I recall at least one of the reviewers of my application commenting on specific things my recommenders had said. It wasn't difficult to figure out which of the three letter writers had said what. But yes, you should waive your rights for obvious reasons. I don't know if universities essentially automatically reject you otherwise, however.

Well I've decided to apply for M.S. programs this summer to start next spring, and in the fall to start next fall if I don't get in anywhere in round 1. I've taken: Programming Data Structures Computer Organization Algorithms Automata Theory Algorithms (grad) I'm currently taking Networks (couldn't get into Operating Systems, so only 1 class). Will be taking Operating Systems and Principles of Programming Languages this summer. I'm looking ahead to the fall and assuming I can get into the classes, I'll take Software Engineering. If I can only take 2 classes, would it be better to take Compilers or Probability? I was a Math major who took tons of math classes but never took Probability. I did pass the Probability actuarial exam, but my probability knowledge is a bit rusty, and it might look better to have probability on an official university transcript instead of trying to explain what the SOA Exams are. (I've also taken Cryptography, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, differential geometry, discrete math, etc., pretty much any math class that might be beneficial for CS aside from Probability.) I haven't seen Compiler courses as required for admissions at any schools I've looked at. Is there a lot of overlap with a typical Compilers course and Principles of Programming Languages course? Is it important for admissions to have a portfolio of programming projects, or do they tend only to care about computer science coursework/research experience?