[As a computer science master's applicant, how can I address consistently low scores in Math courses in my SOP? What are good ways to offset this?]

They're not going to know how I passed. But India doesn't allow retaking courses. There's no other university where I could do this while also completing my college degree. Is there any online course that might have the same credibility?

[As a computer science master's applicant, how can I address consistently low scores in Math courses in my SOP? What are good ways to offset this?]

I have had 4 math courses during my undergraduate studies, one each in the first four semesters:

Applied maths 1: 40/100 (Exactly 40 is required to pass!)
Applied maths 2: 40/100
Applied maths 3: 40/100
Applied maths 4: 28*/100 (Fail grade but I was exempted from reappearing because of 15 mark bonus the university gives students who do social work)

 

GRE quant: 160/170 (78th percentile) (Took the test in my 6th semester.)

I know exactly how bad this is. Solutions, solutions.

[Which universities offer master's programs specially tailored for NLP?]

I know about the Master's in Language Technologies program at CMU LTI. Are there any more institutes of repute that offer similar courses? Or at least an MSCS with plenty of NLP-related subjects to choose from? 

Which universities would be best for such programs?

[NLP schools]

I think the answer is, "It depends." What are your goals after your masters degree?

I'd like to work in industry for a couple of years (just to get rid of any loans quickly) and then pursue research. Most probably machine translation or dialogue systems, but it's too early to decide. I am interning for the last six months at IIT Bombay and my work is on evaluation of SMTs. No papers yet though. 

I think it's fairly important that I be able to work in a lab while getting my masters. 

[NLP schools]

How relevant would it be for a Masters applicant to select a school based on its NLP impact? Mostly we have a course-work focused track albeit with a thesis option and most Masters students are not allowed to be part of research groups. With all these details in hand which would be wiser for me?

 

To select a school on CS department reputation or the NLP factor?

 

Can someone please answer this question? I'm a masters applicant for Fall '15.

[Masters in Science with NLP focus]

Hi PhDerp,

 I like language technologies in general. I'm much inclined towards sentiment analysis, but have had little exposure except for my junior thesis. On the other hand, my current internship has working in machine translation and I'm learning quite a lot. I like that too.

 

Could you help me with some resources which could help me gain basic literacy with regard to speech processing? I've not yet delved deeply in that area. Perhaps it could take me a few more weeks of research before I can narrow it down.

I have three more questions (sorry!)

 

1. Is my GRE score good enough to apply to a Ph.D or even a program like MLT at CMU?

2. Just how strongly is GPA weighed? Is there something that I can do to offset my poor performance in the first two years at college?
3. What universities are best for Ph.D/ MS programs in speech? How about NLP? (Please accept my apologies, that's four, but all information about this on gradcafe is at least two years old now)

[Masters in Science with NLP focus]

Indeed, I am considering the masters option and researching schools. Would you happen to know any schools that do good research in NLP that I might consider applying? 

[Masters in Science with NLP focus]

Well I don't know how to convert your GPA... maybe do it for us?

 

 

 

Yes, this is about US schools.

I'm not completely sure, but my aggregate should be around 59% (that comes to a paltry 3.0 - 3.2 ish). I've scored badly in key subjects like Algorithms, Data structures as well. Which is why I'm trying my best to steer myself away from this potential career suicide. I'm not even looking to pursue a Ph.D. at this stage since my profile is hardly competitive.

A good 2 years at Grad school should help change my case for the better, but I'm worried about losing out on the good masters programs as well. Would it make better sense to wait out one more year work as an intern or research assistant and then apply with a better GPA (using my 7th and 8th sem scores as well) ? Or should I settle with a lack lustre masters program if I don't get the preferred ones? How must I decide? 

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me

[Masters in Science with NLP focus]

Is there anyone who can provide some insight and advice?

[Masters in Science with NLP focus]

I am a (now) senior year undergrad at University of Mumbai and I want to pursue a grad program that is focussed on Natural Language Processing. I have two questions:

 

1. Which are the best schools currently for NLP research that have good masters programs and plenty of funding? There are other posts discussing this, but they're at least three years old. Does anyone have new information?

 

2. I don't know what to make of my profile, but I'm trying to dig for schools I could reach for. I consistently scored a 55% in all of my first four semesters here and then 67% in both my fifth and sixth (First Class, but about 3% less than a First class with distinction). (As a fresh undergrad, I was deluded and made to believe that course knowledge is useless, and my focus should lay purely on coding. I grew up and two years later, realized how severely limiting my lack of knowledge was.) Anyway, I'm in fire-fighting mode for the last six months, when I found my passion for NLP, taking up MOOC courses to bridge the gaps. (So far only Algorithms at Stanford)

 

My GRE score: 320 (160 Q, 160 V, 4.5 AWA)

 

Right now, I'm in the middle of my dream summer research internship (2 months) at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology  (IIT-Bombay) under Dr. Pushpak Bhattacharyya who is the current vice president elect of the ACL (Biggest name in NLP in India). 

 

The MLT program at CMU is my favourite choice so far. Contacting them, it seems they find my GRE score good, and they've assured me that my profile will be judged in its entirety despite my academics. That still doesn't mean I have a good shot.

 

What is the best course of action for me? Must I wait out an year and still improve my academics this year? 

Furthermore, my aim is to pursue a career in research. I think the MLT program will be the best way to toy with the idea of a Ph.D But I know it's a long shot, Im willing to take detours to my eventual goal. Thoughts?

 

Sorry about the long post. But I really couldn't have done better.