heyjude0820

Thanks a lot for your advice! Your suggestions all make sense and I've thought about these facts too. I've decided to go to UIUC and re-apply again after two years lol

Thanks a lot for the advice. If the master program is not UIUC MSCS particularly, then I would not hesitate to go to UMD PhD even it’s, like, CMU MSCS or Stanford MSCS. But UIUC is really different because it aims for students to prepare students for PhD program, not professional works. A high proportion of students in this program transfer into PhD programs so it’s really attracting. Research based master’s programs are rare and UIUC is really among the top ones. So 2 years of continuous research would really help me get into a good school... Still considering... Anyway your word helps!

Hi all, I've been admitted to UIUC MSCS and UMD CS PhD. My research interest is HCI+AI. UIUC MSCS: Pros: It is a thesis based master program, which means I can do RA to gain more research experiences. This program also supports nearly all of the students with RA/TA stipend, which is quite rare in master programs. Also, UIUC is ranking high in computer science, especially in AI, ML, DM related fields. Although UIUC is not very strong in HCI, its advantage in AI could also overpower it. Cons: Applying again after master program is still challenging. Every year the competition gets harder and harder. Can I really achieve a better result after a master's program? Still risky. It also means 2-3 more years for research. UMD CS PhD: Pros: Has a lot of professors that I am interested in working with. UMD is strong in HCI. The main POI is an assistant professor who just got his faculty position, which means he will be working hard in the next following years. And I like his research. UMD also has a brand new CS building, which is attracting. And most importantly, it's PhD program and I don't have to apply again with pressure. Cons: I have to say that I still care a lot about schools' reputation. Deeply inside I still have a dream of going to big name colleges. It's also a lot easier to get a decent faculty position if you're from a top university. I know UMD is already ranking high in computer science, but it's still not that famous compared to other top universities. It's kinda silly but I believe everyone would still care about it. And I am the first student of the main POI, which also raises concern. My career goal is to get a faculty position or become a research scientist studying HCI+AI. I know these two are all excellent places to go, and I really need some advice. Thanks in advance!

Thanks.. Then I found that Cornell IS sent all the interviews but I didn't get one... I worked with a professor at Cornell for a year and published two papers with her group, and got a not so bad letter of rec. Still I got rejected silently...... Maybe this year is tough...

Hi all, I am applying for HCI PhD. I contacted most of my POIs before the deadline. I got 6 interviews/informal talks before the deadline and received several replies saying that they would like to talk to me after the deadline (so that they can see my full package). Now it's already late January and I didn't heard anything. I tried to contact them again (because I recently have two papers got accepted and I use that as an update to contact them). 1. Some POIs said our last interview went great so no more interview is needed, just wait for the result. Well that helps 2. Several POIs said that Congrats on the paper and OK I see. We are still reviewing... (while I can see a lot of interviews of this program on thegradcafe) Does that mean I stand very little chance...? 3. Several POIs never replied... I am panic... My background is not too bad but not top enough to get an offer without interview... So I am truly scared now. According to some POIs, they are positive after seeing my application, and I did well with my recommenders (several papers during the research internship). So there is no reason my letters of rec went wrong... Is it simply because it's too early? But everyone I know around me got interviews after the deadline...

Also applying to LLK. Got visits from MIT (the network provider is mit.edu) for seven times. One burst on Jan 11, but not sure whether it's from LLK or other gourps. No interviews yet. POI replied that he will look through my application carefully.