HappyCat13

I was in the same boat as you. I was dating with my boyfriend for 5 years before I am going to another country to do graduate school. We get married before I move, because it is quite unimaginable that both of us are separated for several years in two different countries. He then came along with me and found a job here. I would normally object to long-distance relationship for too long, say more than 1.5 years. To deal with it, I would suggest either he comes along with you and tries to search a job in the nearby location, or even nearby city (like within 2hr driving distance so that you two can be together at weekends). Or you two get married if you are very sure that the other one is your significant other. The marriage ring can alleviate the insecurity towards the relationship among two of you while you're far away from each other for too long.

Hi, I also feel the same way. After the offer letter, there's no further notifications from school. I find that my school email account hasn't been set up yet. Not sure whether to start applying housing or not.... My Quest status is always "Intention to Matriculate" since February...

I agree with Deckard that your letter is kind of overly apolegetic. It's correct to write polite letters to prof. But don't be too polite to the point that it makes it very lengthy and couldn't convey what you want in a straightforward way. Also, putting "if you can't write I would also understand" makes people think that "my letter might not be very essential and important" or "you already have backups". When you really want something, phrase the urgency and importance in your emails. I start to learn this when my polite emails get no responses from one of my letter writers who is a very busy person. And my emails with short and instructive sentences get quick responses and immediate actions from him, such as title with "urgent reminder", and letter contents with "please submit this blah blah blah" or "without your letter my application would become incomplete after the deadline...". You have worked for a few years. So I think you should know this email writing rule from your corporate environments. In my company I was trained that a overly polite and lengthy email would get urgent matters delayed.

Hi I did this before. Same as you: 4 profs. There are two profs which only gave me lukewarm responses. So I actually made appointments with them and met them personally in their offices. One prof keeps on asking if I have other referees who know me better. I was almost going to pick him as my referees. But after the meeting with him, I've decided to go for my fourth prof, whome responded enthusiastically when I met him face-to-face. I wrote email to the prof and said I no longer need his recommendation. Of course, the email was polite and clearly elaborated the reasons: I said because it might be difficult for him to write letters for a student he's not familiar with. And I said initially I didn't think of the fourth referee, but I realized that the fourth referee actually knows me better and could provides me different perspective in the letter. And lastly, I said sorry and hopefully I didn't waste any of his time.

Hi thanks so much for the reply. Now I get it

Hi all, I would like to ask a very silly question here. I tried google the meaning of this term but I still don't quite get it. The application system ask me to enter the details of three referees. There is one column called "affiliation". Some told me that you should fill in the academic institution this referee is working. Some told me that it is referee's relationship with you (such as supervisor, etc.). Also, there is another column called "Title". Some said you should fill in the work title of the person, such as vice dean, or associate professor. I'm wondering if this is so as the column for title is quite narrow. Please help! Should be quite simple question for most of you here....

Thanks a lot for the quick and useful responses:) The reason that I believe professor D is not willing to write is because: 1) I wrote her three emails, using three different email address (this excludes the possibility of one email address accidentally falls into junk mailbox). 2) I left her message on office door and I know from the office lady that she was not on any holidays leave. 3) A few days after I sent the last email to her, I saw a mass email from her to the whole cohort talking about some summer programme. So I'm sure she is using emails. I did have joyful interaction with her before and helped her done many projects as well. But after these events I was very discouraged to approach her again, although I really couldn't recall how I offended her. I think I would look for Prof C. Thanks fuzzylogician and alf10087 for your opinions.

I have confirmed my first and second letter writers and am now hesitant in looking for the third recommendation writer. If you were me, which one of the following professors you would go to ask for recommendation letters? Please share me your opinions. Thanks very much. Professor A, who taught me two senior level classes and I got perfect grades in both of them. I believe that he has very good expertise in his field and was known by some good universities in US. However, he cannot remember my face because the classes he taught is big lecturing classes. He also has some quirky temperament and is not very approachable. Professor B, who taught me one senior level class and I got good grade in it. That class has some projects. I stepped into his office and he said he is willing to help me write letters. However, he hinted me that I should seek out professors who know me better, because he thinks that his letters would be quite weak as he cannot write anything beyond my transcript and that class he taught. Professor C, who is friendly and loved by many students. He taught me one junior level class and I got perfect grade. In addition, I also helped him tutor his students in small classes. At that time, I met him almost every week to report the study progress of his students. He knows me very well and we were even Facebook friends. However, he does not know much about my grades. Professor D, I helped her done a lot of research projects and student works. Initially she was my ideal letter writer. However, I sent her three emails, each per month, to ask for letters but get no replies. She never replied me. I also left a message on her office door, she also never replied. I believe that due to some unknown reasons, she do not want to write letters for me. Professor E, I have helped him done a research project very long time ago in my junior years. But I personal was not very satisfied with that research. During that time I seemed to be young and lazy. I am totally not sure whether he likes my research outcome. Moreover, one of my other letter writers is willing to help me talk about that project. I think it is very subjective to choose...I initially do not come up with such a list. Because I straight away go to look for Professor B because in his emails he seems very concerned about my real learning benefits. However, in his office I felt so awkward and nervous that he kept on asking me questions on whether I have tried other professors before reaching out to him. P.S.: I am applying PHD or thesis-based master. I need funding to go.

Yes I now try to let my tone in the writings more open to a diversity of research sub-fields. Hi Thanks a lot for the suggestion. Indeed, writing a laundry list of research areas does give people bad impression that you don't what you want in the end. I really need to think harder to link all my undergraduate research together to come up with a coherent ending, perhaps not naming any exact research subfields at all...

Hi, thanks for the opinion. This is what I am thinking now as well. Initially, I also write my interested subfield in quite absolute terms. In my first draft of SOP, I structured my essay in such a way that everything is tailored to the ultimate focus -- database systems. All the courses I've taken. Some description of certain research projects. etc. After some time, I personally feel that it might narrow down my choices, especially after I find out that it is possible that some schools' database research lab seem not going to admit new master students in some of the years. I changed the SOP to be much more generic, perhaps too generic this time. In my later draft of SOP, I mentioned that I like databases and software engineering. And I have interests in AI as well. Not sure whether this is too broad.

Hi people, I am currently hesitant in whether or not to write a very specific CS subfield I'm interested in the statement of purpose. For many thesis-based master programs in Canada, they do not need students to specify which subfield. I am thinking of whether specifying a subfield would make adcomm feel that you are more prepared and focused. Back to the topic. I hope to hear some opinions of people who are currently doing research in the following fields. 1. Software Engineering 2. Database Systems 3. Theoretical CS (Algorithms) 4. AI/ Machine Learning 5. Human Computer Interaction 1. Software Engineering It sounds like software engineering is very industry-oriented. Any 4-year CS bachelor already grasped many core concepts in software engineering and these are sufficient for leading a prospective software engineer role in industrial career already. Doing research on this side? It sounds like develping new products for market, isn't it? I saw many many schools, even those very mediocre ones, all offer programs in software engineering. I'm wondering whether this research subfield has too many people there, doing exactly the same thing as what normal software engineers in company are doing. 2. Database Systems Too many directions in this area. It seems like it can go as hardware-wise or as theory-wise. The buffer management stuffs are definitely investigating more on the performance/cost issue. The ER diagram/schema stuffs are more theoretical side. Hope someone could shed light on the nature of research in this field. And what are the latest research trends in databases? And it seems like not every school has research area in database. 3. Theoretical CS (Algorithms) Could someone who is not very good in mathematics (but still okay in handle algebra with certain complexity) do research in this aspect? 4. AI/ Machine Learning Almost every school has research area in AI. The subfield is also influencing other subfields as well. What is the prospect in this subfield? 5. Human Computer Interaction What are people in this subfield actually doing? Design user interface? Also, I have a feeling that these subfields are not disparate. They are actually intertwinned with each other. Not sure whether this is true.

I think "kaykaykay" and "comp12" totally misunderstood my point. I don't bother to explain here. I was just asking one simple question where I already acknowledged the correct answer in my second response. Don't understand how these people read English.

Yes I know that now if you read my second response above. I used past tense "was" instead of "is" to indicate that I did not know in the past but now I know.

Hi such thinking is not coming from my side. I read it from somewhere else and was wondering whether it is correct. The reason I take the initiative to post this thread is that I had doubts on this thinking. And well, such thinking is strictly prohibited in USA and Canada. But it is quite a popular view in some other countries. Of course, quite many people dont like it.

My verbal is also low. Quite similar to yours. But I still apply top schools. I notice MIT does not require gre score at all. I believe that top schools normally don't regard gre score as important. When you really start the applications you'll know why. Personal statement, reference letters, GPA, published paper are far more important. There is a list of average gre score for students admitted to top school. If I don't remember wrongly, your verbal score is the average among all admitted applicants in many top us schools in Comp sci.

Hi, I am applying research based Master in Canada. Because most Canadian schools don't allow undergraduate to.directly apply PhD. I'm just concerned that saying that I'm interested in many subfields in computer science would make professor think that I am not a serious applicant. What would be your opinions?

Is it a good idea to specify a computing subfield in your application? I had many research records in database side and thought that it is an advantage for me to say that I want to work on databases. I applied mostly to Canadian schools and I suddenly found that u of McGill and u of Victoria has very small group in database research. I'm wondering if saying interests in database would limit myself. I'm also interested in artificial intelligence, personally. But besides some fundamental courses in AI, I don't have much to say about it. Should I specify a subfield which I have strong past records, or just say I want to do generic algorithm-intensive Comp sci research? I am wondering if saying something too generic will make adcomm think that you aren't focused.

Yes they do take photos on the exam dates. I heard that ETS did so as to prevent some unhonest people paying "professional" GRE takers to take exams for them. Perhaps US students were not taken photos by ETS.

Oh... Wow... So many negative comments about putting a photo in CV ... Seems like this is really not a good idea for applying CS research graduate degree in Canada & US... I was thinking photo is a benefit because: I was initially thinking of writing the CV as similar to the one I wrote for my job application. Normally, in a job application, a photo will catch the reviewers' attention and make them read the other parts of the resume carefully...Also, it will leave more impression for the reviewers. I read from an Asian forum that there is this suggestion to female applicants: the suggestion says there are plenty of male PhD students in Engineering side and their lives are relatively dull, and sometimes professors might ask their PhD students to take a look at the applicants' CV and made some comments to help professors' decisions. So obviously in this case a pretty girl's face (even an unpretty girl's face in a well-shot photo) would definitely catch attention, even though the other credentials are more essential. But here the suggestion says: the photo already serves its positive purpose in catching that attention. But from the reactions above, it seems that such suggestion is a no-no because of the very strict law and cultural habits in preventing discrimination in Canada and USA there. Really thanks a lot for the advice! Err...ETS will send the photo? Oh no I looked ugly on the exam date... I didn't comb my hair properly because I was too focused on preparing for the exam...So the admission office will see my GRE photo? Then in this case, I'm worried about discrimination as well...

I searched and found that nobody has brought up this point in the forum. Here is my question: Do you think it is appropriate to put your passport-sized photo in CV? I am thinking of putting one photo on the top right hand corner of my CV, but I'm not sure whether this makes me too very weird. I am definitely not referring to that kind of casual photo which downgrades the seriousness of your CV. I refer to that kind of photo which look professional, clean, tidy, smart and pretty (for girls, pretty, for guys, handsome ). Please share your views!

Hi this is quite useful advice. I also agree that people shouldn't go straight to graduate school after undergraduate simply because they think that's the supposed route. Too much education without industrial experiences does hurt one. I am applying to graduate school this year. Before that I have been working for one year. Although it is only one year, my mindset is very different now. I do not feel very stressed out in this application round. Instead, I just did my SOP/CV slowly and diligently without rushing for anything, using only weekends' time. I also did not apply any "safety" schools because I don't feel desperately to get into a graduate school just for the sake of going for graduate education. Life is multi-dimensional and there's always a lot of options even if I fail to get in any graduate programs. So I only applied to graduate programs where I really felt like to go.

Thanks for the advice. I went to look at the page specifying details of SOP. It turns out the requirement is quite different from one school to another. Some provide a text box for applicants to enter with limit word count(there is one asking max 500 words). Some rigidly set the format for applicants to follow. Some schools ask to upload PDF but strongly mentioned that they do not want to hear life history starting from childhood. They also name it differently. Some call it SoP. Some call it statement of interest. Well, have to provide customized version for each school I applied. Wow 2500 words. That's quite a lot. Do you customize your SOP to fit Different school requirements?

Hi people, I've created a vote here. Please share your views my clicking the buttons:) The reason I wanted to ask this is because I am currently writing my SOP. It is slightly exceeding 1000 words in the first draft. I am a bit worried that it is too long. But it seems like cutting away any paragraphs would break the logic flow of my essay. That's why I hope to hear some more opinions here.

I have encountered this before. I was trying to ask one of my prof to help me write recommendation for my grad application. I was supervised under her on a research project and I did excellently on it. I also helped her in teaching students in her class (with some TA pay as well). There's a lot of interactions between us. It seems almost no reasons that she would not be willing to write recommendation for me. But when I really sent out that long and sincere email to her asking about the LOR, she nevered replied. i sent it to another of her email. also no reply. I reminded her after one month. Also no reply. At that time I thought she might be on leave. Then I visited the campus. She's not in the office. The admin girl in office told me that she saw the prof in campus in the morning. She's not on leave at all. So I left a msg note on her office door. But no reply still. Subsequently I saw her sending mass communication emails to the department for some summer programs. This indicates that she is checking emails all the time. In the end, I give up the idea of letting her to write LOR for me. I believe that she is not willing to do so and that's why she avoided my emails. Honestly speaking, I do not understand in what ways I did wrongly. I excelled in her class, did a lot of things. Our past communication were happy and nothing wrong happens. She also looked like that kind of very nice professor.

I have a feeling that the author of this post doesn't really have lots of passion in computer science...you give me a feeling that you just go for the brand of the school and does not really care much about the actual quality/content of the program... I don't think this is good.. Let me remind you that the PhD in computer science in USA is not a easy task. It might takes years to graduate. Some people who get into top schools (MIT, UC-Berkely, Stanford) never managed to graduate from CS PhD and leave with nothing. If you do not really feel passionate about the subject, the 5~6 yrs might be a torture for u...