Snoq

Well, that means that I made a big mistake. I think I got confused by the 1 + 1 program that the CS department offers. I want to go to the best possible program and I thought that MFoCS was mostly for students in maths. I saw that the last application deadline for the MFoCS is 13 March. Do I have a chance if I apply now? I saw some admissions for the MFoCS already and I also saw that this program does not accept too many students.

Anyone else who applied to the MSc in Computer Science? Is the Mathematics & Foundations of Computer Science a better MSc? I just didn't want to be there for two years and so I applied to the MSc in Computer Science...

Has anyone been rejected? And do you know why they send all the rejection together at a later date? Do we still have a chance?

Well, I think that you should read the frirst answer here: http://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/90/university-rank-stature-how-much-does-it-affect-ones-career-post-ph-d I think that in every situation there are pros and cons about every decision. You just need to choose what is most valuable for you. P.S. I am not an applicant for Fall 2014.

Maybe a deep understanding of the field/area that you are interested in, and some (research oriented) thoughts? I don't know, I'm just asking.

There are too many people in AI, ML, Robotics. Does this mean that there are also more professors working on those areas too?

I don't have any experience in graduate admissions because I haven't applied yet anywhere. I think that there are a few things that you can to improve your chances: 1) Try to improve your TOEFL scores. I don't think that this was the reason that you (might) don't get in, but it is better to have great scores there too. 2) Find a research oriented job (R&D department of a company) and get there research experience. Even though research experience doesn't count much for an MS, I think that it will improve your profile. 3) Read research papers in areas that interest you. That will help you write a better SOP as you will know better what you want to do and what are your interests. As I said before, there is no need to have research experience to get into an MS program but given the fact that your recomenders are not well known people, having a little research (and work) experience will make a better name for yourself as you will know better how to write and present yourself while showing a couple of additional skills than that you now have. Thats my thoughs and keep in mind that I don't have any experience in grad school admisions.

Networks and Computer Architecture miss too!

Do you know approximately how many students do they admit to their program?

Is it easy to get hired to a lab as a research assistant. I will be applying next year but I don't have enough research so I might not get in. So, I was thinking if there are chances to work (not as a Ph.D. student) at a university lab and gain research experience that way.

Don't think that you GPA is "low". Well, is not the best but it is ok and will not draw you back. It will all come to wether your SOP and Recomendation Letter are good enough and whether there is a match in your interests with a professor (who has currently enough founding for one more student).

Are there available any other SOPs from students who got in top universities (not explicitly only those two)? I think i will be having a problem whith my SOP because I will be starting my thesis next year's January so I will be having only a few things to present about my research.

How much does your undergraduate research areas affects your latter (PhD) research and your Statement Of Purpose (SOP) if you want to change research area for your PhD? How should one write such a SOP (if wants to change areas)? I am interested in the following areas: Algorithms, Computer Architecture and Machine Learning (even though I haven't taken any course in Machine Learning yet - I will take one next term). But I don't know in which area to focus. And there is a possibility that those interest may change (I also like networks). I can only do research in two of those areas (and I have still 3 semesters and 2 summers to spend).

I don't know anything to tell you about (because I am not a graduate student yet) but if I were you I would write and submit only one, an this way you will have more time to spend on your Statement of Purpose. You should write and submit the one that you feel that is a better research outcome or the one you would like the most (choice is your and take other advises as well). But in your SOP mention that you have one submitted and one in progress.

That's definately not true. You will definitely not going to be a simple programmer but that's for better. You will end up having more possible positions at any company or research lab.

I am an undergraduate student, so I am not the best source for information but I know that there is a good professor at EPFL (Switzerland), and even if he is a new professor he has a very interesting research projects around Machine Learning and papers in top conferences. (check out his lab webpage about more information - I think that you should consider doing a PhD over there) There is also Max Planck Gesellschaft and there is a top researcher, Bernhard Scholkopf (among the best worldwide), and he has many diferent projects in Machine Learning (lab website). He is also affiliated with many other good researchers, especially in Europe. I have also heard about TU Berling but I don't know enough information about their program, nor other EU universities. But you should also consider UK universities, they are top (close to US universities).

I am an undergraduate student at Electrical and Computer Engineering (international) and I am willing to apply for a PhD for Fall 2014 (related post at gradcafe ). I am facing a problem right now and I need your advice help. I was transferred at my second year from another university and at not all my courses got successfully transferred so I need to retake them, but I got good grades on them and I am comfortable enough I can retake even better grades. I haven’t retaken them since now because I was able to take other courses and I was bored re-reading courses I have passed once. I want to do research in Algorithms, Machine Learning or Computer Architecture but I don’t know yet in which field. At this term I need to choose two of the above courses. The rest of them will be selected at fall ’13 and spring ’14 (thesis term) - during my theses so I want to re-take the courses I have passed so that I don’t spend much time on them and I will have taken all the advanced courses. My problem is that those courses will not be in my resume by the time that I will apply for a PhD because I will apply next fall before giving exams at any of those (neither my advance courses on databases, patter recognition and vlsi design). List of courses (grades are on a 4 scale): Linear Algebra : I know linear algebra quite good and I have already passed my robotics course with 4 and I will be taking a course on computer graphics course next term but this is an essential course. Advanced Programming (using C++) : Very good at programming and have passed my data structure and algorithm design classes with 4’s and my basic programming class (using C) with 3.6. Advanced Programming is a prerequisite for them. Will be taking a Software Engineering course and an Operating Systems and a distributed systems course next term and planning to do well. Will be doing research next semester using C++, but at this time I know well enough C and Java. Introduction to Materials : Passed that course with 4. Didn’t liked it that much and planning to retake it at my last semester. Haven’t taken any other course at that field. Electromagnetic Fields: Haven’t taken that course in my former university but I was planning to take it next year. Essential course but not closely related to my interests. Will not having this course hurt my profile? (Maybe it will not be essential at good universities but I am planning to apply at top schools). Also I will be taking an Electromagnetic Waves course at spring ’14. Introduction to Power Systems: Haven’t taken that course in my former university. Not related to my interests but essential for an ECE student. It not an easy but neither a hard course. Introduction to Mechanics: Have taken that in my former university but is not related to my interest field but I must retake it though. The most easy course at my university. I have also taken a Physics class (mechanics, vibrations and relativity), but performed poorly. I will be also taking many other advanced courses this term (5-6) so I am planning to take Introduction to Power Systems and Introduction to Mechanics because are the most easy courses and I could handle the course load. Will that be a mistake by myself? Should I take two other courses from the above mentioned? My current GPA is 3.64 and I have taken very good grades (>= 3.6) at nearly all of my courses in mathematics, electronics (analog and digital), algorithms and programming. I am planning to apply at most top 10 universities (including top 3) and 3-4 universities that are (top 20), so I want to know if chooses one course or the other would make any difference. I want to have the best possible solution as my hopes are high.

Your GPA is ok. It a little bad for top tier schools if you haven't publish a lot, but as soon as you are not applying there you have nothing to worry about. But I think you should also consider other universities and not only those in California. Even if you go to an other university you can still go for summer internship in Silicon Valley and this will give you a better experience.

I have not the answers that you seek but I think that you can do an internship next summer. Edit: Maybe I am wrong though

I think that you should apply to Berkeley for sure, because of your connection with that one professo but ask him first if he will be having a spot the next year and express him your interest. One way to overcome your mid GPA (I don't think that is that bad) is to try to familiarize very well with his research topic and projects and start discussing about ideas and projects that you have in mind that you would like to work on. If he founds that you are well suited to his team and very passionate about his research and this research area then you might get in. But be careful about the language of your e-mails and about what you are telling. Additionally your SOP will matter a lot, so try in your SOP to Berkeley to explain why you want to do research and why it will be better to get in Berkeley (for your match of interests with that professor - if he has any spot next year). On the other hand I think that you should apply to other top universities only if you find professors/projects that you will like to work on because the only way that you will have any chances to be accepted at top school is that you will fit perfectly in a lab.

I have read in another thread here in Gradcafe that a guy didn't get well in GRE but he was accepted at UC Berkeley for EE or CS, I don't remember. Try to score as high as you can in GRE but don't be nervous, it seems that they doesn't count as much as other things (and their importance may vary from university to university). For example EE at MIT doesn't want GRE scores, which is a good sign that they are not so important as other aspects of your application.

Can you tell me how to find that other book that you mentioed about a master student at Stanford? Have you find any other related books?

My opinion is that thise book will give you the whole concept about computer science, you will need to read more books about areas that will interest you the more as this books will not give yuo too much depth in any area. f.e. if you like algorithms and datastructures you will surely need to read at least two to three other good books that deal explicitly with algorithms cause you can't replace all those CS that you (may) didn't have takes by reading a general CS book.

I have one question (just curiosity). When you pass a course, in yours school, you keep the grade and after that if you want you can retake it whenever you want, or you should contact the professor and say that you don't want that grade so you don't pass that course and retake it?

I am still an undergraduate but I would like to go to a top university (maybe not top 3, but top 10 for sure) and if neither school accepts me I am planing to do research somewhere (even move to an other country for a year or two, but I think that there are many oportunities in US) and maybe publish a paper, if I can an re apply next year. Also think that maybe your LORs and SOP were not the best so next time maybe you can change something. I am telling you to reapply next year but try to "upgrade" your profile. I want to ask something to. Is it possible after graduating to work as a Research Assistant (or something similar) in a university? If this is possible, then you can try this.