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Hi Everyone, I just wanted to start a forum on those waiting for admission to Fall 2018 University of Michigan School of Information Master's program! Here is a space for you to discuss your worries, get information from others applying, and ask about acceptances/denials. We're all in the same boat! UMSI '18!!

Hi all, I'm revising my SoP for grad programs in Human-Computer Interaction and would be extremely grateful to get any feedback/criticism before submitting. Is there anyone in this field (or related fields) who may be willing to help? More than happy to swap/review other statements- even if in different areas. Thanks in advance! Danielle

Hi, GRE: Verbal - 156, Quant - 167, AWA - 3.5 | TOEFL - 111 I have 2 years of relevant work experience as Research Assistant at a top ranked design institute. Co-authored a research paper in an international conference (accepted for Interact '17). Undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from top ranked university (60.2 %). I needed an extension to finish my undergraduate degree (finished in 5 years, expected time is 4 years). Also I have made a switch in my field from chemical engineering to HCI. I wish to get into a good graduate program. Some programs on my list are: MSI - UMich Ann Arbor, HCIM - U of Maryland College Park, HCI/d Indiana University, Bloomington and MS in Media Arts and Sciences - MIT Media Lab (it's too ambitious, but I still wish to apply). Which other universities in US should I apply to, which usually accept students with similar profiles? What can I do to counter my low undergraduate marks - online courses, retake GRE for higher score? Is there a possibility of getting into a PhD. program directly, in a moderate university?

Anybody here applied for Stanford MS in Engg Design Impact Program? Please reply, have few queries if they took interviews for selected candidates.

Hello! I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but I've been feeling extremely anxious about my application due to my less than stellar undergrad GPA. I went to a decent public university for my undergrad and graduated with a GPA of 3.05 in... , I had a very personal, traumatic experience occur to me in college which affected my ability to perform to the best of my capacity. I also was majoring in Economics, but was not interested in the topic at all. I took a few courses in the computer/information sciences, which I ended up enjoying a lot more. Eventually I became involved with research at the Information Science School at my university during undergrad, got an internship working as a user experience research intern for a student learning mobile app, and had my independent project during my senior year published in a relatively well known journal for Human-Computer Interaction as an extended abstract. All these factors, a relatively strong GRE, and a sensitively handled personal statement that disclosed the personal issue that I was confronted with, allowed me a chance to pursue a Master's in Human-Computer Interaction at a pretty great school in the field. With a fresh start, I ultimately graduated from my master's program with a 3.89 GPA. I worked as a research assistant for the full two years, was a co-author in a publication produced by the lab I was assisting with, as well as a successful master's thesis which was also published in a respectable journal. I also interned as user experience researcher at a major social media company in the summer during my master's. Since graduating, I accepted a full-time offer as a UX researcher at a reputable video games company (think EA Games) and plan on working full time for two years. This means I'll be applying for my PhD next application cycle (Fall 2018). I retook my GRE and got a 163 V 163 Q and 4.5 AWA. Given this list, will my low UG GPA keep me from getting into a PhD program at a top tier school? (Indiana-Purdue University, Indiana University, UT Austin, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, University of California-Irvine, University of Washington, Northwestern University, Cornell University)

I'm in the process of compiling a list of schools to apply to for in a few months to start in fall 2018. I am interested more in the information science side of things and would hope to pursue a career in user experience, information architecture, hci etc with a research focus. I am interested if anyone has applied or gone to mlis programs, especially in Canada with a similar background. So far I'm looking at U of T (for sure gonna apply) UBC (interested but not sure it would fit my focus) Do any of the of mlis programs in Canada fit this description?

I'm applying to MS Computer Science programs this fall. Wanted some feedback on what I could consider safe and reach schools. My undergraduate degree was an unrelated field at a fairly small liberal arts school in Washington, but I've taken a lot of foundational CS coursework at my local community college (all my relevant course work has been an A and one B, but some C's from 5+ years ago that are completely outside my major at this school bring my overall GPA down). GRE Scores: GPA: My CS coursework will include Calculus 1-3, Java and C++ Programming, Discrete Math, Elementary Computer Organization and Architecture, and Data Structures and Algorithms with a a few other elective CS classes.I graduated with my BA in 2015 and have some research experience in Cognition and Learning Labs with rats and risk behavior research, but no publications. I also have a minor in Studio Art. Project-wise, I made a third person maze game for a mobile game class (group project), but don't have many other side projects. I'm involved in my community college's robotics club this year which will complete in NASA's Swarmathon in spring and I'm doing a Hackathon which I assume will give me something for a resume, but I don't have any work experience in the computer science realm and don't have any non-school related solo projects. I am a tutor this year in my school’s CS department. I have some vague interest in Human Computer Interaction fields (knowing that my art/psychology background connects), but I don't really feel like I am familiar with all of the options to rule any thing else out. I'm also vaguely interested in AI and Data Analytics if I'm a good fit, but I'm sure there are other interesting areas I could connect with. My current school list include Georgia Tech (reach?), University of Wisconsin Madison (reach?), and University of Colorado Boulder (?). I have a lot more schools I'm researching, but I would appreciate any suggestions for schools to look at more closely if I would stand a chance of getting in or could qualify it as "safe."

I graduated with a BA in Psychology in 2015. Since then I have been pivoting into Computer Science. My community college level coursework includes: Java and C++ Programming Data Structures and Algorithms Internet Programming (Javascript, CSS, HTML) Elementary Computer Organization -- currently enrolled Calculus I and II (III is planned) -- currently enrolled in II Discrete Mathematics (planned) My undergraduate GPA was 3.54. My current Comp Sci GPA is 4.0 (though is all undergraduate level). I'm a tutor this fall for the college's CS department, though I have no work/internship experience. I did do research in the cognition and learning labs for my psychology department in 2014-15. From my research into schools, I will be eligible to enroll in some MS CS programs. Given my background in psychology, I have some interest in Human Computer Interaction. Are there any schools that have particularly good programs for someone with that emphasis? Any recommendation for schools I should look into? Also should I pursue the MS CS with emphasis in HCI or should I be looking into MS HCI programs instead?

Hi, GRE: Verbal - 156, Quant - 167, AWA - 3.5 | TOEFL - 111 I have 2 years of relevant work experience as Research Assistant at a top ranked design institute. Co-authored a research paper in an international conference (accepted for Interact '17). Undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from top ranked university (60.2 %). I needed an extension to finish my undergraduate degree (finished in 5 years, expected time is 4 years). Also I have made a switch in my field from chemical engineering to HCI. I wish to get into a good graduate program. Some programs on my list are: MSI - UMich Ann Arbor, HCIM - U of Maryland College Park, HCI/d Indiana University, Bloomington and MS in Media Arts and Sciences - MIT Media Lab (it's too ambitious, but I still wish to apply). Which other universities in US should I apply to, which usually accept students with similar profiles? What can I do to counter my low undergraduate marks - online courses, retake GRE for higher score? Is there a possibility of getting into a PhD. program directly, in a moderate university?

I'm an international student and I will be applying to HCI programs for fall 2018. right now my biggest worry is affording the schools. The programs I'm looking at are: Carleton- human computer interaction depaul - hci Georgia Tech - human computer interaction: interactive computing mich state - Media and information: hci rit - human computer interaction Umaryland-baltimore - Master of Science in Human-Centered Computing (HCC) umich ann arbor - MSI Uni of baltimore - Interaction Design & Information Architecture UT Austin - (iSchool) msis uwaterloo - Appl sci systems design engineering My plan is to maximize fin aid and funding by applying early and hopefully get a scholarship and possibly an assistantship or on-campus job. However, I am curious on how realistic it is for me to be able to be able to receive full financial support or funding or close to it from the school itself. I know I haven't included many stats but I am wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation and got fully funded so that I have hope. GRE: to take GPA: 3.47 (upward trend in final two years 3.9) no research experience outside of class projects

Short version: should I do into debt at my dream school, or accept a full-ride to my third choice? I was thrilled when I got into my dream program, the MHCI program at CMU. I never thought I would get in, and I feel like I won the lottery. Then today I was offered $80,000 scholarship from University of Michigan. Suddenly everything feels very real. I think CMU is a much better fit-- I want to make things, not research. I love that it is a professional program, and I like that it is smaller, and very focused curriculum. The curriculum seems perfectly tailored to my interests. Not going to lie, I also like the prestige. What I am worried about is that the economy will crash and I will find myself in debt and in a no-longer-high-in-demand profession. Not having to pay tuition would really help me get my adult life started on the right track (I am only 22, and this is my first time leaving my home town). I'm probably looking at upwards of $20k debt at CMU (I have savings and leftover Florida Prepaid to get through the first 2ish semesters). Then there is the University of Washington's HCDE program. I haven't even heard back from UW yet, but I visited last year and it was my second choice after CMU (really the first choice, since CMU was such a "reach".) If I get in, it will make this decision even harder. (UW curriculum is more my style than UM, and tuition is cheaper.) Another factor is that my husband is also moving with me, and while he is very supportive, I hate the idea of dragging him to Ann Arbor because the job prospects for him are much slimmer than in a larger city (Seattle or Pittsburgh). I don't really want to live in AA either.

Hey all, I have applied to 3 programs related to human factors and ergonomics/hci. I was wondering if there are others out there waiting it out. Post your results/status and where you applied!!