Computer Science/Engineering PhD Evaluation

[kanep96]

Hello! I'm not very confident in my ability to get into a PhD program. Tried applying after undergrad and got into 0 of them, save for the masters program I am currently in. All of the programs I applied to were math-related. A good chunk of the programs I'm applying to now I have applied to before. I'm hoping my masters degree will assist in making me a much better candidate. Applying to mainly Computer Science PhD programs this go around.

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Undergrad: Private University. No clue what the ranking is, but the school certainly doesn't have a bad reputation. Its a solid, accredited institution. Nothing to brag about.

Majors: Mathematics, Computer Science

GPA: 3.44

Relevant Coursework:

Calculus I-IV, Ordinary Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Game Theory, Introduction to Statistics, Topology, Python Programming 1 and 2, Operating Systems, Data Structures, Computer Organization, Spreadsheet Modeling, Data Communication and Networking, Systems Development, Web Application Development, Programming Languages

Undergraduate Research:

I created a chess program in Python that gives the user a chess puzzle to solve. Earned departmental honors from the math department with this.

Developed a mobile application for android that allows the user to play games used to teach and study game theory. Was my honors capstone project.

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Grad School (Masters): Public, state school. I have no clue what the ranking is, but it's a solid school and I think the program is pretty decent. Again, nothing to brag about.

Majors: Mathematical Sciences (Computational Mathematics)

GPA: 3.50

Relevant Coursework:

Advanced Linear Algebra, Methods of Optimization, Analysis I, Applied Numerical Methods, Real Analysis, Advanced Numerical Analysis, Introduction to Statistics, Game Theory, Algorithms and Data Structures, Advanced Control Theory, Fundamentals of Applied Mathematics

Masters Thesis (tentative title): 

Implementing a neural network for supervised learning with a random configuration of layers and nodes in Matlab/R

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Type of Student:

White male, domestic

Programs applying:

Computer Science/Engineering PhD, Applied Math and Computational Science PhD

Research Interests:

Software Engineering, Deep Learning, Scientific Computing. Anything involving the development of software (programming in general) is interesting to me (hence me applying to CPS PhD programs), so... its case-by-case.

Other things:

I'm an Eagle Scout. I also have 0 publications. That's about it for "other things". I'm submitting my applications within a month of the deadline for some, and within a few weeks of the deadline for others. Not sure how much the timing of the submitting matters. Sure does make me feel nervous, though.

Programming:

Python, R, Java, HTML/CSS/Javascript, MATLAB. Dabbled in many others.

GRE:

162/160/5.0 Q/V/E

Letters:

I have no clue how people judge their letters on here - I never ask to see them. Nor do I want to. Two professors I asked are fantastic people and I'm sure will write great letters. The other is my faculty advisor who is advising my master's thesis. I assume the letters will be "good".

Schools I’m planning to apply:

University of Maryland, Clemson University, Ohio State University, University of Chicago, as of now. I am looking into others. Don't care about ranking at all, just trying to find programs that fit me nicely. Really taking a lot of time, as I'm a very indecisive person. I started this process in the summer and just kept putting it off until earlier this month, like a dummy.

Any/all advice is greatly appreciated! 

[Qasim Rauf]

Hi, 

Hope you are well.

Thanks for the details. Have gone through the details and your profile seems fine however lack of any published work might be bit of an issue getting into PhD programs.

I would suggest you work on publishing MEANWHILE start reaching out to relevant faculty members from the universities of your choice whose research interest closely align with yours. Communicating with a supervisor will save you time in getting to know if a relevant professor/staff member is available for supervision or not.

Hope its clear.

Cheers.

[lemon-cmd]

Since you are at a new school, focus on building relationship with professors quickly. You need a minimum of 3 LORs and try your best to get one publication out asap. By the way, I think your GRE score is great, especially your writing score. I think you will be able to get into at least one of your interest schools and get funding as well. With the GRE out of the way, you can simply focus on LORs, SOP, and a publication.

My tip for writing your SOP is to focus on a research topic that you are interested about. You can talk about what you did but use your experience to build a story that led to your research interest. Keep in mind about the word count limit on the paper as well.

[lemon-cmd]

One more thing, your thesis sounds like the sub-topic within AI on plasticity/evolutionary with neural networks. Take a look at NEAT developed by Stanley (University of Central Florida; he's not longer a professor there but it is worth taking a look at).