I think it's time to post.. "please evaluate my profile"

[lifeistolearn]

*First, I personally thank to weninger and newms for giving me tips for research paper info. (I wrote a post about writing a research paper about 2 months ago)

I still remember that I posted that topic while studying GRE at the library like crazy at that time.*

Here's a to my gradcafe posting regards AWA score I received with the profile.

I will just copy and paste it here.

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Hello, Gradcafe members,

I recently took GRE and got a wonderful score(1600) on GRE but low AWA score(3.0).

I was sure I was going to do well on Vand Q but for AWA, I was able to sense that my writing will be horrible as I was writing it down. Also, it was sure thing since I didn't prepare anything about writing but studying verbal and quant like a maniac..

So far, I recently graduated with B.S Comp Sci with last two year gpa of 3.5 from Cal Poly.

overall GPA is 3.0.

Now I am planning to apply for M.S Comp Sci.

My question is.. "is my poor AWA score going to make my application look really bad?"

if there's a solution to make up my awa score? what should I do?

if I apply for this year, I will be applying without writing a research paper.

If I apply for next year, I will be applying after writing a research paper.

I've been coding and never worked on essays since I was a sophmore in college plus as you can see that I didn't study too hard for first two years.

I am really honored to receive the perfect score on GRE but not being a great writer.

Thank you and I hope to read some helpful replies.

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So should I work on writing a research paper and apply for next year?

my wish list is pretty much top10 universities in US just like other people..(I was thinking about getting into Harvard when I was studying for GRE everyday..I think that positive mind boosted my vitality to study this test..)

I know my gpa is not good enough but I am trying to find any possible ways to show committees that I really can do well in their M.S!

Thank you for reading!

Edited November 15, 2010 by lifeistolearn

[newms]

Hi lifeistolearn,

I'm glad I was able to help. Congrats on your 1600! Unfortunately as you know, the GRE isn't very important, but your high score will definitely stand out. To answer your questions:

"is my poor AWA score going to make my application look really bad?"

The short answer is it shouldn't. That's because the AWA is so very unimportant especially for CS applicants. It might cause some people to take a second look especially paired with your 1600, but unless the school has a minimum required AWA of 3.5, you should be OK. Your SoP will show them your writing ability.

I'm more familiar with application prospects for PhD rather than MS so I'm not entirely sure of your prospects for a MS especially at a top school. Can I ask why you are applying for a MS rather than a PhD? If you ultimately want to do research, adcomms will expect you to apply to a PhD rather than a MS. Keep in. mind also that some schools do not have a research based MS

For research based degrees (especially the PhD) the most important part of your application is your potential to do quality research - so having a publication will improve your chances.

Your overall GPA is going to be cause for concern for a top 10 school ( which usually look for GPA of 3.6 and over I think), but the fact that your GPA improved over time will help to those concerns.

In short, a quality publication would improve your chances better than almost anything, so if you want to get into a top 10 school, Iwould encourage you to try to get some good research experience and hopefully a publication. All the best!

Edited November 16, 2010 by newms

[lifeistolearn]

Thank you for the reply!

I honestly want to apply for PhD instead of MS. However, I heard that applying for PhD is more stricter than MS and as you can see my profile, my overall GPA is not that great even though my GPA improved over time.

so my best plan I thought of was 1.have some research experiences plus publication 2.getting into good MS program in good repped university(only because low GPA I have from B.S) Lastly, 3.apply for PhD after MS..

I wish I was able to pursue PhD right away, but I guess that's just me being greedy as of right now. Plus, I don't have any information about all these admission systems except your given answers..

Do you have any other suggestions?

By the way, which schools actually require for higher than AWA3.5?

Thank you once again. Good night!

p.s can you take a look at my old post regards research paper? I posted a question.

[newms]

Thank you for the reply!

I honestly want to apply for PhD instead of MS. However, I heard that applying for PhD is more stricter than MS and as you can see my profile, my overall GPA is not that great even though my GPA improved over time.

so my best plan I thought of was 1.have some research experiences plus publication 2.getting into good MS program in good repped university(only because low GPA I have from B.S) Lastly, 3.apply for PhD after MS..

I wish I was able to pursue PhD right away, but I guess that's just me being greedy as of right now. Plus, I don't have any information about all these admission systems except your given answers..

Do you have any other suggestions?

By the way, which schools actually require for higher than AWA3.5?

Thank you once again. Good night!

p.s can you take a look at my old post regards research paper? I posted a question.

If that's your plan, then you may have to look at MS programs outside the top 10 if you want to apply this year. If you went this route, and did well at your MS (getting published) then you could apply for top 10 PhD programs in 2 years. Remember again, that you would need to apply to a research based MS and a lot of programs have terminal MS only. Most programs also have limited funding for MS student, so keep that in mind.

If you wanted to do research now and then apply next year, I suggest that you find a prof at a school or research institute near you that need assistants and see if they need assistants for their research.

As for schools that have a cutoff AWA - I don't think I've come across one in CS. Not many do, but just look out for it as a few schools do.

You should probably do some reading on what it takes to get into grad school, particularly in CS. Here are a few good links. the first two are by profs and the third by a grad student.

http://www.cs.cmu.ed...dschooltalk.pdf

http://matt.might.ne...mputer-science/

(hat tip to nvseal posted this link in the CS forum here)

Good luck!

Edited November 16, 2010 by newms