Waiting for EPFL's confirmation [PhD Application]

[vietexob]

Hi all,

I just wanna start this topic for those who are in the same situation (or was) so that we can share the experiences, learn from each other or just to make this waiting less like eternity. So about 3 weeks ago, I received this e-mail from EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland), to which I applied for a PhD in Computer Science (the EDIC program). I was really euphoric...

"We would like to inform you that your application has been accepted by the EDIC Admission Committee and that you are admissible to the program.

The next step for being admitted to the program is to be hired in a lab and to have a Thesis Director. Your application is now available to the professors. You may be contacted directly by a professor for further discussion or for an interview invitation. Should a professor be interested in your file, he/she will most likely contact you within the next two months."

And I have been waiting for the "next step" ever since. I was really patient in the first 2 weeks but now I'm like sitting on fire. So now I wanna start by introducing a bit about my profile: Master's in Math [graduating this year] and Bachelor's in Computer Science, both from NTU (Singapore), decent GPA (but not really high, I suppose), got 4 papers (1 journal + 3 conferences) --- my selling point, I guess + half a year working in Switzerland (in a software company in Zurich) as an intern during my Bachelor's study.

I know from the Results that there are some people who are in the same situation. So I wanna pose some questions: Have you got contacted by the professors there yet? If yes, when? How was the interview like? What is the outcome? Can you share your profile? ;-)

[Yualvo]

Hi

I received similar notification at Feb, 15 and since then got no more messages from neither EDIC, nor professors. Still waiting .

My profile is as follows:

• "Specialist" degree in Information Systems and Technologies (curriculum is kind of between Bachelor and Master programs, but for the purpose of EPFL admission is basically regarded as Master) - graduated in 2009.
  
• GPA is 4.0 out of 4.0
  
• GRE General (Revised): 160(Q)/151(V)/3.5(AW)
  
• TOEFL (iBT): 108/120: 29®/26(L)/23(S)/30(W)
  
• 1.5 years of TA/RA (part-time job)
  
• 1 publication in proceedings of international workshop + 12 publications in local scientific journals
  
• 3.5 years of software development experience in subsidiary of international outsourcing company (full-time job)
  

Edited March 9, 2012 by Yualvo

[Ivan Brugere]

I think it is best to pursue the professors directly. I have been talking with a professor there since November and he supported my application through the process, and he has a standing offer with me. But I think generally students in the accepted pool would try to interview with a professor directly.

[vietexob]

@Yualvo, I didn't have TOEFL/GRE in addition to the required docs as they're not required by EPFL. I'm surprised that you also applied to EDIC, which fields or labs you're applying to?

@Ivan, I did contact a professor there around Dec last year and got a green light from him so I decided to apply. I also dropped a line to remind him about my application soon after I got the notification, but haven't heard from him since then. Perhaps he's busy with something. I guess I will be interviewed eventually, just don't know when and hate waiting...How was your situation like exactly? Are you accepted by the professor officially now? Can you tell more about that? ;-)

[Hiyou]

@vietexob:

I'm admitted at the Mechanical Engineering faculty and I had the same problem. I contacted more than 8 professors but I got no answers for 3 weeks! then I started resending emails after 3 weeks and all of them answered: "your file is on our desk but we do not have any openings yet! If sth changed, we would contact you."

I think this university is not so rich so they can not hire many students. Thats why they give 1 year time to find an advisor.

I just received one "somehow" positive answer which asked me to send the 4th recommendation from one of my professors but I'm still waiting for his answer.! Does any body know how long it takes that they make a decision?

Edited March 10, 2012 by Hiyou

[vietexob]

Hi Hiyou,

Obviously the e-mail said that "within 2 moths" from Feb 15, that means you're expected to hear something, either Yes or No, by April 15...which is quite a long time to go. Man, but I hate this situation so much, not knowing anything for certain...

I think the fellowship thing is taken from the university's money and the hiring thing is from the prof's own grant or other means. FYI, I wrote an e-mail to my friend who is a PhD student there at the lab I'm applying to and he said that the professor has been busy writing for grant proposals...obviously, he needs money to hire students.

[Hiyou]

Hi Hiyou,

Obviously the e-mail said that "within 2 moths" from Feb 15, that means you're expected to hear something, either Yes or No, by April 15...which is quite a long time to go. Man, but I hate this situation so much, not knowing anything for certain...

I think the fellowship thing is taken from the university's money and the hiring thing is from the prof's own grant or other means. FYI, I wrote an e-mail to my friend who is a PhD student there at the lab I'm applying to and he said that the professor has been busy writing for grant proposals...obviously, he needs money to hire students.

Hi,

Thanks for your note. It was not mentioned in my email that in 2 months I will get an answer:D Yeah your right. The university does not provide funding for admitted students but the professors themselves do it. So it is funny because some of them advertise to hire some people however, some students are admitted and waiting for fund!

They have not responded me no we do not need you, they just say: we do not have openings yet. maybe they are writing proposals as you mentioned.

But I see eye to eye with you. It is really bothering.

[vietexob]

If they said "we do not have openings yet" then that would be very sad...because applying for grants takes a long time (usually 6 months), so they likely won't admit you in time. I applied to those who have fundings (with job ads) and whose who don't have job ads (not sure if they have any money). I haven't got any news yet from either case :-(

Hi,

Thanks for your note. It was not mentioned in my email that in 2 months I will get an answer:D Yeah your right. The university does not provide funding for admitted students but the professors themselves do it. So it is funny because some of them advertise to hire some people however, some students are admitted and waiting for fund!

They have not responded me no we do not need you, they just say: we do not have openings yet. maybe they are writing proposals as you mentioned.

But I see eye to eye with you. It is really bothering.

[maiker]

The university does not provide funding for admitted students but the professors themselves do it.

[Freyja]

Hi,

I'm in the same situation for the EDIC program. I didn't want to wait so long, so I sent some e-mails to 4 professors whose work I was very interested to. One replied he was going to examine the applications in the upcoming weeks, another replied he doesn't have any more open position in this lab, and the other 2 haven't answered yet after about 10 days from my email. I have already almost lost any hope: statistics from last year make it clear only about 15 more applicants get accepted after the grant of the fellowships.

I was expecting an invitation to an interview at least, considering my profile: BSc in Computer Engineering in due time with honours, MSc in Comp. Eng. completed by May with honours as well, 3-months internship at CERN, one publication on a major conference, active participation in a European university association, 3 training courses/engineering competitions in computer science all over Europe and a score of 113/120 on the TOEFL. But unfortunately, no direct connection with any professor at EPFL, which seems to be the most relevant part of the application.

[vietexob]

So you think "direct connection" with the professor would do you a favor? I guess most of us wouldn't have any but a few "wink wink" e-mails before the official application for a green light, like what I did. My advisor right now is quite involved in the area of the guy at EPFL I'm applying to, so perhaps they know each other and I hope that will help.

Considering your impressive CV and statistics from last year, that is some applicants got hired at least, I think you (& I) still have some hope. Keep hanging on, no news means good news, they say.

I'm just wondering if anyone who reads this topic has been accepted or hired by a professor? Please share your stories, if so. Apparently, all of us are in the uncertain state...

Hi, I'm in the same situation for the EDIC program. I didn't want to wait so long, so I sent some e-mails to 4 professors whose work I was very interested to. One replied he was going to examine the applications in the upcoming weeks, another replied he doesn't have any more open position in this lab, and the other 2 haven't answered yet after about 10 days from my email. I have already almost lost any hope: statistics from last year make it clear only about 15 more applicants get accepted after the grant of the fellowships. I was expecting an invitation to an interview at least, considering my profile: BSc in Computer Engineering in due time with honours, MSc in Comp. Eng. completed by May with honours as well, 3-months internship at CERN, one publication on a major conference, active participation in a European university association, 3 training courses/engineering competitions in computer science all over Europe and a score of 113/120 on the TOEFL. But unfortunately, no direct connection with any professor at EPFL, which seems to be the most relevant part of the application.

[Freyja]

So you think "direct connection" with the professor would do you a favor? I guess most of us wouldn't have any but a few "wink wink" e-mails before the official application for a green light, like what I did. My advisor right now is quite involved in the area of the guy at EPFL I'm applying to, so perhaps they know each other and I hope that will help.

Considering your impressive CV and statistics from last year, that is some applicants got hired at least, I think you (& I) still have some hope. Keep hanging on, no news means good news, they say.

I'm just wondering if anyone who reads this topic has been accepted or hired by a professor? Please share your stories, if so. Apparently, all of us are in the uncertain state...

Well, direct or indirect connections surely help, at least with a gain of attention on the application file. It's something I have experienced at CERN as well, during the selections for their research programs, and as far as I know it works at EPFL too (talked to some friends of mine studying there, but in a totally different field).

In addition, I happened to stay in Lausanne for 1 week in December, so I tried to contact a couple of professors to arrange a meeting - kind of informal one though, just to visit the lab and talk about their ongoing projects. They all answered they would talk to me only after official acceptance by the doctoral committee. That's what makes me so upset: we have been accepted and have now the possibility to prove our motivation and capabilities in person, but nobody calls back.

However, I want to believe you when you say "no news means good news", as also most of the other candidates I've read about haven't gotten any invitation to interviews either so far. Let's still wait

[Hiyou]

I think it is ridiculous. I talked to somebody who has studied there and she told me she was waiting for 8 months after the peer admission. This university is poor and showing its poorness from beginning. I prefer to go to a cheap university in USA than this one!

They have admitted us however, they do not have any open position. They are so rude and they do not even answer their emails. Just put your email ahead and do your routine job and wait that maybe after 8 0r 9 months they invite you to an interview!

[vietexob]

8-9 months is ridiculous! In the e-mail they said to me 2 months, so that's at most I can wait. I can't live like this for 8 months. BTW, EPFL is not poor at all, at least not that I know. I have been to the campus and it's very impressive. Facilities for research are also excellent. That's why I applied to it in the first place. Not to mention PhD salaries are really awesome (about 3,000+ EUR per month). Well, I just don't understand this half-admission game that they're playing with us, which I don't know any other universities in the world are doing.

@Freyja: I'm curious about which professors or fields of research that you have talked to beforehand? Mine is on artificial intelligence stuff.

I think it is ridiculous. I talked to somebody who has studied there and she told me she was waiting for 8 months after the peer admission. This university is poor and showing its poorness from beginning. I prefer to go to a cheap university in USA than this one!

They have admitted us however, they do not have any open position. They are so rude and they do not even answer their emails. Just put your email ahead and do your routine job and wait that maybe after 8 0r 9 months they invite you to an interview!

[Freyja]

@Freyja: I'm curious about which professors or fields of research that you have talked to beforehand? Mine is on artificial intelligence stuff.

Distributed systems and algorithms. I chose EPFL purposely because of the variety of labs and research topics in that field. Glad you and I are not competing for the same places!

[Hiyou]

8-9 months is ridiculous! In the e-mail they said to me 2 months, so that's at most I can wait. I can't live like this for 8 months. BTW, EPFL is not poor at all, at least not that I know. I have been to the campus and it's very impressive. Facilities for research are also excellent. That's why I applied to it in the first place. Not to mention PhD salaries are really awesome (about 3,000+ EUR per month). Well, I just don't understand this half-admission game that they're playing with us, which I don't know any other universities in the world are doing.

@Freyja: I'm curious about which professors or fields of research that you have talked to beforehand? Mine is on artificial intelligence stuff.

In comparison with German universities, it is poor. In our university in Germany we have more than 10 institutes in our faculty and each professor has 6 to 10 assistants which earn 2000 euro per month. No imagine that our university is not top 5 in Germany. I know some institutes in Germany like RWTH Aachen which have some institutes with more than 40 assistants. I think they do not want to support the salaries of students from governmental sources.

[vietexob]

So I guess you must have applied to the lab of Karl Aberer, right? Actually, I also applied there because a friend of mine told me that he has lots of fundings. I am also sort of interested in data management and distributed system stuff. I also happen to know that Aberer is considering candidates for interview, so hopefully we will hear from him soon. ;-)

Distributed systems and algorithms. I chose EPFL purposely because of the variety of labs and research topics in that field. Glad you and I are not competing for the same places!

[Freyja]

Exactly! Not only to his lab but he was my first choice indeed. He's been the only professor answering so far and stating he was going to consider the applications in the following weeks. What you unofficially know confirms it. Great news, thanks

[Hiyou]

Today one of the professors responded me and he told that they have all applied for fundings and they will get the answers till end of May. So in May there might be some openings. Also today I did an interview with one of the professors for about 1 hour!

[vietexob]

Congrats! ;-)

Hope you'll get something. Mind sharing what was asked during the interview?

Today one of the professors responded me and he told that they have all applied for fundings and they will get the answers till end of May. So in May there might be some openings. Also today I did an interview with one of the professors for about 1 hour!

Edited March 16, 2012 by vietexob

[Hiyou]

Congrats! ;-)

Hope you'll get something. Mind sharing what was asked during the interview?

Thanks, Yeah, He tried to challenge my master thesis. And then he asked me some questions about my interests. But it was more or less about my master work. He also asked which courses I have passed. I guess he has not even taken a look on my CV or trying to show so! Finally he told me I have to interview some other students and I will inform you about my decision in couple of weeks! I didn't like the interview. His questions were like questions of a boss from worker not a prof. from the student!

[vietexob]

Hi all,

I just got a Skype interview with a professor from EPFL yesterday. In fact, I'm applying for 2 different programs there: one is Computer Science (EDIC) and the other is in the College of Management of Technology (EDMT). EDIC has been scarily silent and I have almost lost hope in it but EDMT has been responsive to me. The interview I got is from a professor in EDMT and it went well. He asked about my previous works and experiences like publications and tech reports. I think the point is you've gotta explain concisely and crisply about what you did and also your research interests. Besides from that there were a couple of brainteaser questions...mostly logic. The interview went on for one hour with various twists. I hope to hear good news soon. Good luck to you all!

[Yualvo]

Indeed EDIC's thesis directors are not very quick about response. I contacted some of them (in my case most preferrable labs are LAMP and LARA), but still didn't get any answer. I suppose they are waiting for EDIC Open House (which falls on March, 23-24 this year) when fellowship-awarded applicants are to be gathered so that labs have an opportunity to first hire some students from "top list". I hope next week they begin considering prospective assistants among remaining applicants.

Edited March 22, 2012 by Yualvo

[snoopy2009]

Is there anything new, buddy? I intend to apply for April deadline, but everything seems hopeless (((

[vietexob]

Hi, If you apply for April's deadline, the chance would be lower than January's deadline because most professors would have picked their preferred candidates by then. That is if you apply to EDIC. I know that there are other programs that have only one deadline and it's quite late (like end of March). Those would be no problem. In any case, it's better to apply than not at all because you still have a small probability (rather than zero). Good luck! ;-)

Is there anything new, buddy? I intend to apply for April deadline, but everything seems hopeless (((