PhD in Fall 2014, need tips to help better prepare

[cats]

Let me give a brief background. Finished BS and MS from a second tier school in Computer Engineering and currently working with the world's largest semiconductor chip maker. Due to some personal reasons I can not quite go back to school till atleast Fall 2014, so that's what I am aiming at.

I am interested in pursuing a PhD in the field of scientific computing / computational science. I studied those topics in my BS and MS, and those were the subjects I was most fond of, did the best in. Math in general has been my favorite subject, but I understand I might not have the necessary background experience to pursue a PhD in Math (I only have courses in different forms of Calculus, partial and regular differential equations, linear algebra, probability etc) So I am here for advise on how to use the next 2 years in preparing for a PhD in computational sciences.

I am planning on preparing for and writing the Computer Science and Math subject GREs.

What would you guys suggest as to how I should be using my time "productively" ? I did do a thesis masters, but I do not have any publications as such.

In general, what do I do in the next 2 years that I can put in my application to strengthen it? I am hoping to get an admission in a tier 1 school this time, and given that I have enough time, I would really appreciate it if someone could guide me along the right direction!

[cats]

No advice from anyone?

[aberrant]

As a person who are not currently in school, it is quite difficult for others to provide you advice since you are pretty much "fixed" by your current situation (having a job).

If you were a student, I would say:

- taking upper division (or even graduate level) coursework in CE / CS / Math

- definitely prepare for your GREs, especially your general GRE since it is required (vs. subject GRE, which may / may not required depends on school)

- start working in a research lab, hopefully related to what you are interested in (for grad school).