MS+PhD in CS theory/ Info theory in CS

[planetbucks]

Hi,

I am an undergrad in India in a reputed college, doing a double major in computer science and electrical engineering with 3.4 GPA. I have no publications(as of now, at least) but I have worked/ am working with two people who have done their PhDs at UCB and MIT in EE and CS respectively and supposedly have good contacts. Assuming good recos from them, how do I choose the best colleges for me to do an Ms+PhD in theory CS / info theory in CS, which are decently ranked and in which I have maximum chances?

Thanks!

[velua]

Only a handful of decently ranked schools will offer spring admission, and even fewer will do so for Ph.D.

[pascal_barbots_wager]

Ask the two people you mention. Their word isn't gospel, but they are the most familiar with the work you've done and where your interests lie, and as such should have a pretty good idea of where you might go.

[planetbucks]

Thank you both for replying!

@velua: I guess I'll apply for fall admissions, then. It shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for mentioning.

@pascal: That is a great idea, but seeing that my gpa isn't too good, how do I know my chances at the places they mention? Is it possible to find some rough gpa cutoffs? Sorry if I'm bugging you by being a noob.

[pascal_barbots_wager]

Well, how good a 3.4 is varies by school. I don't know what it's like at your particular school so I can't say. You might ask your professors or someone else in the department where past applicants from your school have ended up going. That might give you a rough idea of possible paths, although each case is different and yours will be too. But this will at least give you some idea of how graduates from your university are viewed.

 

As far as knowing your chances, you'll probably never "know" them. PhD admissions aren't random, but they aren't really predictable either. Admission usually depends on one or two professors saying "hey, this kid, he/she seems to have something, I want them admitted", and the reason for that can be hard to pin down. Maybe there's significant (and real) overlap in research interests, maybe you have a strong recommendation from someone they trust, maybe you're so clearly brimming with raw talent and creativity that they just have to take you. Ideally you have some combination of all of these things. Everyone's seen people with what look like better applications get rejected and what look like worse applications get accepted. So a good strategy is apply to a few schools you feel are dreamy reaches, a few you feel are not-impossible reaches, a few you feel are matches, and a few you feel are safeties (but which you would ultimately be OK attending).

 

You might also check the application statistics for various programs to help make this decision. Most places publish middle 50% ranges for admitted students for GPA, GRE, TOEFL, etc. Being in or above the ranges is a good sign, and even being below in one or two isn't necessarily killer. But if you're below-average in everything the school should probably go in your "reach" pile.

[planetbucks]

Thank you for a very clear overview of the whole process. "maybe you're so clearly brimming with raw talent

and creativity that they just have to

take you". lol, i wish.

as far as my college goes, people with 3.8+ have got into cornell, stanford, cmu. i have little information about people with my gpa, which is why i am a little concerned, although its quite clear that above mentioned schools are in the dream category for me.

Edited May 27, 2015 by planetbucks