PhD-EE Applicant...My Chances?

[carpediemtd]

I have a Master's degree in Electronics and Communication Engg with specialization in Semiconductor Devices & VLSI Technology from IIT Roorkee, India(batch of '09). I am applying for PhD in Micro/Nanoelectronics/Solid State Devices for the Fall '10 session. Actually.. decided this very late, wrote TOEFL and GRE on 8th and 12th of last month. Now that I have the scores with me, I would appreciate if you could have a look at my profile and give your suggestions...

My profile:

M.Tech. GPA: 7.93/10

B.Tech. GPA(ECE):8.52/10 (from VIT - the insti is ranked #1 among private tech univs))

Work Ex: 1yr...in domains of storage technologies & Semiconductor Solutions

TOEFL: 101 (Reading-28, Listening-27, Speaking-24, Writing-22)

GRE: 1390 (Q-800, V-590, AWA - 4)

Pubs: 2 int'l conference papers based on Master's dissertation

Recos: Good....2 from Astt. profs of E & C, 1 from a Physics prof.

I'm planning to apply to the following univs: Please suggest additions/deletions to the list:

Purdue

UCLA

UT Austin

UIUC

UCSB

UCSD

ASU

Thanks for your time...

Regards,

-td

[bgk]

I'm planning to apply to the following univs: Please suggest additions/deletions to the list:

...

Have you found professors at those universities who are working in the area that you want to focus on? I suggest checking their current research profiles and seeing what they are doing. (Looking at their recent publications is a good indication if they don't update their sites.) Checking a relevant journal/conference is another way to find professors working in the field you are interested in ...

[carpediemtd]

thanks bgk for the reply...

of course, there are good research groups of my area of specialization in the univs I have listed.Now I have applied to a couple of places...and will complete the other applications in a week or so...

My concern right now is that I haven't contacted any of the profs till now...How much would it matter? And since the deadlines are quite close, I don't know if I should contact the profs now... I'd appreciate any advice in this regard...

thanks...

Edited December 12, 2009 by carpediemtd

[bgk]

My concern right now is that I haven't contacted any of the profs till now...How much would it matter? And since the deadlines are quite close, I don't know if I should contact the profs now... I'd appreciate any advice in this regard...

I imagine most adcoms haven't started meeting yet. So it's not too late to send a mail to get yourself noticed by a potential prof. Although as you say, the deadline is rather close and it would have been better to ask sooner about research opportunities.