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| students:grad_school [2010/01/05 16:52] – admin | students:grad_school [2014/10/29 15:15] – [Additional Information] admin |
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| * Dissertation (also known as the //depth// requirement): new, in-depth research on a topic of your (and your advisor's) choosing. Typically involves 2-3 years of research, writing about and presenting the research in conference papers and presentations, and a final dissertation putting all the work together, with an oral defense. | * Dissertation (also known as the //depth// requirement): new, in-depth research on a topic of your (and your advisor's) choosing. Typically involves 2-3 years of research, writing about and presenting the research in conference papers and presentations, and a final dissertation putting all the work together, with an oral defense. |
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| | [[http://www.pgbovine.net/PhD-memoir.htm|A CS graduate student's memoir]] |
| ===== Who Should Attend ===== | ===== Who Should Attend ===== |
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| Applications are often due in December and January. You have at least until April 15 to make a decision on where to go. | Applications are often due in December and January. You have at least until April 15 to make a decision on where to go. |
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| | [[http://matt-welsh.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-to-get-into-grad-school.html|Matt Welsh's advice on how to get into grad school]] |
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| | {{:students:howtoapply-ghc2011-final.pdf|How To Apply to Graduate School}} - slides from CRA-W Workshop |
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| ==== Statement of Purpose ==== | ==== Statement of Purpose ==== |
| * Ability to get along with people | * Ability to get along with people |
| * Overall potential for graduate study | * Overall potential for graduate study |
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| * your complete list of schools/programs and their deadlines--both on paper and electronically, so that they can copy/paste information if necessary | * your complete list of schools/programs and their deadlines--both on paper and electronically, so that they can copy/paste information if necessary |
| * some specific points that you want them to address and/or reminders of what you've done in the past, if it has been a semester or so since you accomplished them. | * some specific points that you want them to address and/or reminders of what you've done in the past, if it has been a semester or so since you accomplished them. |
| * For example, deficiency in one area and why it's not a problem; leadership; research; service (e.g., student assistant, tutoring, other non-classroom but relevant activities); teamwork | * Refer to the above "Content" section and see if there is anything that the recommender could highlight that you've accomplished in one of those areas. |
| | * For example, leadership; research; service (e.g., student assistant, tutoring, other non-classroom but relevant activities); teamwork |
| | * If you have any deficiencies (e.g., poor verbal GRE scores), the recommender can explain why it's not an issue (e.g., has good communication and writing ability). Another example is if you have a lower GPA in general or in CS, specifically, and the recommender can talk about how you've improved during undergraduate career or that what you struggled in is not your preferred research area. The deficiency should probably only be addressed by one reference--whoever knows you or the issue the best. //You need to know your weaknesses and talk to your reference about how to address them, if at all.// |
| * any information that the school requests from your reference (they may request specific information, e.g., if you are in the top 10% of students they have ever taught) | * any information that the school requests from your reference (they may request specific information, e.g., if you are in the top 10% of students they have ever taught) |
| * Follow-up with your letter writers. Let them know how your application process is progressing. Also, make sure that they have sent the letters! | * Follow-up with your letter writers. Let them know how your application process is progressing. Also, make sure that they have sent the letters! |
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| In summary, make **writing a recommendation as easy on the recommender as possible** by providing them with all the information they need to write a strong recommendation for you. | :!: In summary, make **writing a recommendation as easy on the recommender as possible** by providing them with all the information they need to write a strong recommendation for you. |
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| Some advice from Michael Ernst on [[http://people.csail.mit.edu/mernst/advice/request-recommendation.html|requesting letters of recommendation]]. | Some advice from Michael Ernst on [[http://people.csail.mit.edu/mernst/advice/request-recommendation.html|requesting letters of recommendation]]. |
| ===== Additional Information ===== | ===== Additional Information ===== |
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| * [[http://www.cra.org/Activities/craw/projects/mentoring/mentorWrkshp/grad-guide.pdf|CRA-W's Grad Guide]] - from 2000, so the information about the submission process and postal mail is outdated, but it provides a nice overview. | * [[http://cra.org/ccc/csgs|The CCC's Resource for CS Undergraduates: Research Opportunities & Graduate School]] |
| | * [[http://www.cra-w.org/sites/default/files/CRA-W_NewGradBrochure2010.pdf|CRA-W's Grad Guide]] - updated in 2010 and provides a nice overview. |
| * [[http://www.cra.org/Activities/craw/gradcohort/index.php|CRA-W Grad Cohort Workshops]] - provide lots of information about graduate school to graduate students | * [[http://www.cra.org/Activities/craw/gradcohort/index.php|CRA-W Grad Cohort Workshops]] - provide lots of information about graduate school to graduate students |
| * [[http://www.phds.org/graduate-school-success/grad-school-survival-guides/|Graduate School Survival Guides]] at [[http://www.phds.org|phds.org]] | * [[http://www.phds.org/graduate-school-success/grad-school-survival-guides/|Graduate School Survival Guides]] at [[http://www.phds.org|phds.org]] |
| * [[http://www.cs.virginia.edu/helpnet/Being_Grad_Stud/grad_school_CS.html|How to Be a New UVa Grad Student]] - has advice applicable to any CS graduate program. | * [[http://idleprocess.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/why-go-to-graduate-school-and-how-to-get-into-the-program-of-your-dreams/|Why Go to Graduate School and How to Get into the Program of Your Dreams]] by [[http://cseweb.ucsd.edu/~vahdat/|Amin Vahdat]], from Dec 2009 |
| * {{:students:gradschooltalk.pdf||Applying to Ph.D. Programs in Computer Science}} by Mor Harchol-Balter from Carnegie Mellon University, 2004 | * [[http://matt-welsh.blogspot.com/2010/09/so-you-want-to-go-to-grad-school.html|So You Want To Go to Grad School]] by [[http://www.eecs.harvard.edu/~mdw|Matt Welsh]], from Sept 2010 |
| | * {{:students:gradschooltalk.pdf|Applying to Ph.D. Programs in Computer Science}} by Mor Harchol-Balter from Carnegie Mellon University, 2004 |
| | * [[http://www.pgbovine.net/grad-school-app-tips.htm|Advice for Ph.D. Program Applications from Dr. Philip Guo]] |
| | * [[http://www.geekonabicycle.co.uk/blog/1029/|How To Get Into Stanford & Other Graduate Schools]] |
| | * [[http://ktick.blogspot.com/|Master's Degree Advice]] |
| | * [[http://karts-speaks.blogspot.com/p/applying-to-grad-school.html|Applying to Grad School]] |
| | * [[http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~gleicher/Web/Advice/GradSchoolFAQ|Grad School FAQ from UWisc Prof]] |
| | * [[http://graddecision.org/|GradDecision]] |
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| And, talk to your advisor! | And, talk to your advisor! |
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| | ===== Bonus: And, after I get to grad school? ===== |
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| | Here is some more advice: |
| | * [[http://www.cs.virginia.edu/helpnet/Being_Grad_Stud/grad_school_CS.html|How to Be a New UVa Grad Student]] - has advice applicable to any CS graduate program. |
| | * [[http://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2011/06/06/advice_for_graduate_students|Advice for Graduate Students in the Sciences]] |
| | * [[http://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2011/06/08/advice_on_writing_for_graduate_students|Advice on writing your thesis]], general to the sciences |
| ===== Acknowledgments ===== | ===== Acknowledgments ===== |
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