Applying CS Ph.D. programs in U.S.
Follow your heart, Measure your capability, and Pursue your goal. http://csrankings.org Before I submitted my CS Ph.D. applications to tens of U.S. universities (Propaganda Videos), a bunch of questions came into my mind: what is Ph.D., how to stand out as an applicant from a CMU professor's perspective, what sort of attributions a prospective grad student should have to succeed in a Ph.D. program, how do I get a Ph.D., why it takes almost 6 years to obtain, and am I able to finish it? An AP from Columbia also collected some articles about how to survive in Ph.D. programs. After having your own clear answers for the questions mention above and reading a narrative about one's Ph.D. experience, an obstacle is how to prepare for your application materials for various CS grad schools, including Statement of Purpose (or Personal Statement; short for PS below), Curriculum Vitae, recommends, and so on. A professor at CMU presents her comprehensive suggestion for CS grad applicants, and I think her opinion must coincide with others in top programs in U.S.. Prof. Matt Might at Utah gives his view of point on grad applications for STEM majors. Other marvelous sources for U.S. grad school application are written in various languages, such as Slovenian and Greek, and they must be suitable for our Chinese students because we all are going to study abroad and must face many similar circumstances. A ZJU student admitted by MIT described his experience on grad school application. PS is the most important part of your application since you can take full charges by yourself, particularly for those who transfer their majors when apply for grad schools. If you were wondering a successful example, here you go: the original PS and the retrospect on choosing grad school whose author now is a CS faulty. A counterexample of a good PS was presented by a CMU professor. This Chinese blog elaborates her successful strategy for such situation. On the other hand, it is essential for applicants to be acquainted with faculties as well as resource that your prospective department provides. PS, a U.S. CS grad's perspective. By the way, here is a letter to new students in the Control area at OSU. Asking for and getting great letters of recommendation also requires a wise mind. On the other hand, Chinese professors may be interested in how to write a supportive letter. The result of your applications varies from a full offer, an admission without financial aids (short for Ad), to the reject. Whoever receives offers, usually supported with Teaching Assistants and a few fellowships, should be congratulated, but for guys who just get an Ad, research assistant positions may be a great way to reduce the heavy burden of other self-supported sources to continue their further study abroad. By emailing any perspective professors in a decent manner, it is quite possible to get RA offer (case1, case2). Furthermore, here is another e-mail example for inquiring of nice advisors about openings. However, a rejection never means the end of your life. In addition, it is said that one may argue with the admission committee on their decisions by providing additional information; you may search how to deal with that, but I have nothing valuable to provide except wishing you good luck. Btw, Max Planck Institution in Germany and Verimag in France are alternatives to U.S. grad programs.
-- updates -- Applying to Graduate School in Computer Science (A U.S. Perspective) For those who are interested in both HCI and Brown University. Advice on Preparing Personal Statements by Prof. Tao Xie also includes suggestions for choosing grad programs and applying for fundings. Another collection from an AP in System area.