Applying for Graduate Schools

1
Applying for Graduate Schools

• Andy Wang
• Data Structures, Algorithms, and Generic
  Programming

2
Myth 1

• I cannot afford graduate school

3
Reality

• Graduate school is FREE (pretty much)
• For both public and private schools
• If you are good enough to get into a graduate
  school
• Scholarships/grants
• Research assistantship (work for a lab)
• Teaching assistantship (work for a class)

4
Myth 2

• I wont have a chance to get into a graduate
  school

5
Reality

• You are in luck
• If you are a US citizen or permanent resident
• Not enough US students are pursuing graduate
  schools
• Your major advantages
• Eligible for many funding sources
• No language barriers
• Lower cost to hire you as a research assistant or
  teaching assistant

6
Myth 3

• Graduate curriculum is just like the
  undergraduate curriculum

7
Reality

• Master
• Take classes
• Emphasis on development
• Ph.D.
• Take classes
• Discover something new
• Emphasis on research

8
A Typical Graduate Course

• Not as much guidance
• Project-oriented
• You need to develop your own projects

9
Metric of Success

• Undergraduate
• GPA
• Master
• Projects, thesis, skill set
• Ph.D.
• Number of quality publications

10
Application Process

• Requirements
• Personal statement
• GPA
• Two GRE exams
• 3 to 4 recommendation letters
• Relevant upper-division courses
• Independent studies
• Internships

11
GRE Exams

• Computer science GRE
• Theory
• Systems
• Architecture
• General GRE
• English
• Math
• Analytics

12
Recommendation Letters

• How to approach?
• If you receive an A in a class
• Ask the professor as quickly as possible
• Try to use the letter of recommendation services
• Submit an envelope
• Deadlines
• Photo, personal statement, resume, transcript

13
Other Approaches

• Volunteer for
• Independent study
• Internship for companies