Partial tips for applying to grad schools written by a faculty
I found this article written by a researcher in Computer Science in UC San Diego.
http://idleprocess.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/why-go-to-graduate-school-and-how-to-get-into-the-program-of-your-dreams/
I'm just extracting some points that interest me. Notice that I'm citing only parts of article which could possibly cause misunderstanding. So you should refer to the original article to get the whole idea without making headstrong judgment.
http://idleprocess.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/why-go-to-graduate-school-and-how-to-get-into-the-program-of-your-dreams/
I'm just extracting some points that interest me. Notice that I'm citing only parts of article which could possibly cause misunderstanding. So you should refer to the original article to get the whole idea without making headstrong judgment.
A typical 2-year MS program at a good school is likely to put you in a position for better jobs with higher starting salaries. However, a PhD is likely the wrong way to go because by the time you account for all the years required to complete your PhD, you would have been better off starting in industry, gaining experience, gaining promotions, and perhaps moving on to your second or third job.
Personal statement. (snip) Many applicants use the personal statement as an opportunity to wax eloquent on the beauty of basic research and how they were set on the path to fundamentally change scientific understanding at an early age.
Work experience. (snip) In addition, an applicant who spends time in industry and makes the conscious decision to come back to graduate school (giving up regular hours, a higher salary, etc.), typically shows a high level of dedication to graduate study. They know it is what they want, rather than "it seemed like the next thing to do."
Q: Does it help to send email to a professor asking for an evaluation?
A: In general, sending a generic form letter to hundreds of professors is unlikely to help at all.
Q: I have been admitted to a number of programs. What should I look for in a school?
A: The biggest mistake I see students make, especially among foreign applicants, is to order their admits based on US News and World Report rankings and select the school with the highest ranking.
(snip) if a higher ranked institution does not have any professors working in areas you are interested in or if your style of working does not mesh well with the available faculty, then it is less likely that you will be able to perform high quality research.
Certainly, when we evaluate faculty applicants for our own department, (snip) School ranking is never explicitly considered.
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