Computer Science Theory PhD - LOR

Graduate School
1

<p>I am planning to apply to top universities like GaTech(ACO), Princeton, U.Waterloo, DUke, McGill, Cornell, CMU(ACO), etc.</p>

<p>My credentials are:</p>

<p>BE from an average uni. with GPA 8.8/10 (equivalent to 3.7/4)</p>

<p>MS (ongoing) from top Indian uni. with GPA (equivalent to 3.4/4)</p>

<p>A II tier conference publication
A II tier journal publication
2-3 more in queue</p>

<p>GRE 800q,530v</p>

<p>2 good/very good/excellent recos. from not so well known proffs</p>

<p>My concerns are the following:</p>

<p>1) Should I take 3rd reco from a postdoc with whom I've done some research and who holds me in good regard or a well-known proff. under whom I'd taken a course and who might not remember my name, but remembers my face (he looks upon me as an average/above average student)?</p>

<p>2) Should I bother to apply to UCB and MIT or would it be a waste of money?</p>

2

<p>how does 8.8/10 translate to 3.7/4? Just curious</p>

3

<p>Well, the grades and corresponding points were as follows:
A - 10
B - 8
C - 6
D - 4
…</p>

<p>Replacing A by X and 10 by 4; B by Y and 8 by 3.5, … , we get
X - 4
Y - 3.5
Z - 3</p>

<p>Then 8.8 converts to 3.7.</p>

<p>I know that in some places ‘B’ converts to 3, but note that we didn’t have any A- or B+ and A grades were scarce.</p>

4

<ol>
<li><p>The letter from the postdoc would probably be better. I think it is more important to have a well written letter rather than to have it come from a famous professor who doesn’t know you that well. You may want to try to ask the ‘well-known professor’ on this and look at his/her reply.</p></li>
<li><p>I think you have a low chance of being admitted to Berkeley or MIT, but of course I have no idea on how good your research/LoR are. If I were you, I’d just concentrate on making good application to the schools on your current list, not to mention that Princeton is probably the next best school in Theory CS after Berkeley and MIT.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck with your application.
P.S. I will also be applying for Theory CS for Fall 09</p>