<p>I am an undergraduate at UPenn who will be majoring in CS, and I am facing the dilemma that I have no idea what I want to go into. I was wondering if someone could give me a breakdown of what one does in CS graduate school (masters and PhD), specifically in AI, what qualifications one needs to get into a really good AI program (my overall GPA isn't stellar, but in major it is, thus far, 3.7), what types of internships/summer activities/research I should be looking into, and any general advice. </p>
<p>Also, since I am in my formative CS years, I have been taking general programming classes (the major requirements), and soon I will need to pick electives. I was wondering what elective classes would most benefit me in the various fields (should I learn C, C+, etc. - I'm relatively clueless when it comes to all of this).</p>
<p>I didn’t think a school like Penn would have programming classes. Usually you will learn programming through your comprehensive intro course and other classes. Learning matlab and C or C++ is typical, but like I said, usually within the context of a broader or narrower subject course. You should get some advanced math under your belt. My daughter did a semester away with the Budapest Semesters Abroad (admistered out of St. Olaf college) and some schools thought that was impressive. It is a great experience if you can manage it.</p>
<p>For phD in any CS field you want a good gpa as you can get and your major gpa is good, but more importantly you want research, research, research and the LOR that testify as to your promise in doing research as a PhD student. Go talk to the AI profs at your school, after looking up what they are working on and publishing and ask if you can do some research with them. If not them, them try theory or any other area. It is more important that you did research than what type.</p>
<p>Masters (and PhD if you come straight from undergrad) has some requirements in your area of study and also breadth reqs in a couple of other areas of CS. And I can’t tell you too much after that because my kid is just about to be a 3rd year grad student.</p>
<p>Your major GPA will be more important that your overall one, although related courses (math, for example) that are not part of the official major will also be considered.</p>
<p>I agree with BrownParent. You should get to know some of the professors working in your area. Arrange to help them in their labs – think of research as a required course for the major. Ask them what electives you should take to improve your preparation for graduate school. Once they learn that you’re serious about graduate school, they will likely be thrilled and will mentor you.</p>
<p>Penn only requires that I take Calculus II (the calculus after BC - here it’s called Calc 2) and then 2 mathematics electives. Which do you think would best suit me? Im thinking about linear algebra and discrete mathematics, but we already take a class on Discrete mathematics and its applications called Computer Logic (or something like that). Any advice there?</p>
<p>The CIS 160-261 math sequence should cover everything you need to know about discrete math. Actually, ask an adviser if it would make sense for you to substitute Stat 430 for CIS 261; you will want some training in honest-to-goodness rigorous multivariate probability theory to read papers in statistical machine learning.</p>
<p>Also make sure to take both multivariable calculus (Calc 3) and linear algebra. Since Artificial Intelligence is basically applied math, it wouldn’t hurt to take more math, but multivariable calculus, linear algebra and statistics is a foundation you will definitely need.</p>