<p>Hi CC,
I am applying to top engineering grad schools (CS). I have heard that it is easier to get in to Master's than PhD due to the limited spaces. However, I have a full scholarship from my government (non U.S.) which includes full tuition and a monthly salary. Would this help me in an application for PhD? So considering this, would it be easier to get in to Master's or PhD?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Congratulations. </p>
<p>DS had a funded masters. PI offered a funded phd near the end of his program, However, what DS wants to do does not require a phD and which may limit his employment options.</p>
<p>DS works at a ranked CS university, aiding post-docs and candidates.</p>
<p>Um, What?!</p>
<p>I should add that I plan to apply to the PhD program when I am done with my Master’s</p>
<p>First, do you want a master’s or a PhD? There is a huge difference between the two and I would not recommend pursuing a PhD unless you are abolsutely positive that you love this field and can dedicate at least 5-6 years of your life pursuing it. </p>
<p>If you do want to pursue it, your scholarship makes you a very good candidate at a lot of programs, even without your stats in the picture. As for the top schools, we would need to know more details before anyone can give you advice about competitiveness. The best bet might be to apply to a mix of PhD and master’s if you do not feel competitive enough at the top schools. Some schools do list their averages so try to find that for all of the schools are interested in.</p>
<p>Thank you MaceVindaloo for your reply. I will clarify. I am 100% certain to do a PhD. The question is, what is easier in terms of admissions to apply for Master’s THEN PhD or directly to PhD given that I have a full scholarship?</p>
<p>A master’s is definitely easier to get into, but depending on your stats, it might not be neccesary. There is no point in getting a master’s first if you are qualified enough to get into a PhD program. What is your GPA? Research experience? GRE scores? Quality of recommendations?</p>
<p>If you definitely want the PhD, I don’t see the point in applying to masters programs just because they are easier to get into UNLESS you have a significant weakness in your profile that a master’s program can address. Many times, unless you continue at the same university, you have to take two years of courses regardless, which means that you might end up lengthening your time to the PhD by two years. </p>
<p>Especially since you are an international student, your scholarship should help you, not only in admissions but in working with your chosen PI once you get there. You still have to be qualified, however. Carnegie Mellon or Stanford or MIT is not going to accept you just because you bring your own funding; they will want you to be of the same caliber as the rest of their graduate students. If you are, then your funding will give you an edge.</p>
<p>Thanks Momwaitingfornew.</p>
<p>I do not have an extensive research background so that is why applying to PhD directly might be a very bad idea for me. So given that and your reply, I think it would be best if I apply directly to master’s.</p>
<p>Apply to both PhD and master’s programs. See what happens with the PhD programs, and if you aren’t admitted to any then attend a master’s program. The only 100% way not to get into a doctoral program is to not apply at all.</p>
<p>Ivictor, you might want to listen to Juillet about applying to both. Juillet did just that and is now in a top PhD program in her field. Juillet can correct me if I’m wrong, but I seem to remember that she didn’t think she was qualified for any PhD program, let alone a prestigious one. You won’t know until you try.</p>
<p>Hi Momwaitingfornew/juillet,
Do you mean to apply to master’s for some of the universities in my list and PhD for the rest? or can I apply to both within the same university?</p>
<p>If it is the former, how do I decide which ones to apply for PhD and which ones to apply for master’s.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>ivictor,</p>
<p>What country are you in? Can any of the professors at your current university advise you about this process? If not, take a look at the information at [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.state.gov/]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.state.gov/) and then get in touch with the counselors at the advising center closest to where you live. There will be a person in that office who can help you sort through some of your options.</p>
<p>I am working in California (h1b visa)</p>
<p>I can’t answer that, Ivictor. Some applications may allow you to apply for both at the same time, but my guess is that most will not. You might want to select, say, four PhD programs and four masters. </p>
<p>But you say you are working in California. Is it in a research capacity? If you read CC, you can be tricked into thinking that everyone who applies has had three solid years of research, but that’s not the case at all.</p>
<p>Hi again Momwaitingfornew,
See this is my assumption about students who get admitted in to the top 10 CS schools:
a) 3.9-4.0 GPA
b) +600 in verbal and 800 a must in math (GRE)
c) Extensive research in undergrad OR published +3 widely recognized papers </p>
<p>NONE of which I have.</p>
<p>I work as a software engineer in a well known company (do they even care it is a well known co?). I stress in my SoP that my company’s technology is fairly new so a lot of research, in addition to development, is necessary. Though it is applied research (no publishing papers nor giving talks to thousands of people)… So Master’s before I go in to PhD would seem a feasible choice, I can get in… improve my research background and work on an awesome GPA. </p>
<p>FYI my cumulative gpa is above 3 BUT my first two years averaged something like 2.7 and my last two years averaged 3.7, don’t think they care about that.</p>
<p>Graduate Enrollment (2009-2010)</p>
<pre><code>* Total graduate engineering enrollment: 358
<p>This is a sample stat from a university. Would this mean it is easier to get in to PhD based on the enrollment numbers above?</p>
<p>No. Not necessarily. They might not take a lot of MS students because the department is more invested in the PhD students (a cash-cow program for the University) or their admissions is just competitive. They might take in more PhD students. It just tells you what kind of students are involved in the program.</p>
<p>You’re better off e-mailing the DGS. I would just apply to both programs and see what happens. Definitely mention that you’re funded already.</p>
<p>A big reason the master’s is “easier” to get into is because they don’t have to fund you. By admitting you, they’re adding money to their bottom line.</p>
<p>PhD programs are more difficult because the school/your adviser have to spend a couple hundred thousand dollars for your tuition and stipend over 5-6 years. They would only admit people they think they can make a great contribution. Professors always want more people working in their labs, but they don’t necessarily have the money to do so.</p>
<p>But if they know you have external funding (specify on your application), the school won’t have to pay you any more, and they’ll get some tuition money from your source. Furthermore, if they know someone else is willing to give you that much money, it’s a pretty good indicator that you’re pretty qualified. I know someone who got rejected from a PhD program, found out and told the school he got a NSF fellowship, then got accepted.</p>
<p>The real question is if you want to do research. If so, go apply for a PhD. If not, apply for a master’s.</p>
<p>Thanks None</p>