<p>Someone said the Masters is more competitive, well that’s not true for Stanford: [Stanford</a> Computer Science Department](<a href=“http://cs.stanford.edu/degrees/mscs/faq/index.php?sid=103056&lang=en&action=artikel&cat=4&id=58&artlang=en]Stanford”>http://cs.stanford.edu/degrees/mscs/faq/index.php?sid=103056&lang=en&action=artikel&cat=4&id=58&artlang=en)</p>
<p>Stanford does not publish any admissions data. </p>
<p>Here is some info on Berkeley: [Competition</a> for Admission | EECS at UC Berkeley](<a href=“http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/Competition.htm]Competition”>http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/Competition.htm)</p>
<p>Use Google (cmon, compsci lol) to find out about specific programs. Also, do not hesitate to contact the departments, ask them what your chances are.</p>
<p>Also take the compsci GRE subject exam as in US programs you need to and I don’t think Canadian universities require it. You need to score a 90%+ on this thing to get into the top 10 programs usually.</p>
<p>I think you guys are being really tough on the kid, you have to remember he’s 14/15. </p>
<p>Anyway for some real advice and some misconceptions about what people said in this post:
0) He never said he was trying to do a PhD, any PhD critiques are irrelevant. He said specifically he wanted to do a masters.</p>
<p>1) Someone said before that grad schools would be hesitant to admit him for a Masters. Looking at his profile, I think he has an OK chance at a masters at his age. Let’s not act like compsci, math or physics grad school does not admit extremely talented young people. Some of the Fields Medalist got their PhDs when they were 23 or 24. It’s not unheard of. </p>
<p>Stop acting like grad schools give a ***** about you as a person, they don’t! They only care if you are a talented, hard working student. </p>
<p>2) In the year or so you have remaining, do whatever you can to make those letters even better. Show a tenacity for problem solving, always try to take on more work if possible. And if possible, try to take on a new research project with one of your current recommenders.</p>
<p>However since you said you want a Masters and not a PhD, maybe you should focus on taking a lot more advanced coursework. </p>
<p>Do you plan on doing a Masters degree with a thesis or just taking advanced courses?</p>
<p>3) While your grades, work/research exp is impressive, I have to admit, you have to evaluate why you want a masters. I’ll tell you that if you wrote what you wrote in your first post in a statement of purpose, you do not come off well. You come off as trying to portray yourself as a boy genius and this is a big no-no. Having an impressive profile means nothing, all of the students applying to Stanford, MIT, Berkeley have amazing profiles. You need to set yourself apart in terms of dedication and stressing that you love solving compsci problems. </p>
<p>While I said grad schools are not hesitant to admit qualified younger students, they won’t do it if you come off as “I’ll just do it for the challenge.” That is immature to be honest. </p>
<p>I’m not trying to trash you, I’m sure you really do enjoy compsci, so make sure you come across as genuinely in love with compsci and try not to emphasize skipping 3 grades. They will know you skipped grades when they see your application. </p>
<p>Overall, your statement of purpose should not even mention that stuff. It should talk about what problems you have worked on in compsci, what particular areas interest you and why and not your life story. That is kryptonite.</p>
<p>4) On funding, look, it’s hard to get funding for Masters when the school has a PhD program. All that money goes to funding PhD students. Especially at the top schools. And since you are from Canada, you will be paying a ton of cash to do a masters at these schools. You are easily looking at 80k+ debt for tuition and living expenses, probably more living around MIT, or Stanford/Berkeley.</p>
<p>I would urge you to evaluate why you don’t want a PhD. Nobody is going to fund an international masters student at a top 5 uni.</p>
<p>5) For the last point, I REALLLY urge you to not jump directly to graduate school. This is more of life advice than academic advice. Take a year or two off, and get some work experience but more importantly, life experience. Since you skipped 3 grades, it’s probably difficult to find people you can relate to. You are ahead, so there is no need to rush. Get some work experience, work on some interesting compsci projects, this might actually help your Masters application, and it might get the company to pay for your Masters. </p>
<p>If you are worried about your recommendations from your professors being stale, ask them with about 1-2 months before you graduate to write your letters and ask them to save a copy of it when you do apply to grad school. Of course, make sure you keep in touch with them. This way the recommendation is written when they still remember you and your abilities.</p>
<p>I really think it’s a bad idea if you rush into a Masters. See what else is out there in the world, you are so young. Explore a little bit, try new things and fail at it, it really is good for you and your psyche. Also, try to meet people outside of compsci.</p>
<p>OK, best of luck young fella</p>