Recommendation letter dilemma, and other questions! Computer Science

Graduate School
1

<p>I will be applying for MS and/or PhD in Computer Science for Fall 2011. I already have two profs who agree to write letters for my applications (I did summer research with one, and the other is my thesis supervisor), but most universities require 3 letters. So I have to pick someone to write my 3rd letter:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Prof who I took his course in 2008 and did really well (98%), and now I'm teaching assistant for his course. I have known him for quite a while (2.5 years), although never did research with him.</p></li>
<li><p>Prof who I just got to know a few months ago. I am taking his cryptography course and doing quite well. I'm doing research for my term paper in this course, and interacting with him every few weeks.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>So... who should I pick to write my 3rd letter?</p>

<p>Also, my GRE is 410 V, 800 M, 4.0 W. Will be taking the subject test next month. I'm believe that my writing score (4.0) is good enough for admissions but I'm very worried about my verbal score (410). I am aiming for top schools (Berkeley, Stanford, etc...) so I'm not sure what effect my verbal score will have on the application.</p>

<p>Any comments/feedbacks are welcomed!</p>

2

<p>You could ask both (50/50), for increased variance.</p>

3

<p>Do you mean I should submit 4 letters, more than the required 3?</p>

4

<p>bump…</p>

5

<p>Some programs will allow you to send 4 letters, and in those cases, do it. You never know which one will most impress the adcom. </p>

<p>But some programs do not want extra letters and make it difficult to do so. In that case, you should decide in advance which are your three most important letters. Out of your choices, I would choose Prof #2 for your third letter because he is most familiar with your recent research. A few months is sufficient to get to know a student’s potential.</p>

6

<p>No, I didn’t mean to say submit all four letters, ABCD, to all schools. Instead, submit ABC to half your schools and ABD to the other half for increased admissions variance.</p>

7

<p>that makes no sense whatsoever. no offense intended.</p>

8

<p>fine, listen.</p>

<p>pick: 2</p>

<p>He will be able to comment on your ability to do research, and he knows you well enough to be able to write a positive letter.</p>