WHAT schools?!

Graduate School
1

<p>I'm applying to Computer Science PhD programs...I was wondering what tier of programs I should apply to (top 10, top 20, etc).</p>

<p>Here are my stats:
- 800/650/5 M/V/W GRE
- 830 GRE CS Subject Test (87%) (who the hell does so well on this test?)
- 3 summers and a semester of significant undergrad research in Memory Management, Formal Methods, and Human-Robot Interaction...but no publications! I've written about 3 papers and have done several posters/presentations, but none of them have been published in anything other than the local school/program event. This is where my letters of recommendation are coming from.
- I go to a school near the bottom of the top 20 USNews schools with a fairly strong CS program.
- 3.94 overall GPA in Computer Science/Mathematics double major (3.95 within CS, 4.0 within math)
- Combined BS/MS program - graduating in 4 years with MS thesis in Distributed Artificial Intelligence (writing about for statement of purpose)
- ACM International College Programming Contest 3-year 1st place local finish, 3rd place regionals
- Some undergrad scholarship junk</p>

<p>I'm really worried that I'm just screwed for grad admissions because of the GRE and lack of publications. What do you guys think?</p>

2

<p>Don't know about the situation in CS as far as papers go. I am also worried about not having any publications, but I'm hoping that as long as the recs indicate that your contributions were meaningful, it'll be fine. The GRE subject score is fine: if you need some reassurance, remember that standards for domestic students are a little lower on those tests for whatever reason.</p>

<p>The only thing I would be worried about right now is the MS thing. At some schools standards are much higher for students coming out of master's programs. I would emphasize in your SOP that you are graduating in four years and that you entered the combined program as a way of further challenging yourself - that way you won't be lumped with applicants two years older than you who have probably published.</p>