Which CS doctorate programs could I get into?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>I'm graduating in Spring 2011 with a B.S. in Computer Science (minor in Math). I'm interested in applying for a Ph. D. program in CS for Fall 2011. I've made a very large list of schools based on locations I would want to be, but now I need to narrow it down based on "reach, fit, and safety" schools. I have NO idea where I stand, so any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>Major: Computer Science (B.S.)
Concentration: Theory of Computation (lots of logic and math courses)
Minor: Mathematics</p>

<p>Overall GPA: 3.5 (should be a 3.6 after Fall semester)
CS GPA: 3.85 (hoping I can bump it up to a 3.9 after this semester!)</p>

<p>Research Experience:
I have been continuously doing research since Summer 2009 and will continue until Spring 2011.</p>

<p>Summer '09 - did the CRA-W DREU program, a few poster with this work as well as a short 4-6 page paper
Academic year '09-'10 - started my own project in the same lab in NLP, did a poster on this work
Summer '10 - continuing this project and will do a Senior Thesis for the '10-'11 school year.</p>

<p>Recommendations:
I am lucky enough to have 2 advisers who are full-time research faculty at my University and they both agreed they can each write a strong recommendation for me. The third will probably come from another full-time professor that I took a logic course with and did well in.</p>

<p>GREs:
Haven't taken them yet, but based on practice tests I think I can get at least a 760M/580V.. writing, not so sure.</p>

<p>I'll spare you the list of schools because it is basically all schools in/near Portland, Seattle, California, Boston, Philadelphia, and NYC that offer a doctorate in CS. Would prefer not to be in the middle of nowhere (unless it's an exceptional school).</p>

<p>I am not sure exactly what field I want to pursue my research in, but clearly, I am more interested in theory than anything else!</p>

<p>Any insights into schools that are in or out of my league would be so helpful!</p>

2

<p>any ideas at all? </p>

<p>anything I can do to perhaps get a response?</p>

3

<p>The thing is its very hard to judge your chance for admission without seeing your admissions package. If your professors say that they can provide “strong” letters then probably you have a good chance at top departments.</p>

<p>The best way I recommend is to ask the professors which schools you should target for. That way they can write in the letter that they highly recommend you to so and so departments.</p>

<p>There are many good CS departments so it’s a bit hard to name the ones that might be suitable for you. Anyhow; Cornell, Stanford, Berkeley, UTexas, UCLA, UMich, UIUC, etc…</p>

4

<p>Thank you for your help!</p>

<p>I do have a meeting with my advisor, but she wanted me to bring in a list of about 15-20 schools to narrow down to 9-10 together based on my chances… I just didn’t want to bring her a list of schools that were a completely unattainable for me so I just wanted an idea of what was even worth putting on my list.</p>

5

<p>If (and this is a big if) you have great recommendations, you probably have a decent shot at top 10-20 schools. For the list, my suggestion is apply to, say, 3 reach schools like Cornell, Georgia Tech and U Washington. Then 4-5 schools in your range like UMich, UWisc, UMD, UCLA. And finally 3-4 safeties.</p>