Graduate School: Getting In and Getting a Good Start

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Graduate School Getting In and Getting a Good
Start
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A bit about me, Lori PollockProfessor, CIS,
University of Delaware

• 1981 BS in CS Economics, Allegheny College,
  PA met husband
• 1981-86 Ph.D. at U of Pittsburgh re-met
  husband
• 1985 Married Mark
• 1986 Started as Assistant Prof at Rice U
• 1988 Lauren born
• 1990 Moved back to northeast Lindsay born
  took year off
• 1991-now Visiting, Assistant, Associate, Full
  Prof UD
• 1995 Matt born

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A bit about me, Lori PollockProfessor, CIS,
University of Delaware

• Research focus software analysis, testing and
  maintenance tools
• compiler optimization
• Other Interests
• traveling
• wheel-thrown pottery
• family time
• walking with my tunes

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My Extended Family The Software Analysis and
Compilation Lab !
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What are we going to talk about?...

• Selecting a set of schools to apply to
• Finding scholarship and fellowship opportunities
• Taking GREs
• One Great Resource Choosing a Ph.D. Program in
  Computer Science by Rachel Pottinger,
  http//www.cs.ubc.ca/rap/crossroads.html

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Selecting a Set of Grad Schools

• Reputation of department and possible advisor
• Speciality Research expertise areas
• Your chances of getting accepted with funding
• Department size small vs large
• Location city versus rural, close to X
• Where do I get this info?
• Department website, Local faculty
• KEY Focus on Department, not School

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The Process of Choosing

• Create a spreadsheet
• Browse websites
• Discuss with faculty advisor and other faculty
• Include safety and reach departments
• At conferences, talk to faculty
• Contact department by early October
• Most applications due in December/January

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Finding Fellowships and Scholarships

• BIG MYTH It costs a lot of money to go to grad
  school, and I cant afford it.
• School funding RA, TA, fellowship
• BUT, also important to apply to others
• Many universities supplement fellowship
• Often DUE BEFORE graduate apps
• Sometimes fellowship organizers forward
  applicants' names to depts. Depts may waive app
  fee.
• Some depts will not reject students until NSF
  fellowships awarded. you may get into depts
  based partly on fellowship.
• You can reapply for many fellowships hard part
  about statement of purpose is writing it the
  first time.
• See your packet AND http//cag.csail.mit.edu/amy/
  fellowships.html

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The GREs www.ets.org

• Format General (like SATs) and CS Subject
• General verbal, quantitative, analytical writing
• CS Subject
• Software systems and methodology (40)
• Computer organization and architecture (15)
• Theory and mathematical background (40)
• Other (5)
• Where/When
• General year-round, computer-based Take early
  enough for December applications/retake if needed
• Subject 3 times/yr, paper-based October,
  November, April

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Preparing for the GREs

• General verbal, quantitative, analytical writing
• Similar to SAT preparation
• Analytical writing
• articulate complex ideas clearly and
  effectively
• examine claims and accompanying evidence
• support ideas with relevant reasons and
  examples
• sustain a well-focused, coherent discussion
• control the elements of standard written
  English
• - Do the free practice test at www.ets.org
• - Computer software, practice books,

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Preparing for the GREs

• CS Subject
• May cover topics not in your undergrad
  curriculum
• Ask local prof what courses are covered
• Be familiar with either C, C, or Pascal
• No free practice test
• - Good resource Practicing to take the CS
  Test by ETS
• How are GREs used in the admissions process?
• - Important, but not the only factor

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GREs Summary

• Take them seriously
• Learn the format
• Practice and review
• Take them early enough to retake if needed

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• The PhD
• You Can do it.
• And it is worth it.
• One step at a time, with mentors.
• Dont be scared away!!