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Ruchika_Rawat · 2006 July 26th, 06:29 AM

Hi All,

I have a GRE score of 1440 (V 640, Q800, AWA 5.0) and a TOEFL score of 290 (essay rating is 6.0)

I have 1+ years experience in a Telecomm firm.

Acads are good (80%)...

Please rate my chances at CMU and TAMU???

Thanks
Ruchika

nomad · 2006 July 26th, 06:35 PM

Well, I don't mean to sound harsh, but for CMU, your chances are probably pretty poor. Unless you know someone, have published 1 or more papers in a prestigious journal, or have a horseshoe up your bum

, CMU is a longshot for anyone. I just say this from experience. I applied there as well last year, but no luck. I had research experience but no pubs, pretty much the exact same GRE scores as you and my GPA was 3.95/4.0 from a top 20 university in the US. I think I made it few a few rounds of cuts, but ultimately didn't get in. But then again, it is tied for #1 in the nation.

TAMU, on the other hand. Your chances are probably pretty good there. You, no doubt have what looks to be a strong profile, you should look into a bunch of Top 20 schools, but no matter who you are CMU,MIT,Stanford, and Berkley are always long shots... I know this kid who graduated from my school 2 years ago, 4.0 GPA, graduated first in the class, won the university medal (award signifying standing as the most outstanding graduating senior in the entire university), perfect GREs, and still got reject from Stanford because of no pubs... those #1 schools are a complete crapshoot.

Good Luck

Ruchika_Rawat · 2006 July 27th, 09:02 AM

Hey nomad,
Thanks for the info..well that certainly helps...
neither do i know anyone, nor published papers nor do i have a ...
so i guess i will give this one a pass.
Thanks anyways and wish me luck for TAMU. i want this one badly
Ruchika

Juggernaut · 2006 July 27th, 09:38 AM

From the "Indian grad" perspective, I think you should apply to CMU MS-CS (if thats what you were referring to).

CMU is mighty expensive, many people don't apply, and since they don't fund most of their MS candidates, they are a little lenient in granting MS admits.

CMU-PhD however is top-notch.
(out of reach).

You could perhaps try the INI program if you have the $$$$, the acceptance for that program is pretty high.

As for TAMU...they have become extremely selective over the last 2 years, so it depends on your undergrad univ ....if u r a BITsian or an IITian, you have a better chance @ TAMU MS-CS.

nomad · 2006 July 27th, 02:02 PM

Ruchika_Rawat, by the way.. I was talking about the PhD program. If you were considering the masters program, then I would definately apply to CMU, because for the master's program you have a much better shot. I thought you were reffering to PhD programs, and that was what all my comments were about.

Ruchika_Rawat · 2006 July 28th, 07:38 AM

Hi,
Yes i was referring to the Masters program.
So guys u think i should go ahead with CMU.
Well no i am not from BIT or IIT. But i am heavily banking on TAMU. All my other colleges are pretty much safe ones.
Moneywise...I find CMU expensive.Its extortion practically. But whats the harm in applying. We'll see about the money later.
INI doesn't look that impressive. And ofcourse its tooooo expensive.
Hey any tips for the statement of purpose and recos. I have a year's experiience of working in a telecomm firm (for BT Plc projects domain being .net , pl/sql and java..yes i have done it all!!!). You think getting one reco from a boss is a good thing. However TAMU clearly states that reco from boss will not carry as much weightage as from a prof...Stuck there..please advise...

Thanks guys..
Ruchika

Juggernaut · 2006 July 29th, 01:18 PM

TAMU IS NOT A SAFE BET..... KEEP THAT IN MIND.
Although it is not high up in the rankings, and its PhD-CS program is not rated amongst the top-schools, TAMU recieves tonnes of applications because tuition fee is less and cost of living is less too.

So you can never take TAMU for granted.... it would be wiser to expect the unexpected...... for Fall-2006, the ones who got in were IITians or BITSians....although their profiles weren't "stellar", and was perhaps at par with other applicants.

no harm in getting one reco from the boss.... it would give the "variety"...because anyway u r goinna submit 2 recos from profs.

FedUp · 2006 November 13th, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juggernaut

TAMU IS NOT A SAFE BET..... KEEP THAT IN MIND.
Although it is not high up in the rankings, and its PhD-CS program is not rated amongst the top-schools, TAMU recieves tonnes of applications because tuition fee is less and cost of living is less too.

So you can never take TAMU for granted.... it would be wiser to expect the unexpected...... for Fall-2006, the ones who got in were IITians or BITSians....although their profiles weren't "stellar", and was perhaps at par with other applicants.

no harm in getting one reco from the boss.... it would give the "variety"...because anyway u r goinna submit 2 recos from profs.

In fact, as a general rule, u should remove the notion of 'safe schools' from your mind

2006 July 26th, 06:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ruchika_Rawat I JUST got here. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 24	Hi! Rate my chances at CMU... Hi All, I have a GRE score of 1440 (V 640, Q800, AWA 5.0) and a TOEFL score of 290 (essay rating is 6.0) I have 1+ years experience in a Telecomm firm. Acads are good (80%)... Please rate my chances at CMU and TAMU??? Thanks Ruchika

2006 July 27th, 09:38 AM	#4 (permalink)
Juggernaut Eager! Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 75	don't think so From the "Indian grad" perspective, I think you should apply to CMU MS-CS (if thats what you were referring to). CMU is mighty expensive, many people don't apply, and since they don't fund most of their MS candidates, they are a little lenient in granting MS admits. CMU-PhD however is top-notch. (out of reach). You could perhaps try the INI program if you have the $$$$, the acceptance for that program is pretty high. As for TAMU...they have become extremely selective over the last 2 years, so it depends on your undergrad univ ....if u r a BITsian or an IITian, you have a better chance @ TAMU MS-CS.

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2006 July 26th, 06:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
nomad Eager! Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 39	Well, I don't mean to sound harsh, but for CMU, your chances are probably pretty poor. Unless you know someone, have published 1 or more papers in a prestigious journal, or have a horseshoe up your bum , CMU is a longshot for anyone. I just say this from experience. I applied there as well last year, but no luck. I had research experience but no pubs, pretty much the exact same GRE scores as you and my GPA was 3.95/4.0 from a top 20 university in the US. I think I made it few a few rounds of cuts, but ultimately didn't get in. But then again, it is tied for #1 in the nation. TAMU, on the other hand. Your chances are probably pretty good there. You, no doubt have what looks to be a strong profile, you should look into a bunch of Top 20 schools, but no matter who you are CMU,MIT,Stanford, and Berkley are always long shots... I know this kid who graduated from my school 2 years ago, 4.0 GPA, graduated first in the class, won the university medal (award signifying standing as the most outstanding graduating senior in the entire university), perfect GREs, and still got reject from Stanford because of no pubs... those #1 schools are a complete crapshoot. Good Luck

2006 July 27th, 09:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ruchika_Rawat I JUST got here. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 24	Hey nomad, Thanks for the info..well that certainly helps... neither do i know anyone, nor published papers nor do i have a ... so i guess i will give this one a pass. Thanks anyways and wish me luck for TAMU. i want this one badly Ruchika

2006 July 27th, 02:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
nomad Eager! Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 39	Ruchika_Rawat, by the way.. I was talking about the PhD program. If you were considering the masters program, then I would definately apply to CMU, because for the master's program you have a much better shot. I thought you were reffering to PhD programs, and that was what all my comments were about.

2006 July 28th, 07:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ruchika_Rawat I JUST got here. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 24	Hi, Yes i was referring to the Masters program. So guys u think i should go ahead with CMU. Well no i am not from BIT or IIT. But i am heavily banking on TAMU. All my other colleges are pretty much safe ones. Moneywise...I find CMU expensive.Its extortion practically. But whats the harm in applying. We'll see about the money later. INI doesn't look that impressive. And ofcourse its tooooo expensive. Hey any tips for the statement of purpose and recos. I have a year's experiience of working in a telecomm firm (for BT Plc projects domain being .net , pl/sql and java..yes i have done it all!!!). You think getting one reco from a boss is a good thing. However TAMU clearly states that reco from boss will not carry as much weightage as from a prof...Stuck there..please advise... Thanks guys.. Ruchika

2006 July 29th, 01:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Juggernaut Eager! Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 75	TAMU IS NOT A SAFE BET..... KEEP THAT IN MIND. Although it is not high up in the rankings, and its PhD-CS program is not rated amongst the top-schools, TAMU recieves tonnes of applications because tuition fee is less and cost of living is less too. So you can never take TAMU for granted.... it would be wiser to expect the unexpected...... for Fall-2006, the ones who got in were IITians or BITSians....although their profiles weren't "stellar", and was perhaps at par with other applicants. no harm in getting one reco from the boss.... it would give the "variety"...because anyway u r goinna submit 2 recos from profs.

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