Choosing Universities (PhD)

[nirosilva]

CalmLogic,

Well, I've spent the entire evening scanning through the U of Utah website, and you were right. It appears a perfect match for both of us given our requirements (we've discussed it through and Utah has both graphics and AI/Robotics research). So it's in the list definitely. ( 5 gone 5 more to go). I sent them an email inquiring about the acceptance rate of students and the international representation in the university. Ranking around 40 (according to 2006 US news) I guess it's a safe place to apply and I gather that as the initial application fee they only charge 15$. I guess I missed it initially since I was so preoccupied in selecting universities in twos (to address the two body problem) and left out Utah that's nowhere near to any recognized university.

So thanks CalmLogic once again for enlightening me. And please help me find about five more universities to go into my list. (As of now I have selected Stanford, Indiana Bloomington, OSU, Northeastern and Utah)

BTW, if anyone's in need of Duke's admission statistics: I received a reply from them today. For fall 2008 their admission statistics are as follows.

Applicants (PhD for CS) - 226
Admitted - 32
Acceptance rate ~ 14%
International - above 50% of admits

But they don't have a computer graphics research group other than a group on computational geometry.

(Just so if someone is looking for Duke's info.)

[nirosilva]

hey guys,

I was going through some info on UCSC and got to know that they had some "naked run" at the beginning of the "first rain" . What's that all about? My GF just freaked out and guess UCSC is out of her list . Anyway, what is this tradition? Anyone from UCSC in this forum? Is this something everyone has to participate in?

[CalmLogic]

That is not unique to UCSC. I think they even do that at Iowa State or some other northern universities during the first snowfall. But, like at UCSC, they do it at night when no one is watching, and it's not like these are mostly graduate or CS students that are naked in the rain. Also, it's a very small subset of the school population. When I was in Miami, I saw college frat guys (maybe from the University of Miami) running naked on the street during the day. Now that is crazy. Still, that didn't affect my perception of any Miami universities.

As long as she is not homophobic, I think the only thing she has to worry about UCSC is the lack of reputation compared to older, more established CS departments. On the positive side about UCSC's campus, they have the best scenery compared to almost any other school in the US:

http://www.urch.com/forums/computer-...tml#post556342 (In at UCSC (PhD in Computer Science))

The town of Santa Cruz certainly has more weirdos (like harmless hippies) than a traditional college town, but that is to be expected in a liberal state like California. But at least Santa Cruz is safer than cities like Atlanta (home of GA Tech).

[MDK]

What's wrong ?? haven't you seen the naked mile?

[TheBrothersKaramazov]

yeah, i watched the naked run from my balcony this past fall. Very amusing!! During the first rainfall of the fall quarter, undergrads run across campus naked. Boys, girls, attractive, not-so-attractive. You certainly do not have to participate in it... it's mostly drunk undergrads - but my math phd roommate apparently gave it a try last year as well.

UCSC is wonderful!

[nirosilva]

Guys,

Can you please name me some of the largest CS departments with a relatively large number of PhD admits per year? I posed this question earlier, but seems everyone has missed it. Anyway, I'm asking this since both me and my GF are applying at the end of this year and we want to make every effort to end up in the same university. Our potential university list for now is

-Stanford
-OSU
-Indiana Bloomington
-Northeastern
-UCSC
-U of Utah

Please guys, I'm looking for another 4 or 5 universities that are large enough, that are generous in aid for intl. students and that have both AI and Graphics research areas.

Thanks in advance. Cheers.

[nirosilva]

oh come on guys, some light here...

[CalmLogic]

Please guys, I'm looking for another 4 or 5 universities that are large enough, that are generous in aid for intl. students and that have both AI and Graphics research areas.

GA Tech, as I mentioned before since I am running out of ideas. BTW, I hope those publications you talked about were accepted to international conferences/journals or you take the GRECS. If it doesn't interfere with your publication schedule, I really think you should both take the GRECS anyway (to help compete against people coming from more reputable universities and you have the advantage in that you could study together).

[nirosilva]

hey calmlogic,

Thanks for replying.

About GA Tech, I'm concerned about two issues. One, it's a top ranked university and two, I've heard here n there about the safety issues there. I'm not so sure about this, but seems Atlanta is not the safest place in USA. What I'm in need of now are some moderate universities with not so much competition to get into.

BTW, I'm taking the GRECS on october. I'm very optimistic about scoring well in the exam (been studying for that for quite sometime now). And just to clarify, my university is not that low ranked in Asia. Well, it's not even close to the IITs in India, but that doesn't mean ours is any inferior.

Anyway, thanks again sir for reply. I'll keep you posted when I finish compiling this list.

[CalmLogic]

About GA Tech, I'm concerned about two issues. One, it's a top ranked university and two, I've heard here n there about the safety issues there.

No one has died on campus by violent means for at least a few years. So if you spend your nights in the library and get good housing, you will be fine You can check the statistics here:

Georgia Tech Police Department

The real issue is that some off-campus housing attracts more crime than other apartment areas:

in Centennial Place they actually broke in our apt twice in one week

georgia tech area (Atlanta: housing, condos, income) - Atlanta - Georgia (GA) - City-Data Forum

Anyway, it's all about opinion, and my opinion is that i would not let my girlfriend live anywhere near ga. tech or downtown or midtown cause it is very unsafe at night. Who wants to live somewhere where you have to hide in your apartment after dark or drive 10 miles to a safe area just to exercise? That's my opinion.

Buckhead or Downtown (Atlanta: real estate, homes, condos) - Atlanta - Georgia (GA) - Page 4 - City-Data Forum

The the on-campus housing at GA Tech seems safe and is very unique in that graduate housing is guaranteed:

New Graduate Students are guaranteed housing if they submit their $600 rent prepayment and apply online by June 1.

Georgia Tech Housing: Assignments

BTW, I'm taking the GRECS on october.

Of course, make sure nearest test center will be offering the 10/18/08 exam since even some U.S. test centers do not offer the October exam:

http://www.urch.com/forums/gre-compu...available.html (2008-2009 Subject Test Dates Now Available)

If both the October and November exam are offered in your area, you may want to take the October exam for practice by canceling the scoring:

There's nothing to fear from taking the test on Nov 8: at the end of the test, you can always fill in the "double bubble" at the end, preventing ETS from ever scoring (or reporting) that test. You're totally in control.

http://www.urch.com/forums/gre-compu...1-nervous.html (nervous.....) (nervous.....)

This is still an option since someone I know who took the April exam heard these same instructions by the proctor.

What I'm in need of now are some moderate universities with not so much competition to get into.

So somewhere between USC and UCSC Hmmm.... I will think about it and hopefully others will post. Of course, it will be a lot easier once you get your GRECS score.