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charlieboy · 2003 October 17th, 02:46 AM

Hey all,

I'm applying for CS phd programs in the NY area (Columbia, NYU, etc)
Thing is, these are some of the most competitive schools to get into in the country (they dont merit so many applications on the rankings alone, but people want to be in NY...). Columbia's addmission rate last year for CS phd was on the order of 5%. I have research experience, but only starting from this past summer (internship with a professor) and this semester (running a research project for CS/Physics). I have NO work experience (some websites, but nothing at all impressive). I can't afford tuition, so when I say "get in" I mean my chances of getting in with funding - significantly harder.

On the other hand...
CS major from a top 50-ranked university, math minor
3.95 GPA (4.0 in major)
1600/6.0 GRE's (didnt take subject yet-taking in November).

I expect 2 great reccomendations (1 from a comp sci prof, 1 from a liberal arts prof) and 4 good recs (from cs, physics, and math), different subsets of which I am sending to different schools depending on a bunch of factors, like if the professors went to school there etc.

One advisor tells me to relax, and the other tells me that my admission odds are about 20%.

What do you all think of my chances?

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2003 October 17th, 02:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
charlieboy Eager! Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 34	Hey all, I'm applying for CS phd programs in the NY area (Columbia, NYU, etc) Thing is, these are some of the most competitive schools to get into in the country (they dont merit so many applications on the rankings alone, but people want to be in NY...). Columbia's addmission rate last year for CS phd was on the order of 5%. I have research experience, but only starting from this past summer (internship with a professor) and this semester (running a research project for CS/Physics). I have NO work experience (some websites, but nothing at all impressive). I can't afford tuition, so when I say "get in" I mean my chances of getting in with funding - significantly harder. On the other hand... CS major from a top 50-ranked university, math minor 3.95 GPA (4.0 in major) 1600/6.0 GRE's (didnt take subject yet-taking in November). I expect 2 great reccomendations (1 from a comp sci prof, 1 from a liberal arts prof) and 4 good recs (from cs, physics, and math), different subsets of which I am sending to different schools depending on a bunch of factors, like if the professors went to school there etc. One advisor tells me to relax, and the other tells me that my admission odds are about 20%. What do you all think of my chances?

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