Profile: Can I Have Some Objective Judgements Please

[asa_sl]

Originally Posted by Ancalagon The Black

Thanks asa_sl:

I got 700 in verbal and 770 in quant...
I have my own company for the last 2 years so I think that counts as full time work ex.
Also, my undergraduate program is not part time but the timings are adjustable so I did 40 hours of work/week in my previous job for 1 year... so thats like 3 years of work ex...

I dont think your own company experience help much since u are doing those things while in college.
PHD programs really matters your research capabilities. they are looking for good researchers rather proffesionals.
any way your profile is not bad to admit US phd program.
Although high ranked programs may be out of range.
if you dont mind ranked programs I think u could succed us phd program since your gre , toefl are great as a international students.
My only worry is your post graduate depoloma because from my knowledge US universities need indian masters degree if you not graduated from 4 year(IIT) degree.
good luck.

[asa_sl]

Originally Posted by Ancalagon The Black

Thanks asa_sl:

I got 700 in verbal and 770 in quant...
I have my own company for the last 2 years so I think that counts as full time work ex.
Also, my undergraduate program is not part time but the timings are adjustable so I did 40 hours of work/week in my previous job for 1 year... so thats like 3 years of work ex...

I dont think your own company experience help much since u are doing those things while in college.
PHD programs really matters your research capabilities. they are looking for good researchers rather proffesionals.
any way your profile is not bad to admit US phd program.
Although high ranked programs may be out of range.
if you dont mind ranked programs I think u could succed us phd program since your gre , toefl are great as a international students.
My only worry is your post graduate depoloma because from my knowledge US universities need indian masters degree if you not graduated from 4 year(IIT) degree.
good luck.

[Ancalagon The Black]

Originally Posted by asa_sl

but universities like IIT degrees are 4 years right?

from my knowledge　I think u need masters degree if you have only 3 year degree from india to apply US phd programs。

See, the education system in India is that engineering degrees are 4 years whilst other majors are 3 years...

Whilst earlier, you couldn't apply without completing a masters, many colleges nowadays have started accepting 3 years degrees namely, Cornell, Yale, UPenn etc. (as evidenced on their website)

This is because our 3 year degrees have more courses in them than a 4 year US degree and we get more comprehensive (I won't argue as to the quality) knowledge in our field of specialization. For instance, in my 3 year BBA course, I have 34 theory courses, 4 lab courses, 6 sessional courses, 2 project based courses in 6 semesters, interpolate that with a 4 year US degree...

My sister who graduated from Wellesley College in Eco and CS had taken only 38 courses in 8 semesters and that too in a wide range of subjects !!

Also, a post graduate diploma in india is similar to a 2 years masters. For instance, people from IIM (Indian Institute of Management, a world class institution) don't get MBA, they get Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management, but they still come to study PhD and a second MBA in Harvard et al.

Also, I didn't study at the IIT's because I had a wish of studying business in undergraduate and they don't offer it. Also, their entrance tests are hard and I am not sure that I could have cracked it if I wanted to !!

[Ancalagon The Black]

Hmm, as for research, I have 1 journal paper, 7 conferences and 2 business plans win as well as being a research lab assistant for the past 2 years (3 when I graduate) in my college... think that will pass?

[shootermcgavin7]

Originally Posted by asa_sl

from my knowledge　I think u need masters degree if you have only 3 year degree from india to apply US phd programs。

It is my impression that you're right. I'm not 100% sure, though, so don't take my word as gospel.


OP:
Ask the adcoms at the schools you're thinking about.....it is their decision, not a bunch of anonymous people on a message board.

[desimba]

You have a decent profile. However consistent with what has been expressed on this board:

1) A 3 year degree will always be looked upon with some level of scepticism no matter how many courses you take.
2) Work experience does not matter much if you are applying to a PhD program unless it is at a think tank or a full time research assistantship with a prof.
3) Advice: a) Keep posts shorter.
b) While you may think that "1 Paper on Web Services in International Business Informatics Challenge" of as a big thing, it is likely to be not perceived in that manner.

Having said all of this, you can certainly apply to a bunch of schools ranked 15+. You may not get in at this attempt but at least you would have learned something and you can calibrate yourself the next time around. Given that age is on your side, you should think about this option.

[Ancalagon The Black]

Originally Posted by desimba

You have a decent profile. However consistent with what has been expressed on this board:

1) A 3 year degree will always be looked upon with some level of scepticism no matter how many courses you take.
2) Work experience does not matter much if you are applying to a PhD program unless it is at a think tank or a full time research assistantship with a prof.
3) Advice: a) Keep posts shorter.
b) While you may think that "1 Paper on Web Services in International Business Informatics Challenge" of as a big thing, it is likely to be not perceived in that manner.

Having said all of this, you can certainly apply to a bunch of schools ranked 15+. You may not get in at this attempt but at least you would have learned something and you can calibrate yourself the next time around. Given that age is on your side, you should think about this option.

Good points and thanks for your advice... But, how about my friend from Delhi University with a 75% in aggregate in a 3 year degree in chemistry (GRE V650 Q790) and 2 relatively modest summer research projects who got into Brown for a MS/PhD in chemistry? I assure you that he did not have papers in Science or Nature...

How would you evaluate that?

Also, please check the following links:
Wharton Doctoral Programs: Admissions: International Students
Information Systems Masters Program @ Carnegie Mellon
Cornell University Graduate School -- International student qualifications - the bachelor of science in india is of 3 year duration

There are other links but I am sure that the above 3 will do...

[Ancalagon The Black]

To clarify, he got through for the fall 2007 program...

[asa_sl]

Originally Posted by Ancalagon The Black

Good points and thanks for your advice... But, how about my friend from Delhi University with a 75% in aggregate in a 3 year degree in chemistry (GRE V650 Q790) and 2 relatively modest summer research projects who got into Brown for a MS/PhD in chemistry? I assure you that he did not have papers in Science or Nature...

How would you evaluate that?

Also, please check the following links:
Wharton Doctoral Programs: Admissions: International Students
Information Systems Masters Program @ Carnegie Mellon
Cornell University Graduate School -- International student qualifications - the bachelor of science in india is of 3 year duration

There are other links but I am sure that the above 3 will do...

yeah above links are correct. but I have seen some universities dont accept 3 year indian degrees thats why I said it to you.
good luck

[Ancalagon The Black]

Yes, that was the previous policy but now the policies have started to change as the US adcoms realize the relevance of a Indian 3 year degree.

They have been accepting European ones for a longer time though... I really think that this is a good move. So obviously, most colleges haven't updated their details on their websites...