Thinking About Graduate School?
K. T. A.
February 22, 2007
You know you’re a redneck if . .
Fewer than half of your cars run.
 You think that beef jerky and Moon Pies are
two of the major food groups.
 You've ever used a weedeater indoors.
 You mow your lawn and find a car.
 http://www.thatwasfunny.com/you-knowyoure-a-redneck-if/532

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Overview
Should you go?
 Where to go
 How to get ready
 How to get there

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Should You Go?

If you can do it, DO IT
 Career advancement
 Job satisfaction
 $$

Especially if you like . .
 Challenges
 New opportunities
 Interesting work

and don’t like . .
 Same ol’ same ol’
 to be bored
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If you do go . .
 What
level?
 CS or . . ?
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What level?

PhD if you can
 1 trip instead of 2
 Best time is NOW

5 Year Masters is a good option
 Short time frame
 Low startup cost
 Good quality
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CS or . . ?

Many areas of study
 IT
 IS
 Informatics
 MIS
 HCI
 Design
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CS or . . ?

Many specializations within CS
 Robotics
 Computer vision
 Bioinformatics
 Many others

Which best fits your
 Abilities
 Interests
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Where to go

Types of rankings
 U.S. News and World Report
 NAGPS

http://www.cs.ucf.edu/newsletter/vol1/issue_one/ranking.html
Many good schools
 Central principle – best for you

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How to Choose
 Considerations
 Faculty
 Program
 Areas of specialty/centers of study
 Graduation rate
 Location
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Getting to Know the School

Quality
 of offerings
 of faculty
» publication history
» collaboration history (esp. with advisees)
» 90% is relationship with thesis advisor
Relationships with industry
 Areas of expertise
 Treatment of students

 graduation rate (CMU vs. Duke)
 hoops vs. research (UVA)
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How to Choose
 Cast
a wide net
 Check out web sites
 Look for specifics
 Establish your own criteria
» Desiderata
» Sine qua non
 Create
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a “short list”
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Choosing an Area of Study
 Starting
points
 topic
 person
 school
 conference
 journal
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Choosing an Area of Study

Fanning out
 Bibliography
 Node hopping with tabbed browsing
» School to person
» to paper
» to conference
» to lecture
» to person
» to school
 Etc.
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Choosing an Area of Study

Download papers
 directly accessible
» MIT
» CMU
» others
 ACM – KU has subscription via library
 IEEE – good luck!
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Getting Ready
 World
has changed
 WWC = worldwide competition
1 > 0
 So take 1 step
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How to Get Ready
 Academic
preparation
 Application preparation
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Academic Preparation – Course Work
Depends on area of study (see CS or . .)
 Math
 Core CS areas (depends somewhat on
school)

 Algorithms & complexity
 Automata theory
 Operating systems
 Artificial intelligence
 Software engineering
 Networking
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Academic Preparation – Research
 Seek
research opportunities
 REUs
 KU - URC
 Collaborate with faculty
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Academic Preparation - Research
Your cup of tea?
 Undergrad research opportunities (see
above)
 Undergrad presentations & publications

–
–
–
–

PACISE
Moravian
St. Joe’s
U.R. journals
Finding research areas (see above)
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How to Get There
 Preparing
to apply
 Know Deadlines – some very early
 Fall or Spring?
 Line up references
 Keep up with schoolwork
 Schedule
your work
 Keep up with coursework
 Plan for interference (e.g., Dec. 15)
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How to Get There - GREs


Schedule them
Which test?
 Morning only
 Subject GRE? (depends on school)
 Math GRE

To study or not?
 KU
 Lehigh


Changes coming
Retake?
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Application


Prepare ahead of time
Will need






transcript
references (gentle, diplomatic reminders)
resume
personal statement
other (depends on school)
Variety of formats
 internet
 paper
 hybrid
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Application – Allow Plenty of Time
References need time
 Schedule for each application

 Can be up to a day per
 Each one is different
» Time to sort it out
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And Above All . .
Don’t Give Up !
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