Re: [vox] OT: Questions on Application to Graduate programs...
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Re: [vox] OT: Questions on Application to Graduate programs...
Found that very interesting too :).
Thanks for sharing!
To learn to programming, which is the best way? I'm an OK learner by
myself, but not the best (find it better and easier to have a teacher who
knows his or her stuff to ask the annoying questions to).
Matt
On Sun, 25 Aug 2002, ME wrote:
> Very good stuff! :-)
>
> Yep. Research is where I plan to go, and some day teaching at a college
> level.
>
> Thanks!
> -ME
>
> On Sun, 25 Aug 2002, Peter Jay Salzman wrote:
> > advice 1: choosing a program
> > ============================
> > the best advice i can give you is to forget about "berkeley". when
> > considering grad school, go after a professor, not a name for a school.
> > in other words:
> >
> > go to berkeley because dr. snatchit is doing research in a field
> > you're dying to get into and he happens to be at berkeley.
> >
> > don't go to berkeley because it's generally a very good school. or
> > because it's convenient.
> >
> > btw, if you were going to apply for an undergrad or a M.S, i would give
> > the exact opposite advice. go for the name of a school (berkeley,
> > stanford, mit, princeton) rather than a professor.
> >
> >
> > advice 2: understanding your commitment
> > =======================================
> > i would say most everyone i know has no idea what the phd really is.
> >
> > when it comes down to it, all other advanced degrees are "operational
> > degrees". in other words, you get an MD to work as a doctor. you get
> > a JD(?) to work as a lawyer. you get an MS to become a highly trained
> > worker in some other field. the point is, you get the degree to DO
> > something.
> >
> > understand that the phd is *NOT* an operational degree. it's a research
> > degree. you don't get the phd to become more competant at a topic. in
> > particular, don't expect people with new phd's to "know more" than
> > people with new MS degrees. in fact, it could be quite the opposite.
> >
> > the new PHD knows infinity about delta. if he hasn't let himself
> > rust, he'll know alot about other stuff too.
> >
> > the new MS will know alot about other stuff.
> >
> > understand the most important concept: you get the phd for no other
> > reason than to do pure, academic research. if you want to be an expert
> > at something, you're much better off getting an MS. as a phd, your
> > knowledge will become very pointed. for instance, here is i know:
> >
> > 1) everything that a straight A physics MS graduate knows
> > 2) the newtonian approximation to the semi classical theory of
> > gravitation
> > 3) modelling electron spins using stochastic methods
> >
> > see how #1 is general and #2 and #3 are very specific? #1 took me 2
> > years. #2 and #3 took me 4 years.
> >
> > i hope you're beginning to see how this ties into advice #1.
> >
> > understand your commitment. most people who want a PHD don't understand
> > what it is. you get it, not to become an expert at a field but to
> > become a researcher.
> >
> > ask yourself why you want this degree. if it's not "to become a
> > researcher" than consider an MS.
> >
> >
> >
> > advice 3: be prepared for the time
> > ==================================
> > average PHD for theoretical high energy is 7-9 years. i imagine that CS
> > is shorter than that, but i'd be willing to bet not by much.
> >
> >
> >
> > advice 4: start in advance
> > ==========================
> > i've seen programs that you had to submit an application a full year in
> > advance. make sure you know your deadlines!!
> >
> >
> >
> > advice 5: work towards a singular goal
> > ======================================
> > most programs have 3 hurdles:
> >
> > a comprehensive written test (the preliminary)
> > a pointed oral exam (the qualifier)
> > a pointed anal exam (actually finishing your research and
> > writing the dissertation.)
> >
> > treat every day of your life as if the only reason why you woke up is to
> > pass your prelim. after that, treat every day as if the only reason why
> > you woke up is to pass the oral exam.
> >
> > also, check out the pictures at http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~drl7x/.
> > it's kinda like that, but he's got the smile all wrong. the smile
> > should be on the left picture. he should be scowling or gramacing on
> > the right hand picture.
> >
> >
> > ok, that's all i can think of at 6am. hope some of this drivel is
> > useful.
> >
> > pete
> >
> >
> >
> > begin ME <dugan@passwall.com>
> > > Since this list is likely to have a few students who have enrolled into
> > > graduate programs (MS/PhD) I figure this would be a good place to tap to
> > > suggestions.
> > >
> > > In about 2 years, I would like to apply for the PhD program at Berkeley
> > > for Computer Science. Suggestions on "things to do" and "when to do
> > > them" would be greatly enjoyed by me. :-D
> > >
> > > If you have found any items that have helped you to gain admission into
> > > semi-exclusive programs, I would like to hear them. The ideas do not even
> > > have to be specific to CS.
> > >
> > > Suggestions for GRE are also welcome. (Aids, things that have helped you,
> > > and techniques in taking the test.)
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > -ME
> > >
> > > -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
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