Que Es Un Doctorado
Páginas: 35 (8517 palabras)
Publicado: 13 de octubre de 2011
Applying to Ph.D. Programs in Computer Science
Mor Harchol-Balter School of Computer Science Carnegie Mellon University Last updated 2004
1 Introduction
This document is intended for people applying to Ph.D. programs in computer science or related areas. The document is informal in nature, and is meant to express only the opinions of the author. The author is currently an assistant professorof computer science at CMU, and has been involved in the Ph.D. admissions process at CMU, U.C. Berkeley, and MIT. Please direct any further questions you have after reading this document to the admissions coordinator Martha Clarke (mwc@cs.cmu.edu). Do not send email to the author of this document.
Contents
1 Introduction 2 Do I really want a Ph.D.? What does a Ph.D. entail? 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.42.5 2.6 2.7 What is a Ph.D.? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lack of emphasis on courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The research process and advisor/advisee relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frustrations and joys of research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Funding during the Ph.D. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Life after the Ph.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Should I get a Ph.D.? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 5 6 6
3 The Application Process 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Transcript – grades and classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GRE scores . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Personal statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Previous Research Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5.1 3.5.2 3.6 3.7 Whom to ask for a letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . How to ask for a letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 8 8 9 11 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 16 17 19
Awards and Extracurriculars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How many schools should you apply to? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 Fellowship Information 4.1 4.2 Why you need to apply . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List of fellowships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 Choosing the right Ph.D. program for you 6 Current 2002 Rankings of CS Ph.D. programs in the U.S.
2 Do I really want a Ph.D.? What does a Ph.D. entail?
2.1 What is a Ph.D.?
A Ph.D. is a long, in depth research exploration of one topic. By long we’re typicallytalking about 6 years. By in depth we mean that at the end of the Ph.D. you will be the world expert or close to it in your particular area. You will know more than your advisor about your particular research area. You will know about your research than anyone at your school. By one we mean that by the last couple years of your Ph.D., you will typically be working on only one narrow problem. ThePh.D. is not about breadth, it is about depth.
2.2 Lack of emphasis on courses
The M.S. and B.A. degrees are about breadth not depth. The main requirement in the M.S. and B.A. degrees is often a large numbers of courses. A B.A. or B.S. in CS often entails taking 3 or 4 classes 2
a semester in CS or Math or Engineering. An M.S. is similar. In contrast, a Ph.D. program typically requirestypically less than 10 courses during the entire 6 years (at CMU there are 5 required “core” courses, and 3 required “electives”). The emphasis in the Ph.D. is not on classes, but rather on research. A Ph.D. student will typically take classes only when she feels that they will be useful in her research. The classes she takes may not even be in CS at all. They may be in Statistics, Operations...
Mor Harchol-Balter School of Computer Science Carnegie Mellon University Last updated 2004
1 Introduction
This document is intended for people applying to Ph.D. programs in computer science or related areas. The document is informal in nature, and is meant to express only the opinions of the author. The author is currently an assistant professorof computer science at CMU, and has been involved in the Ph.D. admissions process at CMU, U.C. Berkeley, and MIT. Please direct any further questions you have after reading this document to the admissions coordinator Martha Clarke (mwc@cs.cmu.edu). Do not send email to the author of this document.
Contents
1 Introduction 2 Do I really want a Ph.D.? What does a Ph.D. entail? 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.42.5 2.6 2.7 What is a Ph.D.? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lack of emphasis on courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The research process and advisor/advisee relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frustrations and joys of research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Funding during the Ph.D. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Life after the Ph.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Should I get a Ph.D.? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 2 2 3 4 5 6 6
3 The Application Process 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Transcript – grades and classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GRE scores . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Personal statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Previous Research Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5.1 3.5.2 3.6 3.7 Whom to ask for a letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . How to ask for a letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 8 8 9 11 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 16 17 19
Awards and Extracurriculars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How many schools should you apply to? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 Fellowship Information 4.1 4.2 Why you need to apply . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . List of fellowships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 Choosing the right Ph.D. program for you 6 Current 2002 Rankings of CS Ph.D. programs in the U.S.
2 Do I really want a Ph.D.? What does a Ph.D. entail?
2.1 What is a Ph.D.?
A Ph.D. is a long, in depth research exploration of one topic. By long we’re typicallytalking about 6 years. By in depth we mean that at the end of the Ph.D. you will be the world expert or close to it in your particular area. You will know more than your advisor about your particular research area. You will know about your research than anyone at your school. By one we mean that by the last couple years of your Ph.D., you will typically be working on only one narrow problem. ThePh.D. is not about breadth, it is about depth.
2.2 Lack of emphasis on courses
The M.S. and B.A. degrees are about breadth not depth. The main requirement in the M.S. and B.A. degrees is often a large numbers of courses. A B.A. or B.S. in CS often entails taking 3 or 4 classes 2
a semester in CS or Math or Engineering. An M.S. is similar. In contrast, a Ph.D. program typically requirestypically less than 10 courses during the entire 6 years (at CMU there are 5 required “core” courses, and 3 required “electives”). The emphasis in the Ph.D. is not on classes, but rather on research. A Ph.D. student will typically take classes only when she feels that they will be useful in her research. The classes she takes may not even be in CS at all. They may be in Statistics, Operations...
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