Can I get into Harvard, Caltech, Wisconsin, Stanford or Berkeley computer science PhD programs?
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I have a 3.9 GPA, physics and computer science degree, and scored 91% quantitative and 84% verbal GRE. I have conducted a good amount of physics research, no publications however, but have very little computer science research experience. I would like to get a PhD in computer science. My letters of recommendation will be alright. What are my chances of getting into Harvard, Berkley, Caltech, Wisconsin, or Stanford computer science PhD programs?
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Answer:
Your GREs need to be higher, CS programs expe...
Eric Frank at Quora Visit the source
Other answers
Your numbers sound good. Your best bet is probably to apply to work with a group looking for a programmer with a physics background. Speak with your recommenders about which CS programs they think you should apply to. Everyone who applies to Top 10 schools has excellent qualifications. The factor which differentiates those who get admitted from those who don't is primarily recommendation letters.
Nikita Butakov
Unless you're at a foreign university (in which case you should take and score high on the CS GRE), those are so-so GRE scores. They're looking for 98+ quantitative, highish verbal (unless you're ESL). Your physics research will be a nice bonus, but you need to convince them that you know CS and have a passion for it and can do good CS research. What's the best CS stuff you can show them (course projects, internships or other portfolio-worthy work is what I mean). If your physics research was more computational, that's much better. Apply to all these places, be happy if you get in but be prepared not to.
Jacob Jensen
Your numbers are good enough; GPA and GRE are (generally speaking) a bar to get over, and no one is going to care about your math GRE "only" being in the 91st percentile since you (presumably) have a solid background in physics. It's hard to give you a straight answer without more detail. For example, if you were going into quantum computing and your undergraduate physics research was reasonably closely related to quantum computing, your chances will be good. Likewise for scientific computing. If you want to do a computer science PhD in operating systems, your chances won't be great, as you don't have background in the area. It's also hard to comment without knowing what sort of an undergraduate institution you are at; if your research experience was at a school with solid programs in physics/CS, your application will be more impressive. I would note that your biggest problem is that your letters of recommendation are only "alright." If your research advisors are enthusiastic about you and your potential as a researcher, this will help to clear concerns about switching fields.
Frank Nothaft
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