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How to get Ph.D. abroad?

How does one get accepted to a Computer Science PhD program with poor grades in undergraduate and postgraduate coursework?

  • I hold a 3rd class bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and 2nd class Master's degree in Computer Science. I also happen to work in a R&D function at a university where a PhD would be useful. I have a solid interest in my proposed PhD topic. How do I convince the admissions committee to offer me a place on the PhD program? Note: I work for the same institution where I intend to complete a PhD but in a different faculty/department.

  • Answer:

    The OP is trying to get into a PhD program at the same institution where they're working. In this case, the best thing is to go talk in person with the people you already know (e.g., your R&D supervisor). There's no point acting like a typical PhD applicant because you're not -- the best and worst thing is that they know too much about you. Best because if you're very good and well-suited, then they know that without having to guess it from low-quality signals; worst because if you're not, then they know that too and can ignore the low-quality signals. The tricky thing may be getting an honest answer out of someone (your supervisor, say). They're not going to want to offend you, so even if they aren't planning to admit you, they may still let you go through the motions. It's even worse because they presumably value you as an R&D person and don't want to de-motivate or lose you. But this can become painful over the long run: you may end up getting the impression that it was just this year they couldn't admit you; should you apply again next year? Etc., etc. The best way to avoid that is to try to create a context for an honest conversation, keeping in mind that people generally dislike having to say unpleasant truths. Also, be alert to roundabout things they may say which are their way of trying to dissuade you without coming out and saying it directly. Basically, if you put the most positive spin on everything, you may just be setting yourself up for disappointment. Finally, if you've already worked there for a while, and they haven't already invited you to apply to the PhD program, there may (or may not) be a small signal content in that already.

Shriram Krishnamurthi at Quora Visit the source

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There are several ways: 1. brilliant references 2. CV  - try to gain as much relevant research experience. You can apply for research assistant posts (not that many, but you should at least try). The most important thing is the following: 3. research proposal - make sure it's something top notch, innovative, creative. Make sure you do a research proposal they can't refuse! Basically, you need to compensate for poor grades. Also, it might be relevant to explain why you got those poor grades. I'm sure the admissions officers would like to understand why this happened and how you overcame this issue. Remember: always show improvement in a personal statement. Good luck!

Anonymous

I overcame my consistently poor grades by doing exceptionally well on the GRE and by having letters of recommendation that emphasized my research abilities.  If you're known as someone who is continually coming up with novel ideas and who has a track record in successfully executing them then you start looking like a good risk for someone to take on as a Ph.D. student.  If you don't have that background but your GRE scores are in the top 5% or so, you're a larger risk but it's still plausible. If you don't have the grades, the research track record or the GRE skills, then I think you should be asking yourself why someone should pay you to learn how to be a professional researcher. The most straightforward path for you would be to start taking CompSci classes and start collaborating with potential Ph.D. advisors for free.  If you spend a couple of years doing this and they're seeing that you have the skills (and obviously have the dedication), then they can have high confidence that you'll succeed if you're doing this work full time as a Ph.D. student.

Barry Rountree

This depends if you are in staff or faculty position. If you are staff, you most likely have benefits that allow you to take courses and pursue degrees. If you are faculty, you can audit classes from colleagues but not take them for credit. Assuming that you are in a staff position, the way to enter a doctoral program from within the University is to pass the qualifying exams, and when you are a PhD candidate, formally choose a thesis advisor. So your goal is not to be admitted into the PhD program but to take the qualifying exams. You can achieve this by auditing  and/or taking courses that prepares you for the qualifying examines and taking all courses and seminars from your potential thesis advisor. This requires a lot of networking with the chairman and the faculty to determine a thesis advisor, and it is this thesis advisor that help you to take the qualifying exam.

J. Lee Anthony

You need to compensate what you lack with something else like work experience or skills that are related to the program you are applying for, relevant research (if any), and recommendations from people who matter in the academic world. Keep your options open by applying to several schools. See this list of the http://bitly.com/1tAKBG1.

Juan Cruz

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