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How to apply to a Korean university?

Can a person apply again to a top 10 university's PhD program if he/she failed the qualifying exam for the second time? If so, how?

  • I failed at the first try of my qualifying exam and after that I took a course in computer science and became so interested in data mining and want to continue my PhD in computer science or computer engineering in the field of data mining, machine learning and social network data analysis. Although I didn't pass at the second try of the qualifying exam and they told me I am not considered to be a PhD student anymore last week, I will earn a master degree in electrical and computer engineering with a GPA of 3.5 . My current university is ranked about 11ish and I would like to continue my PhD studies in a university with similar ranking, however I didn't apply this fall because my guts told me I will definitely get accepted for the quals. Now I am not even accepted and haven't applied and really don't want to make such a huge gap between my studies because if I apply again, the soonest I can get into the grad programs for most of the schools would be fall 2015. What are your suggestions for someone who is really interested in her research field and want to definitely continue? I don't have any publication in the new research field which I really like but I have two papers published in a mediocre (not very well-known) conference in the field of computer architecture. I have also another master in computer engineering (emphasis on computer architecture) with a GPA of 3.55 (17.88 out of 20) from the best university in my home country before coming to this stellar university in USA. However I don't have any publication in my current research field as it's yet infant, less that 6 month but I have two surveys. Unfortunately I don't have any job experience now but I have a lot of teaching, tutoring and instructorship experiences. Please let me know what will be my best shot

  • Answer:

    It's not uncommon for someone to get a master's degree first, then go for a PhD. So pretend that's what you did. Say you got a Master's, and now want a PhD. Don't admit that you failed your quals unless you have no choice: nobody wants a failure, regardless of what they failed at. You will not be able to apply for the same school you are currently in, but can always apply to another. Whether you get in is another story, but I guess you will be as competitive as any other person with your grades and educational background. Apply wherever you wish, but if you get in this time make sure you pass your qualifying exam!

Matan Shelomi at Quora Visit the source

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I'm sure you can apply, but I would guess that your chances are not good. Considering you didn't pass your quals, what makes you think you'll be able to be successful at a PhD given another chance? Without more details, it's hard to give you an answer to your question. If anything, I would have expected you to try to apply to lower ranked schools. I'm not sure that you'll be able to hide the fact that you failed your quals. Given that you went to a top school, it's not unlikely that schools you're applying to will ask people they know from your former school about you. Also, it will likely be suspicious that you don't have recommendations from your former school.

Daniel Lo

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