Understanding Admissions: Getting into the Top Graduate Schools in Computer Science and Engineering

If you're serious about maximizing your chances of admission to a PhD program in Computer Science or Engineering, this book, written by current and former university faculty, is an essential resource. In many cases, graduate admissions committees are not looking for the specifics undergraduates think they are - in this book the authors use their experience in poring over hundreds of successful (and countless more unsuccessful) applications to provide a clear guide for what works and what doesn't. The book discusses all of the core elements of a graduate application and the role each plays in the review process. In eleven chapters, the authors cover everything an applicant needs to know to maximize their chance of admission: the decision to apply, seeking advice, where to apply, what schools are looking for in an application, high-yield undergraduate activities, requesting letters of recommendation writing the personal statement, selecting a research area, and the keys to a successful first year.