Hi,
I'm applying for MSCS in 2017 fall, and would love your suggestions and help. I'm in my final year B.Tech (2013-2017 batch).
GRE - 318 Quants - 165 Verbal - 153 AWA - 4
A bit worried about this as my lowest mock test score of the 12 I had taken was 322. And the max was 328. I thought the drop in the score (esp quants) must've been because of following different strategy at the exam. Should I consider writing it again?
TOEFL - yet to take
UG - Amrita School of Engineering - Coimbatore
CGPA till 6th sem - 8.61/10. Toppers grade - 9.7
Certifications:
• Java J2EE Certified (2011 – in 11th std)
• Typing (Lower) (2009 – in 9th std)
TECHNICAL
• Published an app on Google Play Store - RealTime Downloads Checker - which updates the number of downloads and scrapes data from the user's mobile and updates it in real time with some data displayed in bar and pie chart with backend service running live on server
• Worked on projects out of self-interest – configured laptop into a bitcoin mining rig
• Ventured into freelancing and completed many programming projects, all with 5-star rating (around 10)
• Created an informative website and hosted on server
• Participated in many online coding contests in Codeforces, Codechef etc.(Hobby- serious only recently)
• Tweaking and trying multiple custom ROMs in Android (Hobby)
• Internship for 45 days at a startup (hybrid mobile application development )
ACADEMIC
• Amrita University Scholarship of Rs.50000 per Annum for 4 years based on performance in entrance exam
• Secured school first in National Maths and Science Olympiad in 10th
• Secured city first in National Science Olympiad in 9th
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
• Participated in State Level Football selection and qualified to last 30
• Won gold medals in 100m dash in school for 7 years, Won 5 gold and 1 silver medal in long jump
No research experience or papers.
Currently placed in GE Digital (the company was started only in 2015 - a subsidiary of GE) with a considerably high compensation too. (If joining, the date will be June 2017)
I didn't bloat any info, I've done a lot of smaller projects but these are the ones worth mentioning.
Shortlisted univs (MS CS):
UC Los Angeles
UC San Diego
University of Southern California
Georgia Tech
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara
Arizona State University
Stony Brook University
I understand that my univ list might be a bit on the upper end but I'm willing to take the risk. Any suggestions on improving my chances in them are welcome. And any top 50-100 univ which gives a bit less emphasis on research in an applicant's profile (I'm asking this because they don't explicitly mention this in their sites) ?
And should I mention that I've been placed in a good company in my SOP to draw credibility to my application? Or where do I mention it?
And should we upload our resume along with the application? Will there be an option?
Any help would be greatly appreciated guys. Thanks in advance
Tagging seniors,
@[MSinCS14]
@[The_Observer]
@[bigkeydi]
@[pulkitsachdeva]
@[Krishnendu999]
I'm applying for MSCS in 2017 fall, and would love your suggestions and help. I'm in my final year B.Tech (2013-2017 batch).
GRE - 318 Quants - 165 Verbal - 153 AWA - 4
A bit worried about this as my lowest mock test score of the 12 I had taken was 322. And the max was 328. I thought the drop in the score (esp quants) must've been because of following different strategy at the exam. Should I consider writing it again?
TOEFL - yet to take
UG - Amrita School of Engineering - Coimbatore
CGPA till 6th sem - 8.61/10. Toppers grade - 9.7
Certifications:
• Java J2EE Certified (2011 – in 11th std)
• Typing (Lower) (2009 – in 9th std)
TECHNICAL
• Published an app on Google Play Store - RealTime Downloads Checker - which updates the number of downloads and scrapes data from the user's mobile and updates it in real time with some data displayed in bar and pie chart with backend service running live on server
• Worked on projects out of self-interest – configured laptop into a bitcoin mining rig
• Ventured into freelancing and completed many programming projects, all with 5-star rating (around 10)
• Created an informative website and hosted on server
• Participated in many online coding contests in Codeforces, Codechef etc.(Hobby- serious only recently)
• Tweaking and trying multiple custom ROMs in Android (Hobby)
• Internship for 45 days at a startup (hybrid mobile application development )
ACADEMIC
• Amrita University Scholarship of Rs.50000 per Annum for 4 years based on performance in entrance exam
• Secured school first in National Maths and Science Olympiad in 10th
• Secured city first in National Science Olympiad in 9th
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
• Participated in State Level Football selection and qualified to last 30
• Won gold medals in 100m dash in school for 7 years, Won 5 gold and 1 silver medal in long jump
No research experience or papers.
Currently placed in GE Digital (the company was started only in 2015 - a subsidiary of GE) with a considerably high compensation too. (If joining, the date will be June 2017)
I didn't bloat any info, I've done a lot of smaller projects but these are the ones worth mentioning.
Shortlisted univs (MS CS):
UC Los Angeles
UC San Diego
University of Southern California
Georgia Tech
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara
Arizona State University
Stony Brook University
I understand that my univ list might be a bit on the upper end but I'm willing to take the risk. Any suggestions on improving my chances in them are welcome. And any top 50-100 univ which gives a bit less emphasis on research in an applicant's profile (I'm asking this because they don't explicitly mention this in their sites) ?
And should I mention that I've been placed in a good company in my SOP to draw credibility to my application? Or where do I mention it?
And should we upload our resume along with the application? Will there be an option?
Any help would be greatly appreciated guys. Thanks in advance
Tagging seniors,
@[MSinCS14]
@[The_Observer]
@[bigkeydi]
@[pulkitsachdeva]
@[Krishnendu999]