A: http://www.cs.jhu.edu/academics_pros_grad.html. If you have web access, be sure to look at this department web page to learn about the latest research activities within the department. Remember, 90% of a good graduate education is based on having a good advisor. For a packet of information that includes an application, send e-mail to admissions@cs.jhu.edu.

Q: When must I have all application materials in by?

A: The deadlines are outlined in the matrix below. Any information received after that point has a chance of not being taken into account in the review of your application. However, as soon as the information is received it will be placed in your folder and thus may be used. Final decisions are not made until February.

The PhD deadline for Fall 2007 is January 15th for RA & TA positions.
The MSE deadline for Fall 2007 is March 1st for international applicants.
The MSE deadline for Fall 2007 is July 1st for US citizens, and permanent residents.
The MSE deadline for Spring 2008 is October 15st for international applicants.
The MSE deadline for Spring 2008 is December 15th for US citizens, and permanent residents.

Q: Is there any way I can apply in the fall for spring admission?

A: Yes, applications received by October 1 marked as for spring admission will be considered. If you are admitted you will be notified in mid November and may start studies in the spring semester (late January start date). You should be warned that the chance of getting support for PhD studies is less in this case.

Q: How should the application form be filled out, and other material sent?

A: All of the information you send will be placed in a folder, and the faculty will read this folder. Your job is to construct a folder that will impress the faculty. The main thing to avoid is leaving out key materials, including GRE's, personal statement, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation which include the rating table. However, we will still look at your folder even if it is missing some of this information: if you already have 10 publications in major computer science journals, we don't need your GRE's or transcripts, because based on that information alone you will almost certainly succeed in our graduate program.

Getting Accepted

Q: What does it take to get accepted into the PhD program?

A: The four areas we weigh are, in rough order of importance: letters of recommendation, your record of projects or research, undergraduate institution and transcript, and GRE scores.

Q: What do you look for in letters?

A: First we consider the source of the letter. A letter from your cousin who happens to teach at a two-year college is weighed significantly less than a letter from a researcher at a top computer science school! Next, we look for evidence of research potential. In particular, evidence of outstanding performance in past projects is of high importance. Somewhat less important is evidence of outstanding ability in the classroom. A good letter writer should know you well and be able to rank you very favorably in comparison with your peers.

Q: Do you look at the transcripts?

A: Yes, we do. First we look at the school. For better or for worse, it makes a large difference whether you are from a top school or a second-tier school. Your grades are also important, primarily your grades in CS courses during the last two years of undergraduate study.

Q: How do you weigh other experience, such as research, projects, or employment?

A: Previous research experience is the easiest way to be placed on the top of the applicant pile. For this reason we encourage you to send detailed information on your past research experience if you have any. Projects performed for classes, as part of a job, or on your own are also important, in particular if the projects are research-related. Make sure to include a description of these projects with your application. Previous teaching experience also improves your chances.

Q: What role does the personal statement play?

A: Personal statements are very important, as it allows us to better form a picture of each applicant, and convince us that you have the attitude needed to succeed in a PhD program.

Q: Can I include extra information with my application?

A: We encourage you to include any information that you think will help us make a more accurate assessment of your abilities. However, it is generally better to give short abstracts of papers or projects rather than full papers or reports. We don't have the time to read very much since we receive on the order of 300 applications.

ETS and the GRE and TOEFL exams

Q: What are the Institution/Department codes for the GRE and TOEFL exams?

A: Our institution code is (5332) for both the GRE and TOEFL exams. Our department code for TOEFL is (78) and for GRE is (0402).

Q: How do I find out where I can take the GRE exam?

A: Call 800-GRE-CALL in the USA. There are now many locations where the basic GRE exams may be taken every day. The advanced exam is not offered in this fashion, however. ETS also has information on-line at http://www.gre.org/, including information on international testing centers.

Q: What are the departmental requirements for the GRE exams?

A: The aptitude GRE is required for MSE and PhD applicants, and the advanced subject exam is strongly recommended for PhD applicants. The advanced exam need not be in CS, but the CS advanced exam is preferred.

Q: What are the departmental requirements for the TOEFL/TWE exams?

A: All non-native English speakers must take the TOEFL exam. The TWE is not required, but is recommended.

Q: Can I submit copies of GRE or TOEFL score reports with my application, and avoid the fees ETS charges?

A: Yes, copies will be tolerated, BUT if you are accepted into the program and wish to enroll, you may need to provide an original GRE/TOEFL report. If you would like to send us a copy of the report that the GRE/TOEFL sent you for application purposes, include them in your aplication, or fax them to us at 410-516-6134. If you are accepted you may have to submit original reports if we cannot verify your scores with ETS, the score reporting service for GRE/TOEFL.

Q: How long in the past can I have taken the GRE for the scores to still be acceptable?

A: For a MSE application, they can be old. For PhD applicants, they must be new enough that ETS still considers them valid and will provide an official score report. Currently, the ETS sets this limit at five years.

Q: Is there any cutoff for GRE or TOEFL exams?

A: No, we avoid rigid cutoffs, but if your Verbal GRE score is below 500 your application must be absolutely outstanding in other respects to be seriously considered.

Transcripts

Q: Can I submit copies of transcripts?

A: Yes. Just as with GRE scores, we will accept transcript copies (fax or xerox) but an official transcript is needed before you can enroll in the program.

Application Fees

Q: What is the application fee?

A: There is a mandatory $25 application fee for prospective graduate students applying to the Dept. of Computer Science. We have kept the fee affordable to encourage potential students to apply.

Letters of Recommendation

Q: How many letters should I get?

A: For PhD applicants three, and for MSE applicants two. You are encouraged to solicit up to five letters.

Q: Can my recommenders be outside of academia?

A: If you have worked for several years, it is expected that some of the letters will come from non-academic sources. What should be avoided is having mostly non-academic letter writers when your last several years have been in academia, and vice-versa.

Q: Can I have recommenders send letters by fax or e-mail?

A: Either of these mediums is fine (our fax # is 410-516-6134, e-mail them to admissions@cs.jhu.edu with your name in the subject field), but if you are accepted into the program and wish to enroll, we will need signed paper copies of the forms. You may also fax or e-mail GRE scores and transcripts, again with the same caveat.

Q: Do you require that your official form be used for letters of recommendation?

A: No, letters will be accepted even if the official form is not used. However, we strongly encourage the form to be used because it includes a table which provides us with additional information. If you are having letters sent by e-mail, we would like you to ask your recommenders to type out the information the table on the form asks for.

Financial Aid

Q: What are my odds of getting financial aid if I am admitted to the PhD program?

A: Basically 100%. There are occasional exceptions where people are already in the area and do not require financial aid because e.g. their spouse has a job. Since we do not have to pay such students, their applications are given a slight preference. So, if you have reasons not to seek financial aid, please indicate so on your application.

Q: What kind of financial aid will I get?

A: Nearly all first-year PhD students in the department are given teaching assistantships (TA). A few students are given fellowships, and a few start directly as research assistants (RA). By their third year, nearly all students are supported by an RA-ship from an individual professor.

Q: How about financial aid if admitted to the MSE program?

A: MSE students may be given a tuition waiver between 10% and 50%, with 50% being alumni. MSE students are never given a stipend of any form.

Q: If I am admitted only to the MSE program but wish to get a PhD, what can I do?

A: If you satisfy all the qualifying requirements for the PhD and a professor wishes to serve as your PhD thesis advisor and secure financial support for your research, you will become a PhD candidate.

Questions for the MSE degree only

Q: Do you have a masters program?

A: Yes, we offer an MSE degree. It is also possible to complete the program in one year (including a summer) if you already have a strong background. One advantage of our MSE program is it is relatively small, so unlike some of the more well-known masters programs, you will be in classes of 20-30 students, not 200-300!

Q: I work full-time in the Baltimore area. How can I get a masters degree through Hopkins?

A: We recommend that people working full-time enroll in JHU's Engineering Programs for Professionals (EPP). This is a completely separate program from the day school, and offers a large number of computer science courses in the evening at several locations in the Baltimore-Washington area, leading to the MS degree. Telephone 410-516-8278 for more information, or check out the web page. The exception to this rule is if you are considering continuing on to a PhD; in this case you should enroll in the day program (our program) if you can.

For More Information

Q: My question is not on the list. What do I do?

A: Make sure to look at the official application instructions for domestic and foreign students. If you have questions about the Computer Science program requirements, the Graduate Program description in the catalogue is the official source. Note, the answers in this FAQ are more current than the answers found in the official documents. If answers to your questions still cannot be found, please e-mail admissions@cs.jhu.edu.

If you are a dedicated and talented student who actively seeks to expand his or her horizons, WE WANT YOU in our Graduate Program!