CS Graduate Program FAQ

Getting Information and Applying

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 March.

The MSE deadline for Spring 2008 is September 28 for international applicants.
The MSE deadline for Spring 2008 is December 14th for US citizens, and permanent residents.

The PhD deadline for Fall 2008 is December 14th for RA & TA positions.
The MSE deadline for Fall 2008 is February 1st for international applicants.
The MSE deadline for Fall 2008 is May 16th for US citizens, and permanent residents.
The application will be available for submission on or about August 15, 2007.

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Q: If I do not get accepted as a PhD student, can I then change my application to the MSE program?

A: Yes, decisions on our PhD admissions will be made before we begin reviewing MSE applications. If you are not accepted to the PhD program, you should email Cathy Thornton (cthornton@jhu.edu) to request that we consider you for admission to the MSE program.

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

A: The application is online and you can upload most of your supporting documents into the application. We receive GRE and TOEFL scores directly from ETS. All of the supporting documents you mail will be scanned into an electronic 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 (two for MSE applicants) 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.

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Q: Where should I send any paper documents that support my application?

A: Paper documents should be sent to:
Johns Hopkins University
Graduate Admissions Office
3400 N. Charles Street, Whitehead 101
Baltimore MD 21218

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 interest list. For this reason we encourage you to upload or 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.

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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.

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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 (links to online versions are better) rather than full papers or reports. We don't have the time to read very much since we receive over 400 PhD applications and 200 MSE applications.

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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).

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

A: This and other information concerning Standardized Testing can be found at the ETS GRE Website.

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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.

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

A: All non-native English speakers MUST take the TOEFL exam. Neither the TWE nor the TSE is required, but is recommended.

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Q: Do you accept the IELTS test?

A: The department of Computer Science does accept IELTS.

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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 application, or fax them to us at 410-516-6134. If you are accepted you will have to submit original reports if we cannot verify your scores with ETS, the score reporting service for GRE/TOEFL.

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

A: The scores 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.

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Q: Is there any minimum score required on the GRE or TOEFL exams in order to apply for either program?

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.

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Transcripts

Q: Can I submit copies of transcripts?

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

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Application Fees

Q: What is the application fee?

A: There is a modest 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.

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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. We much prefer that you request that your recommenders submit their recommendations online and the application allows you to submit three letters online. Others can be mailed.

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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.

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

A: The online application accomodates recommenders' online submissions. Since we will be scanning all paper supporting documents, we very strongly urge our applicants to have recommendations submitted online. Choosing this option in the application will trigger an email to your recommender with explicit instructions on how to submit. If your recommenders cannot submit online, recommendations can be sent on paper, faxed (our fax # is 410-516-6134), or emailed to admissions@cs.jhu.edu (with your name in the subject field).

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

A: The official form is a part of the online recommendation. 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.

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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 for various reasons. Since we do not have to fund 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.

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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.

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

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

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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 can become a PhD candidate.

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QUESTIONS FOR THE MSE DEGREE PROGRAM ONLY

Q: Do you have a masters program?

A: Yes, we offer an MSE degree. It is possible to complete the program in one year (including a summer) if you already have a strong background. The average length of time to complete is three semesters. One advantage of our MSE program is that 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!

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

A: Full-time working professionals should apply to 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 and during the summer at several locations in the Baltimore-Washington area, leading to the MS degree. Telephone 410-516-8278 for more information, and check out the web page at http://www.epp.jhu.edu/. 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. Keep in mind, however, that the University has a residency requirement. YOU MUST BE A FULL-TIME STUDENT FOR AT LEAST TWO CONSECUTIVE SEMESTERS to qualify for a degree from the day school.

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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.

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