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My graduate schools application (2019 Fall)

Brief info. about me

I am a student at a university in Hong Kong. I chose programs in computational biology, statistics, and bioinformatics at Europe and North America. I applied for master programs three different areas in US: stat, CS, bioinformatics. I got admitted by Data Science (NYU, Duke), Statistics (Columbia), Computational biology (CMU, ETH, Leiden).

GRE: 319 (V150, Q169, W3.5) TOEFL: 106 (R29 L30 S20 W27) wGPA: 3.67 / 4.00 Competitions: None Recommendation from top: None

In all, I would say my profile is pretty average in the pool and I am quite satisfied with the results. I would like to share my experience and hopefully this can help others looking for graduate in the future.

I did not put the document containing my personal info. in this repository so if you need something just email me and I will get to you asap.

Document required or used during application

It's a good idea to get a folder for each program and keep the "universal" files under other folders for easy management.

  1. Course description: Some schools like ETH, UZH would ask for all the courses you've taken or will be taking. Better prepare one at the first place and it really doesn't matter if you're taking those courses at the last semester.
  2. Letter of Recommendation: This could easily be the most important materials during the application since the standard tests for all application do not differ that much I guess !. If you've got yourself a STRONG letter for one of the top faculties or top leaders in the field, you are pretty much set for the application. But for norms like me, it's simply better to get the endorsement from someone that is close to you and have sent a considerate amount of time working with you. It is also crucial to make sure they do not say anything negative in the letter. I didn't attached mine for the sack of privacy
  3. CV: Just use a template and it's available all over the Internet. DO NOT try anything fancy. Just list out all the things you participated and contributed.
  4. Standard Test: Always keep a digital copy for easy uploading.
  5. Transcripts: Nothing to say but you need to submit all the grades: exchange, summer schools, etc. But I heard some would not report summer schools if they don't have a good grade.
  6. Research Proposal: Writing sample and proposals are must for PhD but not for all master unless it is research-oriented but there exist very few those master as far as I know for computational biologist.
  7. Other Files: Financial statement/bank statement and other specfic files.
  8. Make sure you write down the details of your address, info. about who recommend you, Test score in a plain text file because you have to copy and paste a lot of time.

North America

(ADM) 2017-12-15 哥伦比亚大学 (Columbia University): MA in Statistics

Test School Department Status
GRE 2162 N/A Sent
TOEFL 4256 N/A Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

Extra

Rolling basis

The first deadline for submitting the deposit is Feb 28, I ask for an extension for a month. Not gonna go because of the high tuition fee.

Good for someone in Financial industry and want to enhance their quantative background. For me, they have a strong list of PhD courses such as modern analysis, probability theory. But all things considered, I just don't want to take intro. to probability again and go over some of the math course maybe in more or less details. Overall, good for someone who to develop or build a foundation in quantitative science.

(ADM) 2017-12-15 卡内基梅隆大学 (CMU): Msc in Computational Biology

Test School Department Status
GRE 2074 N/A Sent
TOEFL 2074 N/A Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

Extra

Got an interview for my speaking, probably due to my low TOEFL scores. It went well and I got a small scholarship of 3,000 dollar. Good for someone who really want to continue research/career in computational biology field.

Good for someone who wants to further dig in the field of computational biology (NOT CS). My guess is that it won't be so easy for someone coming from this program to find a software engineer job. But great if you consider going into this field as a data analyst or PhD perhaps. The pay is actually decent.

(ADM) 2017-12-15 杜克大学 (Duke University): Master in Interdisciplinary Data Science

Test School Department Status
GRE N/A N/A
TOEFL N/A N/A

Important Dates

Extra

Admitted ! I hesitated so long between this and the ETH and I chose ETH. I guessed I am just not optimistic about the data science hype right now.

(ADM) 2017-12-15 纽约大学(NYU): Msc in Data Science

Test School Department Status
GRE   2596   N/A       Sent
TOEFL 2596 N/A Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Extra

Different tracks available during application but successful applicants may switch tracks once admitted. (At least that's what I heard from other).

Update at mid April, it is not a nice move that they offered now since I have made the decision and most schools set their decision deadline at Apr 15. Not cool! Not cool at all! NYU

(REJ)2017-12-15 耶鲁大学 (Yale): Msc in Statistics

Test School Department Status
GRE 3987 N/A Sent
TOEFL 3987 N/A Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

Extra

Application guideline

I am not at all surprised since the large number of applicants and the lack of stat. background ? Someone told me they select only a handful each year and this MA is actually a very very small program while some of them are from PhD. Having known that, I would probably have gone for other stat program. :(

(REJ) 2017-12-15 纽约大学坦登工程学院 (NYU Tandon): Msc in Computer Science

Test School Department Status
GRE 2668 N/A Sent
TOEFL 2668 78 Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

Extra

All the official transcripts needed

No surprise at all given the heat in CS nowadays. Applied for this just looking forward to landing a decent job in NYC.

(NA) 2017-12-15 南加大 (USC): Msc in Computer Science (Scientists and Engineers)

Test School Department Status
GRE 4852 N/A Sent
TOEFL 4852 N/A Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

2017-12-15: Fall 2018 (Scholarship Consideration Deadline) Online application & transcripts

2018-01-17: Fall 2018 (Final Deadline) All materials including testscores

Extra

Toefl requirement USC’s institution code is 4852. (No department code is required.)

Decided to discontinue from the application after reviewing the course materials and some classmates. Stop sending official transcripts at Early Jan. 2018

(REJ) 2017-12-15 卡内基梅隆大学 (CMU): Msc in Biotechnology Innovation and Computation

Test School Department Status
GRE 2074 N/A Sent
TOEFL 2074 N/A Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

Extra

This program has changed from BIC to Artificial Intelligence and Entrepreneurship. My friend got admitted but my first priority is Computational Biology and they probably stop reviewing your materials after you've been offered another program at the same school.

It's really career-based and I am quite confident this Master will help you land a job easily. Good! But it's probably gonna be much more competitive next year considering the wave of AI bull sh$t.

(REJ) 2018-01-15 伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-尚佩恩分校(UIUC) Msc in Bioinformatics

Test School Department Status
GRE N/A N/A Not required
TOEFL 1836 N/A Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

2018-03-15: Decision deadline

Extra

Please describe your previous academic work in your proposed field of study and include a personal statement regarding your goals for graduate study and a professional career. Please also describe any relevant research experience and what you have learned from it, and other educational and life experiences that you feel are important and relevant. If you have specific interests in your proposed field of study or are interested in working with any particular faculty members, please tell us about them.

Word maximums may vary by program. Please review program application instructions for more information.

I am applying to the M.S. or Ph.D. program. Am I required to provide three faculty names in the CS Interest Form?

This is not required. But, we strongly encourage you to identify at least three CS faculty with whom you might want to work if admitted. Please explore the CS faculty profiles on our website if you are not familiar with the research interests of our faculty. CS faculty are also listed by research area.

Got rejected. Will ask them why. But my guess is the lack of cs courses. This program is quite CS concentrated.

Compared to the computational biology at CMU, this definitely will help a lot when I was considering a job at the tech companies. But in that way, they perfer someone with a CS degree I guess!

(REJ) 2017-12-15 麦吉尔大学 (McGill University): Msc in Biostatistics

Test School Department Status
GRE N/A N/A Not required
TOEFL N/A N/A Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

Extra

Got rejected for no apparent reasons. Piss! since I don't even want to go at the first place.

(REJ) 2018-01-19 多伦多大学 (University of Toronto): Msc in Applied Computing

Test School Department Status
GRE 0982 0402 Sent
TOEFL 0982 78 Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

2018-01-01: Application deadline

Extra

FAQ

Saw it coming! I have no chance of getting in this... Do not attempt CS master if you have no experience.

(NA) 2018-01-15 SFU: Msc in Computer Science (Bioinformatics)

Contacted the professor via email. Skype once early Jan 2018. But the system says I cancel the application. WOW! No idea what happen.

Euro

(ADM) 2017-12-15 苏黎世联邦理工学院(ETHz): Msc in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

Test School Department Status
GRE   N/A   N/A         Sent
TOEFL 0982   N/A         Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

2017-12-15: Application deadline

Extra

Scholarship

Two letter of recommedation in application package can aslo be reviewed by the scholarship application committee.

Can be submitted in a single envelop.

Online application form

中文文件的证明要求

Document

Describe all the courses under 500 characters each.

HHHHHHHH. I got admitted!

(ADM) 2018-04-01 莱顿大学(University of Leiden): Msc in Computer Science (Bioinformatics)

Test School Department Status
GRE N/A N/A Not required
TOEFL N/A Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

2018-04-01: Deadline

Extra

Rolling basis. Too late when the decision is made early april.

(REJ) 2018-02-15 苏黎世大学(UZH): Msc in Biostatistics

Test School Department Status
GRE N/A N/A Not required
TOEFL 0982 N/A Not sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

Extra

Need to submit and get approved by the department first before going to the admission committee

Documents required:

  1. application form
  2. motivation letter
  3. complete CV
  4. complete set of transcripts and diplomas: non-legalized copies are sufficient in the first step
  5. detailed description of all your undergraduate (and graduate) mathematical classes: not only the title but a least a table of contents, ideally with number of total contact hours and as much information as possible on the grading system for international applicants
  6. one letter of recommendation (sent directly to masterbiostat(at)math.uzh.ch)
  7. finance plan (containing costs vs. income, e.g. using budget sheets from Google Docs)
  8. proof of a sufficient level in English: where applicable
  9. optional: any additional information that might be relevant for the evaluation of your application (e.g. scientific or technical publications or awards, previous graduate studies, professional experience, reference letters etc.)

FUCK U! Why rejection? No idea!? I think I am more than qualified for this program.

(REJ) 2018-01-15 瑞典皇家工学院(KTH): Msc in Molecular Techniques in Life Science

Test School Department Status
GRE N/A N/A Not required
TOEFL 3477 N/A Sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

All application will be make through universityadmissions.

General info. need to be submitted once but university-specific files may vary.

All sweden university reject me and it says that the credits are not up to their standard. Werid but never mind. Their programs are not that appealing though.

Important Dates

2018-04-06: Notification of selection results

Extra

Additional Documents required more:

  1. CV
  2. Letters of recommendation
  3. Description of and documented relevant work experience, if any.
  4. Summary sheet

DO NOT APPLY

(REJ) 2018-01-15 隆德大学(Lund University): Msc in Bioinformatics

Apply together with KTH.

Info

Additional Documents required:

  1. Summary sheet

DO NOT APPLY

(REJ) 2018-01-15 乌普萨拉大学(Uppsala University): Msc in Bioinformatics (Biology background)

Apply together with KTH.

Info

Additional Documents required:

  1. Statement of purpose (1 page)

DO NOT APPLY

Honorable Mentions

(NA) 2018-02-01 滑铁卢大学 (University of Waterloo): MMath in Biostatistics (Co-op)

Test School Department Status
GRE N/A N/A Not required
TOEFL N/A N/A Not required

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

Extra

OUAC

Withdraw at the middle of the application. I don't know why...

(NA) 2018-03-** 剑桥大学 (University of Cambridge): MPhil in Computational Biology

Test School Department Status
GRE N/A N/A Not required
TOEFL N/A Not sent

Rolling basis

Info

Please note we DO NOT process test reports sent to us directly from IELTS or TOEFL.

No comment since I haven't done any research for this program.

(NA) 2018-01-15 英属哥伦比亚大学 (University of British Columbia): Msc in Statistics (Biostatistics track)

Test School Department Status
GRE N/A N/A Not required
TOEFL 0965 N/A Not sent

Info

Curriculum

Apply online

Important Dates

Extra

Stopped the application for no reasons. I must be crazy at that moment.

Second Bachelor

I apply this thinking that I might not get admitted into any of the schools above. That is not going help the process and just stay confident about yourself. SO don't apply for the so-called second bachelor program. Get a transfer earlier or just apply for jobs in the first place

(NA) 2018-01-15 UBC: Second Bachelor of Computer Science

TOEFL sent

https://www.cs.ubc.ca/students/undergrad/programs/second-degree/how-apply

DO NOT APPLY, It is undergraduate all over again.

(NA) 2018-01-15 SFU: Second Bachelor of Computer Science

TOEFL sent

https://www.sfu.ca/computing/current-students/undergraduate-students/programs/second-degree-in-computing-science.html

DO NOT APPLY, It is undergraduate all over again.

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