Graduate / Statement of Objectives for MIT. Request for assessing. [9]

ah_zafari
Unlike many Computer Science students, I wasn't in love with computer science theory from elementary school. We did have a computer, I studied programming with a self-tutor book and expected to become a software engineer. My life changed with joining the high school(Moscow Chemical Lyceum, Mathematical Department). There teachers told me that apart from applied programming, there also exists a science which describes computing in general, settles that very bounds which separate what pricipally can be computed from what cannot be.

That's why I joined the department of mathematics and not the department of computer science in Moscow Institute Of Physics and Techology(Russian University, which holds MIT as its exemplar). I received a Bachelor's Degree, defending a thesis in computer science theory(Amortized communication complexity of an equality predicate) in 2011.

Wishing to also master the engineering approach to computer science, I joined a software engineering division of the same department for my Master's program. While studying goes well, and I am finishing my engineering master's thesis: "Extracting and recognizing hand-drawn digits", I never stopped working on continuation of my Bachelor's diploma, when I had it done, I have presented it on the MIPT's conference(2012)(in Russian) and applied to present an english version on 2013 Computer Science in Russia Symposium.

Applying to a Ph.D. program, I want to continue my research in Computer Sience Theory, expecting Massachussets Institute of Technology to be the best of all options. The field I researched was Communication Complexity, and as I know, there are people in MIT who are researching on the bleeding edge of this field. I also expect to study adjacent Theory and Math. topics which may be useful for my research.

Mentioning personal qualities - there is one, which I am really proud of. Have things done in time and when needed, ahead of time. When required by extraordinary circumstances, I managed to pass all my semester exams(14) a whole month prior to the deadline. I consider this quality to be important for a researcher.

Yours, Username

Graduate / Statement of Objectives for MIT. Request for assessing. [9]

Please explain why you are a good candidate for graduate school. You should describe why you wish to attend graduate school, what you would like to study, and any research experience you have. Describe one or more accomplishments you are particularly proud of that suggest that you will succeed in your chosen area of research.

Why I am a good candidate to be admitted to MIT Ph.D. program?

The answer is simple - because I really want to write and defend a thesis in the field of computer science. I expect this answer not to be uncommon, but when I say "really", I mean that all my efforts and work will be dedicated to doing research, getting it published and aggregated in my thesis. This may be a difficult task. I am not afraid of difficult tasks. I have written and defended my B.Sc. diploma work. I am presenting it at the Computer Science in Russia 2013 Symposium. I am writing my M.Sc. thesis and I am dedicated to getting it published. I will do the same for my Ph.D. thesis whether written on a graduate program or not.

My B.Sc. topic was "Amortized communication complexity of an equality predicate". I expect to conduct research in the same(Communication Complexity) or relevant fields. They say, that Ph.D. is about depth, not width, that's why I am applying to MIT, where world leading researchers in Communication Complexity work. I also expect to study subjects relevant to broader topic of theoretical computer science(coding theory, information theory) hoping to find some not obvious connections between different parts of the computer science. Graph theory, computational complexity, discrete mathematics. I studied these during my undergrad course, and I expect to deepen my knowledge even further.

My personal quality, which I am particularly proud of is the ability go get things done when little time is available. I have an experience of getting all semester exams passed a month prior to the deadline, because a problem happened with my family and I needed to get things done as soon as possible. I expect this quality to be useful when studying on a graduate course.

I have some engineering programming experience - so that I understand the connection between theory and implementation, but researching theory, understanding the limits of the computing system, trying to broaden these limits - this is a challenge I really want to try myself in.

Graduate / Statement of Objectives for MIT. Request for assessing. [9]

I have rewritten the letter. Would anyone mind looking?

My name is Vladimir Nikishkin, I am from Russia and I am writing to apply for the Ph.D. program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Why do I want to join MIT?

The reason why I chose this university as the place for pursuing my career and study is that MIT it is one of the few English-speaking universities which conduct research in Communication Complexity, which was the topic of my graduation work. The title of my B.Sc. thesis was "Amortized communication complexity of an equality predicate." I am presenting this work at the Computer Science in Russia Symposium in July 2013.

My undergraduate institution, the MIPT, gives a broad education in the fields of physics and mathematics/computer science. Still, thay say that a Ph.D. program is about depth, not width. The faculty members at MIT are the people who not only studied the field, but the ones who used to build this field from the very beginning.

I thing, working with such people is the best possible way to enforce depth.

When I started writing my thesis I didn't know much about communication complexity. This was before the university course of Information theory. I digged through books and articles and eventually managed to find a topic I could improve.

MIT EECS is big. I hope it will be possible to learn relevant things faster because I will be able not only read through papers, but contact the faculty members conducting research in close topics.

I also hope, that my eagerness to learn and work will be helpful to the faculty members at EECS. I am always ready to help other students mastering any knowledge I posess a they want to learn.

I am able to work on a tight schedule. I proved it to myself, when an unfortunate situation happened at my family and I was obliged to leave the university campus one month earlier than the vacations begin(June). I expected to get expelled, but didn't give up. I managed to to study twice harder and finish all courses and pass all exams (10 total) the whole month earlier(April) than every other student. (Year 2011)

Graduate / Master in CS Essay [2]

On my opinion, the essay could be better.

It is very long. The sentences are long, the text is long. By quickly skimming through the text, I didn't catch the point I consider main: "Why you want to join the program?"

I mean, yes you liked computers all your life and want to join a computer department. Just like everyone else. Just like the expected reader many years ago.

By quickly looking through the text, I get that you had a CS minor, Bio major, worked as a tester.

Also, I would like to know more of what you expect from the master's program. What you expect to do|study.