Dear Prospective Computer Science Graduate Program Applicant:

The Department of Computer Science welcomes applications for admission to the graduate program in Computer Science from highly-qualified applicants interested in obtaining research-based advanced training leading to a Ph.D. in Computer Science. The department also offers an M.S. degree in Computer Science. The Department has strong research programs in Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Complexity Theory and Complex Systems, Databases, Parallel and Distributed Computing, Programming Languages, Multimedia Systems, Networks, Robotics, Software Engineering, and Theory of Computing. Information about the graduate program in Computer Science, faculty research interests, and degree requirements can be found at: http://www.cs.iastate.edu/.

In addition to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science, interdepartmental Ph.D. programs in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCB) , Human Computer Interaction and Neuroscience and an M.S. program in Information Assurance offer additional opportunities for research-based training of Computer Scientists. Students interested in pursuing these opportunities should apply for admission to the respective intedepartmental program as well. Information about these programs can be found on the respective websites.

We would like to bring to your attention the following items that often prevent students from completing applications or beginning a graduate program in our department:

1. The required application fee. Payment of the fee must be made in U.S. currency. Applications will not be processed without the necessary fee. NO FEE WAIVERS ARE POSSIBLE.
2. Admission to the graduate program in Computer Science is highly competitive. The very high admission standards and resource limitations often prevent the admission of all but the most qualified applicants. Applicants are strongly urged to carefully review the admission criteria before they apply. Meeting admission criteria does not guarantee admission. In 2003, a typical year, only the top 10% of our 825 applicants were admitted and of those, fewer than 25 were offered assistantships.
3. With the large volume of mail and email we receive, it is impossible for us to respond to your individual questions and requests for assessment of prospects of admission or financial aid before evaluation of applications has been completed. Under NO circumstances do we waive the official GRE, TOEFL, and OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS, or THREE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION. All of these must be received by the deadline (January 1 for Fall; September 1 for Spring) in order for an application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications cannot be evaluated. Consideration of applications that are completed after the prescribed deadlines will be deferred to the following semester.

4. There is a need for some personal funds for living expenses even for those applicants who are offered financial aid, since the first paycheck is usually issued by the University in September, roughly one month after the start of classes (no salary advances are possible). It is inadvisable for students who do not receive offers of financial aid to ASSUME that they will be able to secure aid after arriving on campus.

5. Please complete the Graduate Applicant Self-Evaluation form below. If you are unable to fill in a large portion of this form, it is unlikely that your current background is adequate for pursuing graduate study in Computer Science. A completed Course Evaluation Form must be sent to the Department of Computer Science at grad_adm@cs.iastate.edu in order for your application to be processed. PROVISIONAL ADMISSION to the graduate program in Computer Science DESPITE DEFICIENCIES in certain areas REQUIRES EXCEPTIONAL ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS AND STRONG EVIDENCE OF RESEARCH POTENTIAL. Students admitted on a provisional basis should be prepared to take undergraduate courses to remove the deficiencies prior to taking graduate courses.

Corrections and updates to this page should be directed to webmaster@cs.iastate.edu. Page updated 6/21/2002.