Part 1. Applications

A. Qualifications: There is no clear standard. Just some general range.

   1. GPA: Undergraduate > ~3.0
                 Graduate      > ~3.5
   2. TOEFL: > ~550
   3. GRE:  > ~1200 (Verbal+Math)

B. Papers: will definitely help.

C. Advice for Application (especially for PH.D)

   1. Apply to many schools to give yourself more opportunities.  Unless the school/
       faculty gives you the real deal (financial support), reconsider going to higher
       ranking schools.  It might not be worth it.  You have to work through your own
       way in the future anyway.  The famous school will not do the work for you.
   2. You need to do some research on the work of each professor.  It is natural to
       look for a famous person at first.  There are many good professors who are
       famous.  But sometimes it is important to see if they take care of students.  Would
       he/she care about you or is he/she the kind of person who want to be more famous
       only for himself and does not care about you?  Remember the famous faculty will
       not do your work for you.  Of course if he/she is caring person, they will give you
       very good advices for both academics and your degree progress.
   3. Usually for most Masters and many Ph.D's, you just apply to the graduate school.
       But if you want to make sure that you will work with certain professor, then
       contact the professor you want to work with.
   4. Make sure what kind of financial support you could get even in the future.
      (If possible, 50%(half) Research/Teaching Assistantship neeeded to cover basic
       living expenses.  Some support is only 25%(quarter) and you need extra help)
   5. If you want to work with certain professor, then ask the students working with
       the professor about his characters and personality.
       These are as important as the work itself if not more important.  Usually they will
       be glad to recommend their professor if they like him/her, but otherwise they won't
       be willing to talk about this if they don't feel comfortable with the professor.

Part 2. Important Considerations: Faculty policy

- Example of Possible Good Policy in general.  Not all Faculty members have good policies.

     1.  Good will policy - Tells you the information you might need, like real possibility
          of financial support including how much. (if not now, probably in the future)
     2.  Open information policy - Do not give false hope by promising something
          that is not for sure.  Have clear and objective idea of what qualifies for
          graduation.
     3.  Graduation policy - If you meet certain reasonable qualification for graduation,
          then you can graduate whenever you are ready.  I will let you know when you
          can graduate reasonably in advance so that you can plan your career.
     4.  No hidden agenda policy - Does not change his/her words for his/her advantage.
           If I expect something from you, then I will tell you in advance.
     5.  Care your career policy - Guide you through your degree progress, give advice
          on course selections, tells you graduation prospect and job search advices.
     6.  Boss/Subordinate equal policy - Treat subordinates with no less respect than
          his/her boss.  You will be my valuable colleague someday in the near future.
     7.  Motivation policy - Introduce interesting topic, give constructive advice, lead the
          research for results.  Present reasonable problems to solve.  All the subjects
          will be directly related to the student's degree progress.
     8.  Schedule policy - Try to stick to the schedule set up with the students, especially
          oral exam, etc. that requires arrangement with many people.  Generally give
          specific appointment.  Consider appointments with students as an important task
          of a faculty.
     9.  Project plan - Pay continuous attention on the progress of projects.  Give directions
          for proper direction of progress and make decisions for it in steady time table.
          Don't rush students at the last minute in which case night work is unavoidable.
     10. Internship policy - Internship is a good experience for students under the industry
           settings.  The student can pick up some practical knowledge and broaden personal
           network.  Also it can provide a good indication which direction you want to go.
           By all means, try internship if you want, as long as it does not interfere some important
           paper/project deadlines, degree progress, etc.
     11. Student's time policy - Your time is as valuable as mine, and I will not ask you to look
           into something unless I have some reasonable idea about the subject that it might be
           a good research topic that could lead to your degree completion.