An ox's CMU application: From XI ' an Jiaotong University to Turing award Daniel ZZ

Spring Note: Chen Xi has already heard, is a teacher's child, his father's class style was my favorite. Once for his freshman in the ACM and get a good record in the history of Jiaotong University is surprised, Jiaotong University does not pay attention to ACM.

It was only by chance that he walked a path that I only admired. However, everyone has their own way of life, mutual encouragement.

The original question is so, unchanged, a little ambiguous.

Note:

Stephen A. Cook: Turing Prize winner (U of Toronto)

Manuel Blum: Turing Award winner (CMU)

Andy Yao: Turing Award winner (Princeton)

University 5 years + a not the cattle of the application of the road ACO@CMU

My name is Chen Xi, I come from Xi ' an Jiaotong university, and 2002 admitted to the Shonenban of Xian. I was just a junior.
3 grade. Xi ' an Jiaotong University's Shonenban 5-year, first-year matriculation.

In Shonenban I first contacted a course, Delphi, learned Pascal language. From the Delphi, I really feel
It's a wonderful and interesting thing to have a program. At the same time to contact the data structure of the course, know who is N.wirth,
Know the data Structure + algorithms = Program also read a book about all the Tu in 1999
The Ring Award (unfortunately not the introduction of Andy Yao). I adored them at the time, and I thought that after 5 years, I could talk to him
So close to the exchange. So far, I'm sorry that I didn't go to Stephen A. Cook, U of T.


Originally junior High School when I most interested in physics, but Shonenban year, let me choose the computer department, in the end is a blessing or
It is a curse that cannot be said clearly today. When I chose the computer, in the freshman sophomore, I really regret.


Shonenban Summer Vacation, I study C + +, algorithmic design and analysis (that is, Dr. wrote the book) feel OK, but learn
VC + + But unexpectedly difficult, really oneself too stupid. Until I read the Houtie. The original code in MFC
After reading, incredibly still can't write a drawing board program. One time to write a calculator, incredibly with VC anyway write not come out
, and finally use Dephi + C + + Bulider to fix it. At that time regret the election of the computer, feel that they really do not have any
what ability. Hey, until now I still can not write VC + + drawing board, really feel that they have problems.

Later, freshman last semester participated in the school ACM/ICPC tryouts, met I still think is our XI ' an Jiaotong University
The most bull Jian Zeng. Accidentally was admitted ACM/ICPC, and then with Jian Zeng friendship, with his
A group. In fact, I didn't even read and write C + + files, but because we played that year, our team is a substitute team, so
Jian Zeng let me see him write a program, explain to me, slowly I learned a little C + + and algorithm. Then the freshman winter vacation,
I read a few of the most important books, thinking in C + +, effective C + + and the book of informatics contests, in Zju
Have done 100 questions. Then the big study, to the school second was selected into the New Year's ACM/ICPC, and can go to Beijing, on
The sea competed.

After the summer vacation, in the constant simulation exercise, Zju and PKU's topic also increased to about 300. At that time their
Feel very happy, finally not so food, in the computer field. Once within 5 hours, the 1996 total
All the questions in the game are made But then after entering the October, I was completely desperate. In the weeks of PKU
In the race and the month race, does not have the cow at all, thinks the topic is difficult, nowhere to start, the search no use, eh. Then we'll go to the Beijing ginseng
Race, although took the 10th place, but feel that the cattle are numerous. This is the end of my acm/icpc.
Out. In this period of time, although there are many setbacks, but still is my happiest time, Jiaotong University to the ACM attention is not enough, I
We found a basement when the engine room, 8 o'clock in the morning, the night 11 o'clock back, joked that it is really dark days.


Thanks to Lee Mars for his help at the Zju forum, I have so far borne in mind that when I was immortal, I also
Don't forget to take others to the immortals. And I was very admire Phonix, added his QQ but dare not ask him questions, because
Feel too shallow, until the application stage, I found Phonix is how good people ah!

Sophomore winter vacation, from Beijing, I think I have no need to continue on the road of the computer, cattle too many people,
I couldn't, so I switched to Algebra, group theory, graph theory. At the same time, I wrote an article about the involution matrix on the ring.
(Although very rotten, only sent to the Yunnan Journal, the United States cast a pile, no one to see.) But this is my first article.
）。 Really want to transfer math. Until the sophomore semester, I met a friend I still best, Y
Ingze Wang, she told me that her brother Ece@uiuc read the images in Ph.D. Her words really inspire me, and I want to
Try it. It was very clear that she was wearing her brother's school uniform from UIUC, with the words "UIUC" on it, and I
A sudden germination of the idea of going abroad, I think this is where I should go. But since we were Shonenban, we were supposed to be
To the university to read, junior to choose a mentor, if I choose to go abroad, in the junior will have to give up abroad. Though I hesitate
, but decided to test TOEFL first. Sophomore summer, I received a group of students from MIT, Stanford, Duke to
Xi ' an Jiaotong university visit, I really found that the original is a frog in the tunnel. At this time, I met another student,
Yang Rong (now gone to Cs@dartmouth), she decided to give up the research, a very decisive, very yearning for the United States
Girl, admirable. I think a girl dares to do so, why I dare not, so I resolutely give up
The Pao.

After the road I walk very hard, because I am not a cow, will only bookworm. I finished my test on August 27, 2005.
EFL, my whim, I miss Math, I should not Test TSE and GRE Sub in math. So I hurried
The name, October 15 finished TSE, November 12 test GRE Math, GRE math is too difficult for me, I can't
To get so many math courses in two months, including statistics, real letters, complex changes, numerical analysis, all in English.
Of I finally got myself burned out. I was weak and sickly when I was young, and I was really devastated. Insomnia, nausea, a series of illnesses
Disease all come, the most terrible sciatica, until now is not good, now are sitting on a little pain, two hours
You can definitely get up. Active activities. Well, in order to go abroad, I really do not know is worth it. And I'm worried about going abroad.
Later can not adapt to it. But on shanghaied easy, down difficult!

After the math, the homework fell a big paragraph, hurriedly fill. By the end of January, I finished the final exam. I started preparing for the GRE test when
When the word is a line has not seen, the composition has no idea, really do not know oneself come not time. It's on the bbs@gter.
A post, incredibly some people say the root is impossible, I do not believe, so I have desperately engaged in, really tired, if when
Relax, maybe a lot of problems can be alleviated, but I do not know is a blessing is a curse. Within one months
, incredibly I do, casually an article, Issue 700-800, Argu 500+, and can write very well. Thank
Yingze Wang During this period of time for me to continue to encourage and support, she always has confidence in me, like sister
encourage me as well. At the end of February I finished my composition, I spent all the time in the GRE back words, red treasure back 3
Again, the real problem all done again, finally in June to obtain 1380+5.0. At this time, my body is really going to collapse.


Summer vacation, but relaxed a bit, senior last semester began to prepare applications. But all the students in the computer department of Jiaotong University apply for Beauty
The country was me and Yang Rong, and we both knew nothing about American school, and I had a way with her.
I don't know.

There were very few applications for the United States in computer science before. There is no reference object at all. How to do it. I had to look at the side.
To the school of choice. I'm not interested in computer software hardware. I'm not good at the computer classes we've been studying in college.
Also not interested, like what database, operating, architecture, compliers. Apply Math pressure too
Big. I have a very serious school plot and yearning for the United States, but also afraid of their own no retreat, because I have given up the insurance
Research. And I'm going to be a faculty for the future, and I must read PhD.

My only advantage is GPA high, GRE 1380+5.0. TOEFL 640+5.5. TSE 50. GRE Sub in Math
96%. So I read the pages of every school carefully. Eventually applied for a whole bunch of schools, main math, computer theory,
Machine learning theory direction. Some schools can apply for two program. (The number of applicants for school is unimaginable.
It is true that I am not cattle, a total of applications for all costs 15,000 RMB, no escape of any application fees and GT performance costs)

Summarized as follows

1.Carnegie Mellon University

ACO (Algorithms,combiantorics and optimization): Offer TA (from)

CS, Rej

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cs:rej, Appmath:rej

3. University of California–berkeley

Cs:rej

4. University of Illinois–urbana-champaign

Cs:offer RA (direction: Data Mining)

5.Cornell University

Cs:rej

6.Princeton University

Cs:rej

7.California Institute of Technology

Cs:offer RA (Master)

8. University of Wisconsin–madison

Cs:offer TA (direction theory)

9. Georgia Institute of Technology

Aco:ra Offer

Brown University

Cs:rej

Columbia University.

Cs:rej

Yale University

Appmath:rej

University of Southern California

Cs:pending

Johns Hopkins University

Appmath:ta Offer

Rutgers State University–new Brunswick

OR (Operations): Withdraw

University of California–irvine

Cs:ta Offer

University of Minnesota–twin Cities

Cs:ra Offer

Washington University in St. Louis

Cs:rej

University of Rochester

Cs:withdraw

University of Iowa

Appmath:offer TA

Vanderbilt University

Cs:rej

Emory

Math:rej

Drexel

Cs:offer TA

University of Texas–dallas

Cs:offer

Oxford

Cs:offer Fellowship

Num Univ of Toronto

Cs:offer TA Master tracking Ph.D.

Univ of Waterloo

Cs:offer TA Master.

A total of 29 program

Offer, ACO@CMU, Cs@uiuc, Cs@caltech, Cs@wisc-madision, Aco@git, Appmath@jhu, C
S@umn Cs@uci, Appmath@uiowa, Cs@drexel, Cs@utd Cs@oxfrod, cs@ Waterloo, Cs@tor
Onto:14 A

REJ:CS@CMU, Cs@mit,appmath@mit, Cs@berkeley, Cs@cornell, Cs@princeton, Cs@bro
WN, Appmath@yale, Cs@columbia, Cs@wstl cs@vanderbilt,math@emory 12, (and lived
However, two levels of differentiation is very strong, if Rej and offer to change the following, I will high death. ）

Withdraw:cs@dartmouth, Or@rutegers

Pending:cs@usc

The number of schools and program applications is twice times that of most people, because Jiaotong University has no information and reference to
Like. Told by the American professor I do not know XI ' an Jiaotong university, only know Shanghai Jiaotong University. It was said that my GPA was high and young, and should
They were wrong to go to Top5 's school. Others say that I have no research experience, estimated to be only 50 after the school
, but they are also wrong. At last, I applied for a large pile of schools. And didn't expect to go to top 10.
School.

Waiting for the offer of the road slowly, at the beginning, the situation is surprisingly good, Oxford (although I do not want to go to Britain, the application is
is to not apply for fee, fun), give me DPhil offer, full award Fellowhsip. But I think I can
To compete for the most cattle school. Waterloo also gave me master TA (but I was determined to be a faculty, to read ph
. D). MIT is very interested in me, after all, I was in charge of the MIT Summer Exchange page at Jiaotong University for two years. I January 17 to Shanghai
And the feeling was very successful, Professor Mit actually put me in the root of Erik Demaine, said that is a great age. Put
I am thankful for the mess. And at the same time, one of CMU CS's biggest cow professors gave me a week-long phone interview.
+ Written test. Let me write 4 essays. Finally, he told the admissions committee, "This student is very good, I'm going to take him
Graduate student. " Immediately, at the end of January, I was interviewed by CMU's ICC, probably the first person to be interviewed by the ICC. U of T
Cook also to me for nearly 1 hours of telephone interview, really touched me, I also feel relieved that the world's most
The cows ' schools and mentors will be chosen by me. No more ceramics at all. There was a big event.

February 15, fast New Year, I am also very happy, after all, is China's last year, however, I suddenly heard that my
An Zhejiang University and I went to Shanghai to interview students were admitted to MIT. I was in a hurry because I had a little news from MIT.
There is no. I sent a letter to the cattle school I applied to, and then I died of heartache. February 16 morning to hear Princeton
It is believed that, on the evening of February 16, Berkeley was believed to be in the morning of February 17, Appmath@mit believed, I suddenly panic
Out. hurriedly root Cs@mit and CMU Professor Letter, the results of MIT incredibly grasp, I fainted dead, really don't know on
What's going on with the trip to the sea. Then at the end of February, CMU my potential advisor told me that I had not been admitted, and I
Was frantic, and then CMU's potential advisor told me he'd let the committee review it, and it didn't make it.
, the reason is that there are too many good people. With the destruction of these schools, I finally began to move to prepare ceramics. It went well.
, and immediately got the offer of Iowa, Drexel, UCI, JHU, umn, but for one who had already tacitly been able to go to M.
IT,CMU people, this achievement can not let me satisfied. So I am crazy ceramic, do not do anything. Results
Wait to actually is Cornell CS is believed, and cs@brown all put me according to, I really collapsed. But soon
The wisc-madision, the Aco@gatech, the UIUC offer came. But the best thing I've learned in my mind
The school has ceased to exist. By the end of March, Cook wrote that I had been admitted, and Caltech was admitted two days later. I just walked out
The shadow. But I know that Cook's theory is so difficult that I can't even touch his article. Caltech insisted on giving me Suk
People, the other is a doctor, just think, if two years later in the application, others do not think I am less capable than the doctor, was
Out of the door. How to do it. Only ACO@CMU, this liaison program I can choose the mentor (including my
have been contacted by the CMU mentor), until the beginning of April around, CMU finally arrived, I was overjoyed, but they said Fina
Ncial also to discuss, I am very anxious, lit, insomnia, because I decided from the heart I want to go to CMU, and CMU by my
Coucou and a very good sister. But 415 is imminent, other schools how to do it. I write a letter every day urging
ACO's supervisor. Finally on April 12, CMU told me the first year, and the last year fellowship the remaining three years is three years
TA, although the ointment, but for a man who wants to be a faculty, also has the benefit.

In this time of collapse and excitement, I would like to thank a lot of people, first of all my family. Secondly, I would like to thank my
Several of the best friends, they are so excellent, and RP so good, constantly comfort me, understand me, never say you
There are schools, but also urgent what such words, but help me to analyze the pros and cons of each school.

Yingze Wang. One of my best friends was that she let me have the idea of going abroad, for two months she was as
To support me, to help me analyze every school, understand my difficulties. I don't know what language to express my thanks.


Xiong Zhang, Xi ' an Jiaotong University biology department, went to the Gatech.

Yifei Liu, my best friend in junior high School is also my best friend now, in the 2 grade of the National People's Congress, she has been encouraging
I, we call each other every week. She is also in the GRE, I went to CMU, did not go to Princeton or Columbia, Yal
E, I'm guessing she's not going to CMU, but anyway, I'm sure we can meet in America.

Rong Yang, to Dartmouth you, will be more excellent, you for our Xian Jiaotong University CS to create a dart
Mouth first person, praise.

Lizzy Cui, the sister of Dalian Polytechnic students, also applied this year. She is very good, the whole department first, the person is also special good
, but there is no offer yet, 415 after that Daniel, who would have sawed Brown, Duke's can be with her in the water wood
Contact in the station is appreciated.

SYF: A Fudan to get Stanford (Gone), Princeton, Harvard, UCLA, UMich ee Daniel
。 I'm proud of you.

Tancy, Northwest Industrial University image giant cow, research experience and energy are extremely exuberant, admirable, went to the CAMBR
Idge Master, a year later to the United States, wish you success, MIT, CMU, Stanford, Berkeley gate for You
Open.

In addition Min Chi (sister of the U of Pitt), Miao Xin (Cornell Daniel) Chen Qian@hk, Phonix
, Stanfrodest, Fan Guo, Xiaojie Gao and so on, I want to thank too many people. It is particularly worth mentioning that P
rOF. Dave Liu (Andy Yao's mentor, he spares no effort to recommend me to CMU, UIUC), Prof. Han Jiaw
EI, Prof Jinyi Cai, Stephen A. Cook, Manuel Blum, Vempala and Prof. Andy Yao.
They let me see what is the master, these teachers do not need to say the academic, RP is also difficult to imagine the good. Han Jia
Wei help me analyze the pros and cons of various schools, pointing out that CMU is also a very good school. Prof Stephen A. Cook means
Out of my reach you can do any topic of interest and help me find another mentor. without having to proof.
Complexity. Whether I can have a scholarship with them. They are the masters of my eternal reverence.

Finally, bless all the people, let us meet in the United States.

PS: I am not a cow, in addition to the results are relatively high, nothing, compared to cattle, my application of the road bumpy rugged. But
I finally walked down, although I paid too high price, but I also came to this step. I hope you can
See something from it. Express my sincerest blessings to all those who care about me. If anyone wants to rent a house with me in CMU,
, you can contact in the station. )