The best way to get accepted to Michigan is to write a unique and
compelling personal
statement that focuses on research and to have letter writers who can
rate your research abilities. I only hire students who have
been admitted to the graduate program at Michigan CSE. If you are
interested in an RAship, you will first need to apply via the Michigan CSE
admissions Web site.
My students and co-authors have a diverse background. Most are computer scientists or electrical engineers with a passion for building secure systems and writing scholarly prose. All have creative outlets such as Latin literature, bread making, rock climbing, pottery, archery, and photography to name a few. These creative passions are reflected in our way of doing research. Interested in joining us? Apply for the PhD program. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply.
Are you considering graduate school in general? There are many ways to prepare.
Become intimately familiar with the latest research in your field of interest. Find a researcher you admire, then read his or her papers. Analyze the papers.
As an undergraduate, work with graduate students or a professor on a research project. Get a taste of what graduate school is like. Aim to co-author a paper with your supervisors.
Apply for an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship by December before starting graduate school. If you have a fellowship, you will have much greater flexibility in selecting research topics — no matter what school you attend.
Read about the research of your potential graduate advisors. Finding a compatible advisor is critical to your success as a graduate student.
Most research universities will focus on your independent thinking and participation in undergraduate research rather than test scores and class rank. Grades don't matter except as a minimum barrier to entry.
Be patient. Faculty receive many requests and often cannot respond to each and every query about admissions. Your job is to convince the admissions committee of your strong potential for research excellence. Spend your time improving your personal research statement.
Alums
Miran Alhaideri
2013-2014 (masters, next: Crispin Porter + Bogusky)
Connor Bolton
2017-2022 (PhD, next: Sandia National Labs)
Hee-Jin Chae
2006-2007 (masters, next: Raytheon) Shane Clark, NSF Graduate Research Fellow
2008-2013 (PhD, next: BBN, Raytheon)
Benessa Defend
2005-2009 (masters, next: MITRE)
Denis Foo Kune 2012-2014 (postdoc, next: CEO Virta Labs, Mayo Clinic, Amazon)
Emily Graetz 2016 (masters, next: University of
Michigan Lecturer)
Shane Guineau
2011-2013 (masters, next: Amazon)
Thomas S. Heydt-Benjamin
2005-2007 (masters, next: Perspecta Labs)
Matthew Hicks
2013-2014 (postdoc, next: Virgina Tech) Dan Holcomb
2014 (postdoc, next: UMass Amherst) Julia Lanier
2019-2021 (masters, next: ARM)
Robert Lychev
2008 (masters, next: PhD program at GA Tech, Meta)
Andres Molina-Markham, Outstanding Synthesis Award
2008-2012 (PhD, next: Dartmouth College, RSA Labs, MITRE) Amir Rahmati 2011-2014 (MSE,
next: Stony Brook University) Sara Rampazzi 2017-2020
(research investigator,
next: University of Florida) Benjamin Ransford, NSF Graduate Research Fellow
2007-2013 (PhD, next: University of Washington, Virta Labs, Stripe)
Mastooreh "Negin" Salajegheh, Outstanding Synthesis Award
2007-2012 (PhD, next: University of Virginia, Qualcomm, Netflix)
Colleen Swanson 2013-2014 (postdoc)
Joel Van Der Woude 2013-2015 (masters, next: Sandia National Labs)
Hong Zhang
2010-2012 (masters)
In my role as the Publications Chair for the National Junior Classical League, I mentor the editor who publishes a quarterly periodical. The student editor has the unique opportunity of producing creative content and managing a scholarly publication far beyond the typical high school experience. Each year, high school students elect an editor from the body of over 40,000 participating students who study Latin, Greek, and classical history. I am elected to this volunteer position by members of the American Classical League for a ten year period within 2004-2014.
Amber Houston, Florida State University School, Tallahassee, FL (2010-11)
Olivia Ortiz, Tempe Preparatory Academy, Tempe, Arizona (2009-10, next: University of Chicago)
Jacob Welch, Madison Central High School, Richmond, Kentucky (2008-09, next: University of Kentucky)
Pranish Kantak. Fargo North High School, Fargo, North Dakota (2007-08, next: Lehigh University)
Caitlin Johnston. Crown Point High School, Crown Point, Indiana (2006-07, next: Indiana University)
Rachel Singh. Boston Latin Academy, Boston, Massachusetts (2005-06, next: Harvard University)
Meredith Dempsey. Lexington High School, Lexington, South Carolina (2004-05, next: Furman University)