Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uflorida!stat!vsserv!prism!russ
From: russ@prism.gatech.EDU (Russell Shackelford)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: CS Ph. D. program
Summary: Ga Tech update
Message-ID: <2533@hydra.gatech.EDU>
Date: 16 Oct 89 14:18:36 GMT
References: <160@seqp4.UUCP>
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 59

In article <160@seqp4.UUCP>, mikeyv@seqp4.ORG (Michael Vernick) writes:
> Having worked in industry for 5 years after receiving a Masters in C.S.
> I have just started taking part-time grad courses in CS at a local university.
> I've now decided to apply for full-time status as a Ph.D. student though I 
> am not sure where I should I apply.  I am interested in a 'Systems' type
> program.  My main field of expertise is database systems.  I am also
> interested in distributed systems, parallel computing, and software
> engineering.  I am looking for suggestions of schools to look into, 
> especially schools on the East Coast.  I already have info on
> MIT, and CMU.  Thanks in advance.
> 
It is my understanding that MIT and CMU are at the top of the heap.  This
brings with it both advantages and liabilities.  Obviously, it is more
difficult to get in there.  It is also true that such places are well-
stocked with priests and bishops.  If you wanna pay dues under priests and
bishops, that's fine.  If you don't, and if you have the gumption to do
well without kissing their shoes, then there are numerous alternatives.

One alternative with which I am familiar, having been ordained there
myself, is Ga Tech.  CS at Ga Tech HAS been in the School of Information
and Computer Science in the GT equivalent of the Arts and Sciences college,
not in the Engineering College (where EE is).  This is somewhat of a
historical fluke, as CS got put into what had been the School of Information,
where a curious collection of philosphers, psychologist, linguists, etc.
were busy trying to figure out what Information is, and wht to do with it.
All of those guys are just about gone, via retirement, and the place
gradually became dominated by CS types.  The name became meaningless, i.e.,
it should have been just the School of CS.  It rose in the early 80's to
mid-teens in the rankings.  I don't know, but I suspect it dropped back
down somewhat in the mid-late 80's, a prisoner to a College that didn't
understand what CS needed, etc.

Big Changes are afoot.  New GT prez is one John Patrick Crecine, who
was stolen away from CMU (had been VP there), and who is 1/3 of Next
computers Bd of Dir's (along with Jobs and Perot).  He has succeeded
in pushing thru a re-org of the place, with CS elevated to being its
very own College of Computing.  Thus, CS is in a more powerful position,
structurally, than it used to be.  It is also true that a strong CS
presence is central to Crecine's agenda for the overall elevation of GT.
His personal idea is that it should be the College of Computing and
Cognitive Sciences, but that will take some more doing.  However, it
is clear (to me, anyway), that GT is a place where CS will be happening
bigtime albeit with growing pains.

GT is in Atlanta, which is great place (as far as big cities go).  Good
climate.  Good attitude.  Good people.  Lousy pro-sports teams.  You
can't have everything.  GT has a rep. for paying well, but I dunno
what the truth is.  As a doc student, I got tuition plus $850/mo.
Faculty is expanding (growth of 7 this year, target of 50 CS faculty).
Probably worth a look.  Write to College of Computing, AECAL, Ga Tech,
Atlanta, 30332.  404-894-3152 (I think, better check on the phone num).



-- 
Russell Shackelford
School of Information and Computer Science
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332
russ@prism.gatech.edu         (404) 834-4759