BS Physics to Ph.D. in Computer Science

[Quantour]

I am currently a final-year undergraduate student whose primary major is Physics. I double major in Computer Science, and my grade is currently near-top in my department from a prestigious university (non-US, top in my country).

My research experience during undergrad has primarily been about numerical studies in physics. However, I decided to make a transition to Computer Science for my graduate studies, more specifically, Computer Vision and Fundamental Studies in Machine Learning. Given that lots of applicants to CS PhD have relevant research/work experiences in CS, I'm contemplating upon whether I would have a chance to Top10-20 CS PhD programs, and what I should do (in terms of preparing for applications) to maximize my chance of getting admitted to CS PhD programs.

1. Will I have a chance to get into Top10-20 CS PhD programs?

2. I would appreciate any advice on how to maximize my chance of getting admitted to CS PhD programs.

 

[CrysPhys]

I double major in Computer Science, and my grade is currently near-top in my department from a prestigious university (non-US, top in my country).

1. Will I have a chance to get into Top10-20 CS PhD programs?

Are you talking about the Top 10 - 20 programs in the world, or in your country (which remains a mystery)?

 

[Quantour]

Are you talking about the Top 10 - 20 programs in the world, or in your country (which remains a mystery)?

I am talking about Top10-20 Worldwide.

 

[CrysPhys]

A key piece of info is where are you now. After all, it will make a difference whether you're getting your BS from the top university in the UK or the top university in Somalia.

 

[StatGuy2000]

A key piece of info is where are you now. After all, it will make a difference whether you're getting your BS from the top university in the UK or the top university in Somalia.

While what you state above is true, it is worth noting that many African students have successfully been able to apply for graduate studies outside of Africa (often in universities in US, Canada, and various European countries).

 

[f95toli]

I'm contemplating upon whether I would have a chance to Top10-20 CS PhD programs, and what I should do (in terms of preparing for applications) to maximize my chance of getting admitted to CS PhD programs.

1. Will I have a chance to get into Top10-20 CS PhD programs?

There is no such thing. There is very long list (much longer than 20) of universities that offer very good PhD programs. How "prestigious" your PhD is depends on who your supervisor is and which group you work in. If you intend to stay in academia after your PhD this is far more important than the university.

Now, if you intend to work in industry things are of course different and "name recognition" becomes more important. However, any "world wide ranking" list will include plenty of names that the average employer won't have heard of. In fact, most employers will probably prefer candidates from universities they are already familiar with.

 

[CrysPhys]

While what you state above is true, it is worth noting that many African students have successfully been able to apply for graduate studies outside of Africa (often in universities in US, Canada, and various European countries).

That really is not relevant to the point I was making. Whether being the top-rank student in the top-rank university in the student's home country will in fact be a positive contributing factor to the student's admission to a PhD program at any university in any country in the world will of course depend on (a) the particular undergrad university that the student is graduating from and (b) the particular grad university the student is applying to. "I am the top student at the top university in my country" by itself will have little or no value.