---
description: https://conquer.cra.org/resources/resources-for-undergraduate-students
---

# Resources for undergraduate students

### What is research and why should I pursue it&#x20;

Research allows you to pursue existing new interests and apply to what you have learned. It has the potential to discover something new and advance existing knowledge. Research will challenge you in new ways and can help you decide what career you want to pursue.&#x20;

### What are successful strategies for getting admitted to graduate school?&#x20;

Masters: can include research, many are course-based and may center on a particular domain

PhD: research focused and students are expected to generate new research results&#x20;

Graduate assistantship: waiver of tuition and fees, and provide monthly stipend that is sufficient to cover living expenses.&#x20;

Fellowship: provide funding for graduate school without requiring graduate assistantship.&#x20;

#### Applying to Graduate School

* Statement of Purpose&#x20;
* General GRE resources&#x20;
  * [Princeton Review](https://www.princetonreview.com/grad/gre-information)&#x20;
  * [Peterson](https://www.petersons.com/blog/the-gre-test-what-you-need-to-know/#/sweeps-modal)&#x20;
* Letters of Recommendation&#x20;

#### Advice and Insights&#x20;

* Conquer’s [FAQs](https://conquer.cra.org/students/frequently-asked-questions) on Graduate School
* CRA-E’s  [slide deck](https://conquer.cra.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/The-PhD-in-CS.pdf) every student thinking about graduate school and a PhD should read.
* [Getting into CS Graduate School in the USA](http://plasma.cs.umass.edu/emery/admission-notes.html) (targeted at international students; by Emery Berger)
* Common pitfalls of preparing a graduate school application. [Results from a survey of applications to Psychology programs](http://psychology.unl.edu/psichi/Graduate_School_Application_Kisses_of_Death.pdf) (results apply to CS).
* [A Five-Minute Guide to Ph.D. Program Applications](http://www.pgbovine.net/PhD-application-tips.htm) by Philip Guo
* [Applying to graduate school (PhD)](https://homes.cs.washington.edu/~mernst/advice/apply-grad-school.html) by Michael Ernst
* [Applying to Ph.D. Programs in Computer Science](https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~harchol/gradschooltalk.pdf) by Mor Harchol-Balter

#### Applying for Graduate School&#x20;
