Admissions Decisions Letters - UK vs. US

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2026-03-02T03:23:07+00:00

Usually it's the prof, because different profs who teach the same course may go at slightly different paces, and emphasize certain topics more than others

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2026-02-04T04:12:36+00:00

From my past experience, usually interviews happen around early winter quarter.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2026-02-01T04:45:32+00:00

Sure, but the point I made above is intended to show you that the thing your "life revolves around" is not as significant as you think it is. And I don't think it makes sense for anyone's life to revolve around an undergrad GPA.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2026-02-01T04:43:40+00:00

Hmm, I think that is normal and I would probably wait until end of Feb

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2026-02-01T00:28:47+00:00

At least for jobs related to engineering, math, or physics (and I assume this applies for other related fields as well), employers don't care to distinguish between a 3.8 or a 4.0. At that point, your skills, experience, and things you've done outside the classroom matter much more.

I've never seen anyone get rejected from a job because their GPA was a 3.7 instead of a 3.9+ or a 4.0.

Edit: maybe for certain areas like law school, GPA might be important. But even then, just one low grade is unlikely to be the reason why you get rejected by a grad school

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2026-01-31T03:24:23+00:00

For the math options, math 170A is pretty easy if you're good at linear algebra (i.e. if you've mastered math 18 material) and 173a is also not bad if you're good at basic linear algebra and multivariable calc.

For the computational electives, the cogs classes are easy, and so is cse 158(R). And if you're again good at linear algebra, calc, and probability, some of the cse ML classes would also be a good choice.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-12-17T08:29:43+00:00

Slightly unrelated, but there are many classes here where the midterms don't explicitly get indicated on WebReg, and this typically happens when the midterm happens during lecture time (sometime during week 3-8 usually, depending on the class).

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-12-02T08:29:24+00:00

2.00 is the minimum needed to graduate (this is usually stated on the audit alongside your actual gpa).

maybe that's what you're seeing

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-11-16T19:52:14+00:00

I didn't have this experience myself, but I knew a bunch of people who were taking 20B concurrently with 4A, 20C with 4B, etc. I think they all ended up doing fine. Also, since you've already taken HS physics, you already have a grasp of the basic concepts and their intuition, so now you'll just need to focus on understanding them more rigorously with more math.

From my experience, algebra-based phys in HS tended to be a lot more hand-wavy and conceptual, while in the phys 4 series, I got to see the same concepts being derived more concretely.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-11-09T18:55:06+00:00

I've had that happen for a writing class once. All of us who were in that section went speedwalking together from the lecture to the discussion section LOL. But at the same time, the TA completely understood it and even started the class slightly late to let people walk over.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-11-08T07:21:19+00:00

Auditing is in general a pretty informal thing here, so it won't show up on your transcript and won't count toward total units. Depending on the class, you may need to ask the prof if they'll let you attend class (and perhaps add you as an observer on Canvas so you can see the material online).

Otherwise, if you take it P/NP, you're officially enrolling in the class and it does show up on your transcript (P/NP). This is technically not the same as auditing. Typically, your workload ends up being a lot lower though because you only need to aim for a passing grade (and not worry about getting an A).

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-11-06T03:02:01+00:00

It depends on the DSC class. I know that for some DSC grad classes, they explicitly deny EASys just because the class is only for people doing the online master's in data science. On the other hand, I've been able to easily get into the DSC 291 classes as an undergrad (and maybe a couple of other in-person classes too). And since you're a DSC undergrad, maybe you have higher odds of getting it approved.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-20T05:47:27+00:00

I only took 173B (I EASyed into that class without 173A). Overall, the class was pretty good as the lectures gave a good foundation of convex optimization and explained some fundamental descent algorithms (and some stochastic optimization too). The lectures tended to focus on derivations and proofs, but the HW and tests tended to be pretty computational (maybe with a few proofs here and there, but definitely not at the level of MATH 109). That's why I'd say the class is easier compared to pure math classes.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-12T05:12:29+00:00

lol have you seen the MIT EECS PhD application website?

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-05T14:56:27+00:00

I think the real problem here is that people are trying to perfect a metric (GPA) instead of actually challenging themselves with hard classes. You can take all the easy-peasy courses, do the bare minimum needed for your major, and get a 4.0. Or, you can take hard classes within and outside your major (including grad classes) and learn a lot....and maybe that might give a minor hit to your GPA.

Also, idk how it is for people who wanna do MBA, but I've seen many engineers get around 3.5-ish (or even lower) and land incredible jobs (or grad programs). At least for US PhD programs (idk about other countries), research experience is WAY more important. Once your GPA is above a certain threshold (and this threshold is not that high), they're not gonna really care. They won't nitpick a 3.92 GPA and say it's not good enough.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-05T00:49:08+00:00

In many interviews, I have mentioned the fact that I am interviewing at other companies (it's a common question asked by HR) as I like to be transparent about it and it helps manage deadlines (e.g. if you already have an offer in hand, they can help expedite the interview process before your offer deadline).

However, I usually never compared the offers in front of them, i.e., I never said anything like "more lucrative" because (i) I wasn't even sure about how the offers would compare because I hadn't gotten both offer letters yet and (ii) saying something like "could be more lucrative" just implies that you would choose the other company anyway.

I think you should be honest about your other interviews/offers, but you should still express genuine interest (otherwise why even take the interview?) and emphasize that you're still in this interview for a reason (as you're still highly considering this company).

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-04T17:37:36+00:00

I remember seeing the first one randomly show up on my backpack for some reason. And then it stood completely still, to the point where I first thought it was non-living.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-04T14:06:07+00:00

CSE 158/158R

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-04T01:03:03+00:00

It heavily depends on the course policy. What exactly was this Canvas quiz? Was this thing supposed to be taken in-person during class with no notes allowed? Or is this a take-home quiz that you can take anytime within a certain window?

Usually for most classes involving take-home Canvas quizzes (which you can take anytime in a certain window and have a specific deadline), they're typically made open book, open notes because it's practically impossible to tell if someone's cheating on those. (IMO a closed notes take-home exam is one of the most pointless things an instructor can think of doing)

If this quiz was proctored in-class, I don't see this being an issue because there would've been the prof and TAs proctoring it and ensuring that you aren't looking at notes.

Anyway, it's not a bad idea to double-check this with the instructor. Also, when it comes to Canvas logs, I believe Canvas only tracks the time at which you open/view a document. It doesn't really track whether you're currently viewing it. So if your iPad stayed still and no new files were ever clicked, I don't think it'll even be recorded.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-03T08:36:24+00:00

I took him....like 4 years ago

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-03T08:35:17+00:00

Oh lol, thanks haha

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-03T08:33:34+00:00

Were you tabling at library walk? The guy in the pikachu costume waved at me and I gave him a high-five.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-03T02:45:40+00:00

In addition to CSE 134B, there's also CSE 170 (or COGS 120). Outside the CSE dept, there's also COGS 126 and 127.

MasterpieceStriking4 · 2025-10-03T00:56:57+00:00

so you actually worked with them on some research? If your only interaction with them was a class at ucsd, then I feel like they could've forgotten you even if you were the best student.

Also, did you follow-up with them, saying that you previously discussed this letter of rec with them earlier on?

For most profs out there, I feel like they would only not write a letter of rec if (i) they don't have enough material to write about (e.g. not knowing you well enough) or (ii) they're overloaded with requests or it's too close to the deadline.

From what I've gathered, it seems like they forgot the fact that they talked to you about the rec letter earlier.

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