Deconstructing my MHCI graduate application

Something I wish I had when I was starting out.

I lived on my desk for a couple of months. (Photo by Shuvro Mojumder on Unsplash)

Last year, this time, I was a final year Computer Science Engineering student frantically filling out my graduate applications; nervous because I was close to the finish line. On receiving my offers of admission a few months later, I was forced to defer my decision owing to the pandemic.

I eventually accepted my offer of admission to Carnegie Mellon’s MHCI Program on the 16th of December, 2020 after getting offers from the following programs –

1. MIMS, University of California, Berkeley
2. HCDE and MHCI+D, University of Washington
3. HCIM, University of Maryland
4. HCI/d, Indiana University, Bloomington
5. MSIS, University of Texas

The application process is overwhelming and stressful, especially when you don’t know a lot of people applying to the same program as you. But, it is also very rewarding. It forces a level of introspection and self awareness that really makes you feel like you’ve come out of this entire process on better terms with yourself, irrespective of where you get in.

Through this article, I hope to provide greater clarity into the graduate application process.

Before I begin

This article does not endorse any specific products or services to help during the admission process or advocate any graduate programs. Further, I don’t think this is the only way to do this, it is just the process I followed.

What I’ll be covering*

1. Research & Planning
2. GRE
3. Letters of Recommendation
4. Statement of Purpose
5. Supplementary Material (Resume, Portfolio, Video Essay)
6. Waiting
7. Interviews
8. Making your decision

Research

Right off the bat, I got to doing what I love doing the most: organising. I used Notion to keep a track of all the programs that I took a liking to. For each program, I listed the program name along with its attributes (program length, strength, tuition, deadlines, cohort size, application requirements, notable faculty, etc). Websites like Top UX School were very helpful for the initial phase of my research.

After gathering enough information for an initial perception, I had a list of about 20 schools with a program that was relevant to me. I was eventually able to sieve through and narrow that list down to 8, after speaking to alumni and current students through LinkedIn, doing more in-depth research, and attending information sessions.

Quick Tips:

1. Don’t make decisions on the basis of the ranking of universities. No ranking of universities is linear, and your metrics don’t have to be the same as the metrics prioritised by the ranker. Do your research, what university fits you best?
2. About ‘safe schools’: Are you willing to do a masters irrespective of where you get in? ‘Yes’ is a completely valid answer, but if your answer is ‘No’ then pick the schools that truly excite you, and apply there.

Planning

Because I was also in college, I wasn’t able to give continuous time to my applications. During the semester (July - November), I focused on getting the Letters of Recommendation from the professors at my University. I also wrapped up my Portfolio and Resume, so that I could focus on my essays after I wrapped up my semester exams.

Throughout the application process I ensured I diligently met all my targets on time. This would help me keep a buffer before the deadlines, to tie up any loose ends.

A bird’s eye view of my timelines!

The GRE

I’m a nervous test taker, so the first thing I wanted to get off my list was the GRE. I also knew I wouldn’t have time during the semester to study for the exam. Therefore, I studied through the summer break (May - June) and gave my exam in the first week of July. I didn’t do anything else that summer. I focused all my energy on the exam, no side hustle.

Quick Tips:

1. The GRE is a part of your application, not your entire application. Don’t give yourself a terribly hard time. Go over university guidelines and do your research on the accepted applicants to understand what type of a score you need.
2. Before beginning your prep, utilise free online diagnostic tests to understand where you stand.
3. To get better at the Reading Comprehension section, subscribe to newspapers like The Atlantic, The New York Times, etc and read a few articles everyday.
4. Download GRE vocabulary cards on your phone, so that they are accessible to you whenever you’re in the mood to practise words.
5. Make a conscious effort to use GRE words in your regular vocabulary, even if it annoys your family and friends.
6. We have different reading speeds on paper and on a screen, so practise on the medium that you’ll be giving your exam on.
7. If you feel lazy practising writing essays, curate a list of GRE essay prompts off of the internet, and discuss one prompt with a family or friend everyday.
8. Book your exam date as soon as possible, it will restrain you from straying.

Letters of Recommendation

Still an undergraduate, I did not have any work experience. Among others, I reached out to my mentors and teammates in the startups I’d worked for, and interned under. I focused on finding people that know me well, irrespective of their title. The recommendation process spans beyond a letter. It requires the recommender to answer questions about you, for multiple universities. So, it was important to approach people you are comfortable communicating with.

The real MVPs.

Quick Tips:

1. Approach mentors, supervisors and professors that that know you personally. They will have something unique and personal to add to your story.
2. Choose recommenders based on the type of programme you’re applying to - an academic program will prefer professors and professional program would prefer recommenders from the industry.
3. If possible, approach recommenders that can attest to the projects/ research you’ve talked about in your Statement of Purpose. It helps build legitimacy and trust, and gives the committee a more holistic idea of you.

Statement of Purpose

I enjoy writing, so I had fun with this part of the my application. I didn’t get a counsellor to help me with this process, because I did not want my voice to be diluted. Instead, I kept a close group of mentors that gave me feedback on my drafts. I ensured that the the mentors I chose were not afraid to be critical and honest while reviewing my SOP, and were also from diverse (and non-HCI) backgrounds. While I took everyone’s feedback, I put to paper what felt right to me.

The process I followed while writing my SOP.

Quick Tips:

1. Universities are looking for applicants that truly fit into their program. Portraying yourself as someone you’re not in you application, will only impede you from going somewhere you would’ve fit better and hence, grown better.
2. Remember that your application will be judged holistically, you don’t have to try and fit in everything in your SOP. If there is something you’re proud of doing, that doesn’t directly contribute to your SOP, that’s fine. It’s still in your resume.
3. Your SOP is a story, and like every story, it needs a plot. You don’t need to portray yourself as a perfect, all knowing human. If that were the case, you wouldn’t be applying in the first place.
4. Elaborate on the takeaways from your experiences, to explain how they shaped you. Eg. Instead of saying “I attended an HCI Conference in 2019, which broadened my horizons”, say “I studied the challenges faced by the elderly while using E-Wallets during an HCI conference I attended in 2019. Being able to use principles of inclusive design to alleviate their discomfort inspired me delve deeper into creating more inclusive experiences.”

Resume

This was one of the less time consuming parts of my application. I tried to restrict the description of each of my milestones to 1–2 crisp lines.

Quick Tips:

1. Mention that your CGPA is out of 4 or 10, so there’s no confusion. Eg, 9.2/10
2. Don’t overthink the layout, and refrain from using complicated templates.
3. While describing your milestones, use numbers to convey the extent of your contribution. Eg. ‘6 National Parliamentary Debating awards’

Portfolio

I didn’t have a portfolio before I began the application process. I chose to make an online portfolio because it was easier to manage, and share. I eventually also needed the PDF version for some universities (Indiana University).

I created my portfolio using Adobe Portfolio. I was short on time, and Adobe offered simple templates that are fairly easy to set up. (Now that I’ve more time, I’m working on making one on Squarespace instead)

Quick Tips:

1. Don’t overcrowd, showcase a couple of projects that explain your range and palette.
2. Take time to explain your design process, and your unique contribution(s) in each project.
3. In the end of each project page, talk about your insights from from the project.
4. You can use google analytics, to track activity on your online portfolio to gauge when and for how long, an evaluator from a University was viewing your portfolio. On an average, they spend a minute on each of your project pages.

Video Essay

Carnegie Mellon was the only HCI program that required a video essay, but I know it’s a requirement in many other graduate programs as well. This task was very open- ended and gave you the freedom interpret it your way. In case you feel stuck, go through the previous years’ submissions for your program. I’d recommend only using those videos as inspiration, and creating something that’s unique to your style and personality.

Since Carnegie did not ask for a Personal Statement, I wanted my video essay to focus on my personal and non-academic motivations behind a masters. (Here’s a link to my video)

I used the time I was too tired to work on my essay, to complete the video.

Waiting

I felt a wave of relief when I submitted my last application. After that, I caught up on sleep, saw my friends and tried my best to focus on what’s in front of me.

As I got closer to hearing from the universities, Gmail became my best friend. I followed updates on The GradeCafe and and r/gradadmissions (don’t get too attached, it can sometimes be harmful and discouraging).Through these platforms, I was added to groups on Telegram. Interacting with people in the same boat as me, helped alleviate some of the anxiety.

Interviews

Both Carnegie Mellon and UC Berkeley also had a round of interviews, a few weeks after I submitted my application. To prepare, I reached out to current students in both the programs to understand what questions are often asked and practised my responses. I’d recommend not trying to script your responses.

Making your decision

At this point, you will have a lot of people telling you what they think you should do. Hear them all out. Talk to the alumni, the program advisors and the current cohort; do your research. Listen and absorb what everyone says, and then make your decision.

Why I picked the program that I did, is a different article. But I will leave you with this: wherever you go, you’re about to invest a lot of time, energy and money. You’ve put in a lot of work to get here. You’re the only one who knows what’s best for you. This is a decision you must make for yourself.

I’ll publish another article on the next steps (getting a visa, loans, finding a house, onboarding, etc) when I cross that bridge. Until then, good luck!

*I used Janelle’s article on her experience with grad apps as a template for structuring this article. Her article is very well written and super insightful – especially if you’re not an international student. Do check it out!