To manage the high volume of PhD inquiries, I use the following criteria to assess prospective students. These reflect my personal perferences and may not apply to other faculty members. Please check your eligibility before contacting me to avoid wasting your time.

1. Academic qualifications
   • With a master's degree: You should graduate from a well-regarded university with a decent undergraduate GPA, and have at least one first-authored paper accepted at a CORE-ranked B-tier conference or journal.
   • Without a master's degree: Your bachelor's degree should be from a highly regarded university with a decent GPA, and you should have at least one first-authored paper accepted at a CORE-ranked A-tier venue.
2. English proficiency (if English is not your first language)
   • TOEFL: 96 (mininum 22 in each section)
   • IELTS: 7.0 (mininum 6.5 in each section)
   • Duolingo: 120 (mininum 110 in each section)
3. GRE (required by EE only, not by CS/CPE): Verbal 150 minimum, Quantitative 160 minimum, Analytical Writing 3 minimum.

1. Paste this table into your email. Most fields can be filled by copying directly from your CV; no need to write a lengthy introductory email by yourself.
2. Attach your CV (include GPA and publication list; no need to highlight industry experience or course projects), academic transcripts, and English test score sheets.
3. Attach your representative papers (important).

Best regards,
Thomas Luo

P.S. You may apply through the Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CPE), or Electrical Engineering (EE) program, as I am affiliated with all three. I recommend choosing the program whose core courses best match your master's coursework. If you are unsure about your best fit, we can discuss it.

Useful links:
Applying to Grad School
CS Graduate handbook | CPE Graduate handbook | EE Graduate handbook (as of fall 2026, admission to EE requires GRE while CS and CPE do not)