How to get into top PhD program in Computer Science?

The University of Texas at Dallas, often called 'UT Dallas' or just UTD, is a university in the University of Texas System. Despite its name, the UTD main campus is located in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, Texas, just adjacent to the city of Dallas' northern limits. However, a satellite location (the Callier Center for Communication Disorders) of UT Dallas is located adjacent to the UT Southwestern campus, in central Dallas. Known for its computer science, engineering, management, and behavioral/brain sciences programs among others, the average SAT scores of the school sometimes exceed that of UT Austin, the flagship university in the system (the average SAT score of incoming UTD fall 2005 freshmen was 1240). It ranks third among public universities in Texas in the percentage of National Merit Scholars in its freshman class. UTD is located in the heart of Telecom Corridor, and has its roots in the development of the Metroplex's high tech industry.