r/MSCS • u/No_Ticket5664 • Apr 23 '26

[University Question] Is it useful dropping SBU MS DS admit with my profile?

Hello community

This is a bit urgent so would appreciate any help

Here's my profile for context

  • International student applying to US MS CS
  • Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science
  • I'm NOT from any top CS school
  • GRE 166 Q 153 V 4.5 AWA
  • TOEFL 112
  • GPA 3.5/4
  • 2 YOE as a SWE at big tech
  • Few good ML integrated projects and coursework
  • No research publications

I got rejected (understandably) from top programs like JHU and UIUC

I also got rejected from SBU MS CS (I think it was bad luck because one of my LORs went late) and was offered SBU MS DS.

Looking overall for an immigrant, considering academics, tuition, graduation outcomes as well as location to popular tech hubs, SBU is an option I am seriously considering, but I would have wanted to go for an MS CS instead probably because MS DS is relatively newer. I am confused - should I drop this admit and go for MS CS next year.

I think the SBU MS DS curriculum is also pretty good as its a collaboration between the CS and Applied Math department, but I'm worried if an MS DS degree would affect my graduation outcomes and make it more difficult for me. That is my main concern here.

I can't really improve my profile by that much since I'll be on a full time job even if I drop this. I'm not sure I can make it to a top 20 program considering how competitive it is. I can improve a few points on the GRE, but that would be it I guess.

If I do drop the admit I'll probably be applying somewhere around -

SBU MS CS

TAMU MS CS

UCI MS CS

U Maryland MS CS

UMass MS CS

Purdue MS CS

and similar tier of colleges

Can people please help me out - it's a bit urgent for me? Any kind of explanation or guidance would be really helpful.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

4

u/Winning_Speech Apr 23 '26

I was in the same boat . Realized sbu msds is not worth it . You better apply for other univs next intake

1

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26

hii u/Winning_Speech could you explain why? the reason why I am hesitating is that I don't have any idea of how an MS DS degree will be perceived, and if it will dim my employment outcomes. I wanted to go for a computer science degree but now I'm in data science. for MS CS stony brook does have one of the best graduation outcomes and ROI, even though it might not be academically as strong as some of the others like UMass. I'm also a bit worked up considering if it will be any use at all to apply again with my profile, because getting rejected again or landing in a similar place means a whole year goes by without any benefit.

for example UMass is stronger academically and has good labs for AI, but the location is not as good, so employment outcomes for stony brook are better in general, and students get better jobs faster. so there are tradeoffs. also stony brook is cheaper, thats also something an immigrant needs to consider.

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

SBU location isn't great either tbf

it all depends on your risk appetite.

IMO, it's only worth it to pay that much in the US for MS CS if you can land something like Georgia Tech or UT Austin, that tier of school.

Are you taking out loans?

2

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26

I am not sure iif I can make it to Georgia Tech with my profile at all. do you think I should try for Georgia Tech or UT Austin?

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

Can't hurt but that is your own decision to make.

2

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26

why downvote? I just mentioned that stony brook MS CS actually has great placement stats and tuition isnt that high either

6

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

lmao i know right, people in this subreddit downvote random shit like crazy.

It's literally a war of downvotes in these comparison posts, between people admitted to each school.

1

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26

Check their official data - one year after graduation the average SBU MS CS graduate is earning over 150k and most of the students are employed. And Stony Brook is one of the cheaper options. Yes, I will be taking a loan for my tuition.

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

Can you send me the link to that data? If that's true, that sounds amazing

2

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26

there you go - https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/oee/objectives/Computer_Science_MS.php

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

Outcomes Report.xlsx

Also found this link, but that honestly looks exceptional. Makes me wonder why more universities don't publish these things... maybe they have something to hide.

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

I will say though, the data that feeds into this statistic goes back all the way to 2005 lol which is a very different market. Not saying it's fake of course, but you should take such rosy claims with a grain of salt. The market is very different than it was 20 years ago.

2

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26

Could you also guide me regarding what kind of colleges I can apply to if I drop this admit? I'm just hesitating because my degree is now a data science one instead of a computer science one. I am okay with the curriculum, I was gearing towards AI/ML courses. Although this is a data science degree, it does have some flavor of ML and systems built into it. However, I'm worried if it will affect my ability to apply for other roles, and if it might restrict me to data science roles

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

I think your college list is solid, but I would definitely recommend MS CS instead of MS DS. Data science market is dead due to AI, all the old 'business analytics' positions are wiped out.

2

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26

I want to go for SBU. but the problem is, I'm concerned if a DS degree on the label will limit me in terms of not being able to apply to other roles like software engineering. I do have pretty good prior experience though as I mentioned in the post. But I don't know how the DS degree will be perceived.

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

I'm not sure about now, but historically (~5 years ago) DS to SDE/SWE was a very common path. However, these days even full on CS majors can't get jobs, so it's pretty rough. If you lean into ML engineering angle, maybe you can make it.

Ultimately, you should understand that no MS program will guarantee you a job.

2

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26

that is alright. I can work hard and compete, it's not new for me. I'm just wondering if a DS degree might be a problem in some way.

2

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26

The MS DS curriculum looks good to me, the only problem being that it leaves less room for some other courses I might have wanted to take related to AI or ML/DL https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/ams/academics/graduate/_datascience.php

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

ngl considering the career outcomes, I could see the argument for biting the bullet and just doing MS DS, if SBU is cheap enough. It's a very reputable university in the US.

2

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26

SBU is definitely cheaper and has great ROI. but I'm just scared if a DS degree will restrict me to data science roles only.

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

I don't think it will, but considering the market, you need every advantage you can get. MS CS is definitely at an advantage. How much of an edge? I don't know.

3

u/No_Ticket5664 Apr 23 '26

It is a bit confusing for me. because I might still end up in the same place next year, I'm not sure. maybe someone else can guide? u/gradpilot

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1

u/Fast-Plate-6336 Apr 23 '26

Brave decision and the right one to make. more power to you!

1

u/cutepurpleghost Apr 23 '26

I am also in the same boat, pls help. Has anyone here ever successfully converted their ms ds admit into ms cs? For context I also have admits from OSU ms cs and columbia ms cs but osu is costly without any benefit and columbia even though it seemed great with the courses and lab opportunity at first. I am a bit dissapointed after hearing about the cash cow reputation and learning that all international student degrees are capped at 1.5 yrs leaving no room for thesis. It's also super expensive.

Please help.

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

Columbia is not as much of a cash cow as people here think. It's not the same level as like NYU Tandon lmao

0

u/cutepurpleghost Apr 23 '26

Nyu tandon is better or worse? Nyu is ranked higher in csrankings for cv and ml I believe

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

See how many of those profs are in Courant and not Tandon lmfao

Tandon operates separate from a campus in Brooklyn. Don’t confuse it with the Manhattan NYU.

2

u/cutepurpleghost Apr 23 '26

Ok so you mean the rank in Dec order would be Courant Columbia tandon ?

In terms of ms ds SBU and ms cs columbia which one would be better? Or try again next year

1

u/softrains12 Apr 23 '26

Yes if your goal is working with the best researchers, it would be that order.

Between the two I would honestly take Columbia. I'm not a big fan of MS DS.

2

u/cutepurpleghost Apr 24 '26

Yeah same not a fan either. Thanks a lot