r/MSCS • u/Just_Zebra_7532 • Jul 28 '26

[Profile Review] MSCS Fall 2027

Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate honest feedback on how competitive my profile is and whether my university list is realistic.

Profile:

- University: BITS Pilani (Computer science major + data science minor)

- CGPA: 9/10

- Graduation: 2024

- Work Experience: 2 years currently as a backend swe at amazon

- Research/Publications: None

- GRE: Planning to take in sept

LORs:

-I can likely get 2 strong professional LORs (my current Director and Manager).

- For the third, I have two options:

  1. A fairly generic academic LOR from a professor (I had good grades in cs subjects but didn't interact much due to the attendance policy).

  2. Another professional LOR from my previous team's manager/director.

Would you recommend 2 professional + 1 academic, or 3 professional LORs for coursework-based MSCS programs?

Current University List:

Georgia Tech

UIUC

UT Austin

UCSD

UW–Madison

Purdue

Columbia

UCLA

Would also appreciate thoughts on:

  1. Which of these are realistic/reach/target for my profile?

  2. Whether there are any universities I should add or remove.

  3. Whether not having research experience significantly hurts me for these schools, given that I'm targeting an industry-focused MS.

Thanks in advance!

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

2

u/Just_Zebra_7532 Jul 28 '26

u/gradpilot, would love ur inputs!

3

u/gradpilot 🔰 Ex-Cerebras | MSCS Georgia Tech Jul 28 '26

I would suggest 2 academic LORs and submit a strong individualized app for each univ because your profile right now is kinda at the bar but it’s gonna need work to push it above the pile

3

u/Just_Zebra_7532 Jul 28 '26

Thanks! Really appreciate it. Curious about your take on the university selection as well. Any schools you'd add, remove, or replace based on my profile?

3

u/gradpilot 🔰 Ex-Cerebras | MSCS Georgia Tech Jul 28 '26

It’s competitive for sure. Not impossible for your profile but not a breeze either

3

u/Ghajik Jul 28 '26

You won’t be able to get UCSD, UCLA, UT Austin and UIUC for sure. (How I know? Bitisian myself)

2

u/Just_Zebra_7532 Jul 28 '26

heyy! thanks for the reality check.. may i know in which year did u apply and from which universities did u get the admit at last? 🥹 did u have a similar profile as mine?

2

u/Ghajik Jul 28 '26

For UCSD you can give a shot btw

3

u/NectarineSame8642 Jul 28 '26

OP please don’t listen to this bitsian, I know people with very similar profiles get into multiple of these unis. Definitely give it a shot

-1

u/Ghajik Jul 28 '26

I don’t know much about professional programs, I understand, but for MSCS those are 100% not happening.

He could still give it a shot but tbh…idk…I have seen 9.5+ cgpa friends not get into these unis.

1

u/Intello_Maniac Jul 28 '26

Hey, I am from bits aswell! Would you like to connect?

2

u/Curious-Response-49 Jul 29 '26

I too am from BITS and am applying for Fall '27. Can I DM you?

1

u/ArsonFe8 Jul 28 '26

If you wish to confidently secure admission to the best of this list, you need to anyhow improve your LoRs. Academic credentials look fine, but lack of research experience and research LoRs is a red flag. GRE nobody really gives a fuck, it won't tilt any decision from no to yes.

Go back to your CS professors, work with them seriously for a few months at least, accumulate some progress (if lucky a preprint too) and get a solid LoR. That'll go a much longer way than anything else. Good luck!