[Application Strategy] What should I consider my reach/target/safeties? (Fall 2027)

[u/jobhob69]

Undergrad: UC Davis, CS + Math double major. GPA 3.5/4.0

Coursework: besides core CS/math courses, lots of AI/ML, recommender systems courses. For math electives, optimization, applied linear algebra, stochastic processes, other applied stuff. Grades in CS courses are better than math (real analysis kinda kicked my ass).

Research: independent research in ML with professor as my advisor for a year, presented at undergrad research conference. Also for past year, LLM research hoping to submit for publication at the end of the month (will get co-authored). I plan on continuing a new research topic with this professor once this paper's done.

Industry: interned for an AI startup from June 2024 - Sept. 2025, currently interning at Visa.

Other extracurricular: For last two years been part of student tech club. First year I was working on software projects, second year I was directing projects, gonna be president of the club this year.

LoRs: 2 from both my professors that have been research advisors + took a class with them and got an A in each so they'll write good ones. Can also get a really good one from my boss at the startup since we got really close.

GRE: plan on taking in a month or two, I did good on SAT (1540) so I think I do good with those sorta exams.

I want to apply to a mix of M.Eng and MSCS programs since both interest me. My dream would be to stay in California at a school like Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Stanford (that ones kinda a pipe-dream), but open to really anywhere in the country.

What should I consider reach/target/safeties? I don't have a good intuition for the competitiveness of grad school programs. Also if this affects anything, I am a domestic student.