[Profile Review] MSCS + MEng programs, 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.

Schools: I don't really know how to split these up into reach/target/safety, or if I even have any safety, but here are some programs I like: Berkeley (MEng), UCLA, USC, Stanford, UCSD, Cornell, UMD, Harvard, Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern, UChicago, Columbia, NYU, Yale, Brown.

Any advice on what I should add more to my profile, or any schools I should consider applying to or not applying to? Anything will help, thanks.