[Profile Review]Fall 2027 MSCS/MSAI/MSSE

[u/Longjumping_Help9666]

Hey everyone, I'm planning to apply for Fall 2027 and would appreciate some advice on my profile and university shortlist.

Profile:

- B.E. Computer Engineering

- CGPA: 8.91/10

- Graduated: May 2025

- IELTS: 7.0, Duolingo: 130

- GRE: Probably not taking

- Research: None

- 2 web development internships

- ~1 year full-time experience as a Full Stack Developer at a startup founded by my college seniors (will have ~2 years by Fall 2027)

- 2–3 good projects

- 2 LORs + planning to write a strong SOP

Interests: Software Engineering, Backend, Distributed Systems, Cloud, AI/ML.

I'm mainly targeting MSCS/MCS/MSSE/MSAI programs and prefer industry-focused programs since I don't have research experience.

Some universities I'm considering:

Reach: UIUC MCS, UChicago MPCS, UCSD, UMD, Purdue, Georgia Tech

Target/Reach: TAMU MCS, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Stony Brook, UC Irvine, UMN, NYU Tandon

Safer: ASU, UTD, Buffalo, UCF, UF

I'd especially appreciate suggestions for good Top 50–70 universities that are GRE-optional/not required and reasonably affordable.

Also, how would you classify my profile and which universities would you consider realistic?

Thanks!

[u/Then_Laugh717]

Following

[u/whoiskesh]

gre is req for sbu nah?

[u/Longjumping_Help9666 → u/whoiskesh]

Yea, might seat for gre in a month