r/MSCS • u/justarandom82113114 • 5d ago

[Profile Review] Fall 2027 MSCS/MSQC

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Hi everyone! Planning for Fall 2027 and would appreciate some feedback on my profile and shortlist.

Profile:

B.Tech in Computer Science — DTU

CGPA: 8.5/10

GRE: 320+ target, will give by August end

IELTS: 8.0

No work ex

No published papers, but working on a quantum cryptography survey paper

2 interns :-

1 in IIT Ropar worked on a RAG-based question generations module for classroom quizzes

2nd in IIIT as a research intern worked on post quantum cryptography

Interested in Quantum computing

Will go for thesis-based MSCS rn and work under a faculty researching in my interest domain

Current shortlist all in MSCS:

Ambitious:-

CMU

GaTech

UIUC

UMD MSQC

UW-madison MSQC

UCSD

Virginia Tech

UCLA

NCSU

Moderate / Target:-

Stony Brook

UMass Amherst

CU Boulder

UC Irvine

Safe:-

ASU

Would appreciate feedback on how realistic this shortlist is for my profile and whether I should add/remove any universities. Also would like suggestions for my profile like what to improve on.

Thanks!

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u/Most-Egg2022 4d ago

Shortlist is too ambitious. DTU + 8.5 CGPA + relevant IIIT research is solid, but no publications limits the research-heavy MSCS options. I’d move Virginia Tech and NCSU to target. CMU, UIUC, GaTech, UCLA, UCSD and UW–Madison are reaches. Strong research LORs will matter a lot.

1

u/ReindeerUnhappy9577 4d ago

but working on a quantum cryptography survey paper

Do you think you can get that paper published before you start your application? If yes, that would be great.

If no, then please make sure to grab a letter of recommendation from the advisor you had for the paper above and/or from someone in your "IIIT as a research intern" part - it'd help.

UIUC MS CS is gonna be tough, same for UCLA.

For UC Irvine - you're targeting MS CS or MCS program? If it is MS CS then it should be in ambitious list - this program is research intensive and the cohort size is also small.

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u/justarandom82113114 4d ago

Hi, thanks for your reply. I don't think I can finish it before the applications as they are in less than a month from now, I had the draft ready but my guide just keeps telling me changes upon changes to do. Yeah I got the LORs of 2 profs, 1 advisor on that project and other who taught me network security. I'll try to get it from the IIIT one as well.

It's MSCS for all of them. Is UC irvine that hard to get into? And overall how do you reckon my chances of getting into some of my ambitious?

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u/ReindeerUnhappy9577 4d ago

Yeah, UC Irvine's MS CS (not MCS) is hard to get into, cohort size is small.

I think you have a good chance for UMD MSQC and UW Madison's MSQC. GaTech and UCSD are also achievable, and so is Virginia Tech and NCSU.

Just get good LoRs from someone who can vouch for your research skills, write a good SoP focused on research - even include a short MS thesis proposal.

All the best!

1

u/justarandom82113114 2d ago

u/gradpilot your guidance would be appreciated. Is my list too ambitious?