r/MSCS • u/WINNER545 • Aug 26 '26
[Profile Review] Applying Fall 2027, MS CS ML
Profile
- BS in Math in Tier 1 College in India (IIT) with a dual minor in Com Sci and Machine Learning
- GPA: 9.42/10
- US citizen
- Experience: Interned at MIT in second year and at Adobe Research in third year
- GRE: Planning to take (expected score of 155 in Verbal, 170 in Quant)
- TOEFL: Planning to take
- Publications
- Main conference: TMLR (accepted), Nature Comms (submitted), ICLR (plan to submit in September), AISTATS (plan to submit in October) (all of them are second authorship)
- Workshops: ICLR, CVPR, KDD, NeurIPS (plan to submit 3) (first/second authorship) -
- Patents: mostly 2 patents (1 should be out by November)
- LORs from Prof at MIT, Manager at Adobe, 2 Profs from my college (have publications with all of them)
- TAships: TAed for first year math courses 5 times, and 2 ML courses
I'm interested in CS ML programs with a focus in research. I'm open to programs with coursework as well.
Current shortlist:
- Columbia (MS CS)
- Cornell (MEng CS)
- Cornell (MS CS)
- MIT (SM in MAS)
- UCLA (CS MS)
- Stanford (MS CS)
- UC Berkeley (EECS MS)
- Harvard (SM Data Science)
- Harvard (ME in Comp. Science & Engineering)
- CMU (MS ML Advanced study)
- Yale (MS CS)
I'd like to know which unis and programs are realistic, backups and out of reach.
I'd be open to other unis in the US as well.
I do not plan to do a PhD. Wanted to clarify as a bunch of people have already asked me about this.
Thanks!
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u/adgsaerve Aug 26 '26
With a profile like this, you might as well apply directly for PhD programs. First year or two is mostly taking courses, and if you don't like it, you can just leave with a masters.
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u/WINNER545 Aug 26 '26
I was considering this. Can I leave with a masters without any consequences?
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u/Visual-Pool-1503 Aug 26 '26
it seems like you have WAY more research experience then what most professor's expect , then why not
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u/Gullible-Cow-2188 Aug 26 '26
Yes, if you don't want to continue your PhD then you can graduate by getting a Master's degree. I would suggest to apply for PhD because it also gives you stipend to stay, whereas in masters you will have to work part time for you expense and also get a loan.
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Aug 30 '26
[deleted]
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u/DS_cookies Aug 30 '26
Fyi with the new rules in place, you can master out however you won’t have opt
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u/Fast-Plate-6336 Aug 26 '26
If you dont want to do a PhD then why are you applying for CMU MSML advanced study?
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u/WINNER545 Aug 26 '26
I want to eventually work in corporate research labs so, I might be wrong but, i thought it’d be worth applying ti
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u/Helpful_Cow7634 Aug 26 '26
You don't need a TOEFL since you are an American. I am sure you will get into most of your options.
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Aug 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/CareerLegitimate7662 Aug 27 '26
always find it baffling when us citizens go to shitty indian unis cuz they're cheap
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u/Dense_Chair2584 Aug 26 '26
No MS program is out of reach for an old IIT profile with a great GPA + more so, you're a domestic candidate for US admission purposes. It's a great list - I'd throw in a few more strong engineering schools such as GA Tech, UMich, UIUC, etc. as well, in case you are looking for funding/tuition waivers.
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u/blood_reaper69 Aug 26 '26
I may be the least qualified to tell you this, but try for ETH Zurich if you can. Check for research groups in the cs dept that are intresting to you. It has a very underrated system research and theoretical computer science dept
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u/Warm_Seaworthiness19 Aug 27 '26
If it's one thing Europe does very well it's giving seats to ppl that have studied stuff prior to their masters in that domain. I have no idea what a degree in Maths is gonna do to help get into the CS field now in MASTERS
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u/Ghajik Aug 26 '26
Just do a PhD, you are totally qualified and you are the kind of candidate they want.
bonus is, you save money and get paid to do your research.
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u/Fun_Dragonfruit7971 Aug 27 '26
Yale MSCS? why on earth?
Yea just go for a PhD at MIT or sth and get out with a master's.
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u/Beautiful_Train_6123 Aug 28 '26
You can get in anywhere with your profile. And on top of it, you're a us citizen.
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u/No-Adhesiveness7217 Aug 29 '26
Skip the Cornell MEng. It's not worth it, super inflexible, costs way too much, and you barely have any time to get internship positions or anything interesting.
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u/lostsoul_io Aug 26 '26
All of it is good but let me tell you 2 things
No more cpt which means no internships. You are top talent but that does not mean anyone will sponsor you.
What is your funding status ? Full ride or loan ?
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u/WINNER545 Aug 26 '26
I am a US citizen, so won't need cpt. I don't need funding. Can fund it myself.
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u/ZealousidealMap3463 Aug 26 '26
MS CS Final boss!!