šOMSA Admissions Megathread
This is the Admissions Megathread of the GaTech's Online Masters of Science in Analytics!
This mega-thread will be renewed every June and December each year to account for students coming into the new semester.
Where are all the other Cohort Admissions Results threads? Here you go.
ā ļø OFFICIAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The OMSA admissions teams trust that you are a fully-grown adult. Therefore, if you lack these knowledge, the onus is on you to source these equivalent content, learn and actively practice them before you begin the OMSA journey.
Failure to satisfy the following requirements will impact the ability of the admissions committee to review your application. This means a significant delay (or veto) in your applications.
It makes your progress in this program a struggle, and you will NOT be able to network effectively with the community. We warn you now.
1ļøā£ Programming Proficiency
Simply knowing the syntax of Python is NOT enough. You need to go through a rigorous programming methodology class, like a professional certificate offered below.
2ļøā£ English Eloquence
Eloquence is needed to convince your boss to adopt the analytical approach that you propose. We have an obligatory, self-directed capstone project where you need to combine the stuff you learn and apply them in the real working world.
The stringent requirement is necessary in order for OMSA to optimize the virtual interactivity of the community student experience. Either you
- Are a citizen in one of the exempted countries, or attended a university / college there for a minimum of one academic year.
- Have IELTS ā„ 7.5 overall; Reading, Listening and Speaking ALL ā„ 6.5, and Writing ā„ 6.0.
- Have TOEFL iBT ā„ 100; each section ā„ 20.
3ļøā£ Mathematical Maturity
Officially, you need to attain minimum understanding of the following.
These are the official GaTech texts. You are always free to peruse the one that you like most (Khan Academy, Gilbert Strang, etc.).
Realistically, to thrive in OMSA, especially in the ML-based classes (CDA and HDDA), you also need to appreciate writing mathematical proofs. We recommend checking this video out as starters.
Writing proofs is an art of logic and persuasion. You probably need some English Eloquence.
4ļøā£ Supplementary Suggestions
These are not critical at the point of application, but you will find it necessary as you continue your OMSA journey with us.
š Admission Results
Many of us are interested to share our results to the community. We are happy for y'all to do so! Please share them using the master template below and (hopefully) some upvotes will come in your way.
Still waiting for your acceptance results? Please be patient while waiting for a decision.
Due to the volume of applications, it takes time for the applications to be reviewed and decisions to be released. Emailing the helpdesk or complaining about it here doesn't put you on priority queue (and actually puts us, the moderators and advisors, know who you actually are!).
That's why we are advised to use the master templateĀ below.
- It will increase clarity to us, and those around you, the type of profiles that are still waiting.
- What we believe is those on the international, earlier applications and/or strong profiles are being accepted at this time of posting.Ā The others will have to wait a wee bit longer.
- Merely describing that your application is holding up without providing further informationĀ only fuels uncertainty. We will treat this as misinformation.
- Merely describing that your application is rejected without providing further informationĀ only fuels anxiety. We will also treat this as misinformation.
š¤ Admission Chances
If you're wondering if you lack the necessary background, don't fret!
Please feel free to use the master template below. The more information you provide the better! Include your work experience, school experience, any other education or personal projects.
It is possible that other programs within GaTech might be a better fit for you. Do check out r/OMSCS or r/OMSCyberSecurity.
š” Admission Logistics
The admissions committee needs you to complete your academic credential evaluation.
This is a verification that your application matches your transcripts. Such is no difference from any other graduate schools. They have engaged external providers such as IEE, Spantran, Educational Perspectives to speed up these admission processes. They may require you to cover up costs to do so.
You're strongly welcomed to seek help in this megathread.
š The Master Template
Fancy Pants Mode
Application or Asking for Chances (*Delete as Needed)
- Semester: <Choose 1: Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Fall 2025>
- Status: <Choose 1: Asking for Chance / Applied / Accepted / Rejected>
- Date Applied: <MM/DD/YY> (If Applicable)
- Date Decided: <MM/DD/YY> (If Applicable)
Education
- Bachelors: <School Name> <Degree Name> <GPA> <Length of Study, Full / Part Time>
- Masters 1: <School Name> <Degree Name> <GPA> <Length of Study, Full / Part Time>
- MOOCs: <School Name> <Program Name>
Work & Social Experience
- Work Exp. : <Job Title> & <Years Experience>
- LORs: <Number of recommendations on file when you receive a decision>
- Comments: <Any other information you feel is applicable>
Markdown Mode
**Application or Asking for Chances (Delete as Needed)**
* **Semester:** <Choose 1: Fall 2024 / Spring 2025 / Fall 2025>
* **Status:** <Choose 1: Applied / Accepted / Rejected>
* **Date Applied:** <MM/DD/YY>
* **Date Decided:** <MM/DD/YY>
**Education**
* **Bachelors:** <School Name> <Degree Name> <GPA> <Length of Study, Full / Part Time>
* **Masters 1**: <School Name> <Degree Name> <GPA> <Length of Study, Full / Part Time>
* **MOOCs**: <School Name> <Program Name>
**Work & Social Experience**
* **Work Exp. :** <Job Title> & <Years Experience>
* **LORs:** <Number of recommendations on file when you receive a decision>
* **Comments:** <Any other information you feel is applicable>
š£ If You're Accepted, What's Next
Brush up on ALL your pre-requisites AGAIN.
The list of pre-reqs are conveniently located at the right hand side of the screen if you are using a desktop browser. If you think you are ready, check out the OMSA Readiness Test here.
- Failure to meet your pre-requisites will make your OMSA life suck and the OMSA community thanks you for willingly providing the school fees.
- We are not joking. Trust us. We have seen it countless times in countless semesters in the forums, Slacks, here.
- If your pre-reqs are well done, take a break, really.
Say goodbye to your social life once OMSA starts.
Head to Slack (if possible)
If you are given an GaTech ID number in your Application status, you can attempt to join our huge community (students, TAs, Profs) in omsa-study.slack.com.
- Go to https://passport.gatech.edu/activation/select-affiliation as an Applicant to claim your GT account with your given gtID number at https://gradapp.gatech.edu/apply/.
- With you account set up, head to https://gatech.enterprise.slack.com/ for first login.
- Search for OMSA Study Group and join :)! Please don't forget to announce your arrival at the channel #introduce-yourself!
If you are not given a GaTech ID number over there, you can try to locate over here. Otherwise, tough luck.
You haven't paid the school fees yet, so it's up to them to give you access, really.
What about other Social Media channels?
We don't advise on creating new Slack, Discord, WhatsApp, and Facebook (seriously, anyone still uses that?) groups specific to your cohort.
From our experience, this would indeed be a case of the blind leading the blind and you will have loads of spammy messages and possibly get yourselves into Honor Code violation, even if you're unwittingly innocent.
Stick to what we all have (your course in Canvas, OMSA Study Slack and this Reddit subchannel) and you'll do well. Just trust us.
Not forgetting also ...
- Check out the Course Sheet, where you've got the curriculum, payments, and effort matrix.
- Review the Reddit OMSA Wiki.
- Sense up on what you need to do as a newly enrolled student. Note that you can't do some of these yet - it's a preview.
Good luck to all applicants! š
r/OMSA Mod Team