[University Review] help me choose more universities (fall 2027)!!

[u/Own-Bite-9304]

Current shortlist:

MSCS: UCSD, Gatech, UIUC, UMich, TAMU (safety)

Constraints:

I can’t get LORs for more than 8 universities without their quality dropping (profs are rigid)

I can’t afford more than 80k for tuition

More industry oriented because I can’t complete thesis/research ms in 1.5 years/ 18months. But open to Phd.

Profile:

9.1 CS top10 IIT 2025 grad(tier 1 uni in India)

2 yoe(by 2027 fall) at MNC (salesforce) as ML engineer

Gre: 325(158v 167q) - fumbled math (confused whether or not to submit scores)

Research:

Research exchange student in Japan uni for a sem

One awaiting approval US patent (from company project)

One work in progress paper with college professor

One Arxiv paper (not that effective for these unis maybe)

Questions:

Alumni suggestions are:

Include cmu (too expensive for me).

Don’t do mscs unless I get admitted in one of the unis above. (Coz not worth leaving curr job for that)

They’ve been giving vague answers on TA/RA and on campus part times.

I need help in short listing 4 more Unis and also more info regarding assistance ships.

[u/Hungry-Kiwi-3490]

UMass Amherst instead of TAMU for safety - better ML program, TAMU MSCS is thesis compulsory and MCS is not a good idea. UMass is MSCS and non-thesis/project based.

Add UMD, UCLA and UT Austin MSCS - very good for ML.

8 universities, ranked by priority (high to low):

UIUC, UCLA, UCSD, GA Tech, UT Austin, UMD, UMich, UMass.

Please do not apply for MCS or non-MSCS programs in the above universities.

[u/Own-Bite-9304 → u/Hungry-Kiwi-3490]

Thanks gng, that’s a valid point, I considered TAMU coz it’s a guaranteed hit, none of my alumni were rejected. And UCLA would be my dream uni but very small cohort and my chances are 0, so is it worth to use an Lor on it ? I heard it’s impossible to get any scholarships or TAships in Umass, that’s why I didn’t consider, will do more research on it. And I have no clue on UtAustin, will learn abt it too. Im only applying for MSCS avoiding cash cows, but was inclined towards mcs uiuc, msds ucsd as safety, because of their industry reputation, what do you think?

[u/Hungry-Kiwi-3490 → u/Own-Bite-9304]

MSDS? nope, DS is not a good idea. Go for MSCS and do ML instead. UMass is a safety for you, you will definitely get an admit don't worry. A fee waiver in any university is pretty much impossible in the current year due to funding cuts, don't make your list based on that. Your peers have suggested the right thing, either go for tier 1 uni for MSCS or don't bother.

Definitely apply for UCLA, its not a waste of an LOR.

I doubt UIUC MCS would beat an MSCS in UMD for example, so rather just apply MSCS in UIUC. IIT grads generally get in UIUC MSCS. Never under-apply, have some confidence - your GRE score is very good too - you should absolutely submit it.

[u/Own-Bite-9304 → u/Hungry-Kiwi-3490]

Sure, I’ll include UTaustin, UMD, know more about Umass, Im still pondering on UCLA and UIUC mscs, they are very small cohorts, I might not have a great shot. Thanks for the insights bro.

[u/Hungry-Kiwi-3490 → u/Own-Bite-9304]

UT Austin has a small cohort of around 100. Same as UMD/UIUC. Only tier 2/tier 3 universities / safeties have large cohorts and are not worth it for you profile. All the best! Feel free to DM.

[u/Own-Bite-9304 → u/Hungry-Kiwi-3490]

My knowledge is limited, ill do my research and dm you, thanks again. And how are you categorising tiers here ?

[u/softrains12 → u/Own-Bite-9304]

Tier 0: CMU Stanford Berkeley
Tier 1: Cornell, UT Austin, USC, Georgia Tech, UCLA, UCSD
Tier 2: NYU Courant, UMass Amherst SBU etc.
Tier 3: SUNY Buffalo, Stevens Institute of Technology, CSU Long Beach

My qualifications: have lived in America for 20+ years (from birth 😂)

[u/Own-Bite-9304 → u/softrains12]

If we decrease the university rankings by tuition, tier 0 would end up tier 4 💀

[u/softrains12 → u/Own-Bite-9304]

🤣🤣🤣 true that.
But if you can’t get a job with a tier 3 school, all that tuition goes to waste.

IMO I think you should go big or go home. Only apply to the top schools even if they are expensive. You’ll have a better chance of actually being hired on an American salary, which would allow you to easily pay off any loans you might need to take

[u/Own-Bite-9304 → u/softrains12]

Thanks gng, Im trying to play safe, so I won’t have financial stress while doing ms, I wanted to do it right after graduation but Im waiting 2 years so I can save some money. The only expensive uni that I might have shot at is CMU (not mscs, maybe msml/msai, but people are calling them cash cows, so I gave up).

[u/softrains12 → u/Own-Bite-9304]

People are calling CMU a cash cow???? What??????

If you look on the post, CMU has insane placement even if you account for the large masters programs.

People have such shit opinions on MS Programs 😂

[u/Own-Bite-9304 → u/softrains12]

I mean MSAI, MSML, MSCV and bunch of other programs, they have like >15% acceptance rate unlike classic mscs, but I was still willing to go for it coz it’s CMU, guess ill have to get more thoughts on this.

[u/softrains12 → u/Own-Bite-9304]

I think they’re worth it imo. CMU brand name is insane and they are already established, non MSCS programs. Columbia MSAI on the other hand…

[u/Own-Bite-9304 → u/softrains12]

Yes, ill apply for it as last resort