Chances of getting into top MSCS programs (Stanford, CMU, Berkeley, etc.)

Graduate School
1
  • This is a re-post. The original post is under #ChanceMe, which I believe is for undergrad admissions mostly.

Hello,

I’m thinking about getting into a top master terminal program. I’m not a research person so I have no publications and definitely no interest in pursuing a PhD. I’m applying from a Canadian university. I kinda funked my GPA during my 2nd and 3rd year because I had no intention to attend a master program and skipped ~95% of the classes. But I’m working on a stellar GPA this term (Hopefully it can turn the table a bit). I’d greatly appreciate it if anyone could evaluate my qualifications and shed some lights on things that I can improve. Thanks in advance.

Undergrad program:
Software engineering @ University of Waterloo (one of the best CS undergrad in Canada)
joint applied math (like a minor)

CGPA: 3.74 (no bird courses, this = major + applied math courses)

Major GPA: 3.71 (screwed up a CS course final, got a C+)

Internships:
8 months @ a startup in Canada.
4 months @ AMD, Canada
8 months @ Microsoft, US
Another 4 months from Sept. - Dec. Haven’t decided where to go.

Researches:
4 months with the director of my program.
4 months with the head of a research group in my U.

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If you are going for a terminal non-research masters then you certainly have a chance. However, you have to be prepared to self-fund the program.