Grad School for CS

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am looking for some advice.</p>

<p>I just finished my 3rd year of college in UCSB in Computer Engineering. Initially, I had not planned to attempt to go to Grad School, but a couple courses and some self-exploration have instilled within me a very deep interest in <strong>Crypto, Security, and Computer Architecture</strong>.</p>

<p>Because of this, I am interested in getting a MS in CS.
I got into my school's 5 year BS/MS program, and am seriously considering it, but I would also like to give consideration to some other schools and perhaps a change in scenery.</p>

<p>What're my chances of getting into a top-tier CS program such as MIT, stanford, CMU, ga/tech?</p>

<p>My overall gpa is 3.3, but in the past year in my upper divs I've gotten 3.9/3.9/3.75 (they're a lot more interesting than the basic physics, math, chem classes I took 1st/2nd year) if that'll help my case at all.
I have 157/169/4.0 on the general GRE.
I worked at a medium-sized company doing testing freshman summer. Worked in a professor's research lab sophomore summer (didn't accomplish much but learned a lot). And this summer I'm a dev intern at a large top10 company.</p>

<p>I was hoping to find out if I have a chance despite my low gpa and I was hoping to find out if anybody has any experience and can tell me how the programs at those schools are.</p>

2

<p>Your low GPA will keep you out of most top programs, unless you have extraordinary recommendations or published papers.</p>

3

<p>There are more top programs than just the top 4, which are difficult for anyone and I don’t think you’d have much chance, but what do I know. You might look at departments that are particularly strong in areas you are interested in, like UCSD for Crypto. Still, not an easy admit. UCLA has a crypto group as well. I think UM-College Park does, Brown University does. All those are top programs, though. At least you have an acceptance, so congrats on that.</p>