<p>I was wondering exactly what it takes to get admitted to the MS program at Stanford. Ideally, I would like to do the Masters with Distinction in Research and eventually (if I enjoy it enough) move on to a doctoral program.</p>
<p>My stats:</p>
<p>Major: CS
GPA: 3.8 (top 5 CS school)
GRE Q/V = 800/700
Experience: 1 internship at State Farm, 2 internships at Google
Recs: Should be pretty good (not stellar, future CS hero)</p>
<p>Essentially as far as grades and scores go, I think I am relatively competitive, but I have ZERO research experience. I'm not sure how necessary this is for the Master's Program and if anyone has any information / stats of others who were admitted that would be great.</p>
<p>you have a fair chance. Maybe a good chance even not sure.
I think Stanford MS is not that much fun. It will be hard to find research opportunities there as an MS student…</p>
<p>Funny how our profiles are almost exactly identical except that I have a lot of industry work experience instead of internships at big companies.</p>
<p>Stanford MSCS isn’t necessarily the most competitive Master’s program out there and it’s not really focused on research either. Still, from what I’ve gathered it will be rather difficult to get in without <em>any</em> kind of research experience. I’m not saying that you will be rejected but having research experience woud dramatically increase your chances. I assume you are applying for next year, if that’s the case, try to get some research experience until then. At least that’s what I’m planning to do.</p>
<p>Also, I agree with that JamesMadison said. I heard that it can be challenging to get involved in research as a Stanford MSCS student.</p>
<p>When I was doing the grad school search, I talked to an ME admissions advisor for grad school at Stanford. He told me that most Masters students in Mechanical Engineering do not get funding through the school. I would imagine it is similar for Computer Science students. On the other hand, Ph.D. students usually receive full funding, so if I were you, I would just go ahead and apply for the Ph.D. program.</p>
<p>If you are just looking for a Masters degree, you may have better luck finding research funding at a school like UC Davis and the like. Also, if you are a California resident, it may be a good idea to apply to Cal Poly and San Jose State as backups. In case you can’t get any funding anywhere, at least you’ll have <em>somewhat</em> affordable options.</p>
<p>Bottom line, don’t spend $37,000 of money you don’t have to go to Stanford.</p>
<p>“If you are admitted to pursue a Master’s degree, and are taking courses part-time through the Honors Cooperative Program, the base tuition rate is $1,310/unit…The central requirement for the MSCS degree is completion of at least 45 units that represent an approved academic plan.” </p>
<p>45 x $1380 = $62,100 => <em>ouch</em></p>
<p>If the on campus tuition is only $37,000, that’s pretty standard & competitive.</p>
I wouldn’t because you most certainly don’t have any chance to get into the PhD program without research experience. Not only Stanford, but almost any top PhD program.</p>
<p>Sorry I was vague. I meant $37,000 a year, for tuition alone. After housing, you bet it’s going to cost more.</p>
<p>Let me add one more thing, though. Since you’ve done an internship at Google, and assuming you would want to continue working there afterwards, you might check into whether Google has programs that will cover the costs for a Masters degree. If Google is willing to pay for your education at Stanford, then it would be worth it. Otherwise, forget it. Go to Cal.</p>
<p>If you are coming from a top 5 CS school, surely that school has a 5th year master’s program. </p>
<p>Also, with your credentials, attending grad school, you will lose in opportunity costs and risk graduating in a down hiring market. And if your grades and aptitude is as you say they are, you should have no problem in acquiring CS skills that are needed for any particular task. </p>
<p>DS applied to Stanford for MS, had research experience, but alas they did not offer scholarships or a program for MS thesis. He did eventually get into a MS thesis program but graduated in a down hiring time. - He would have been better off, going for a job on BS degree where companies were giving out hiring bonuses.</p>
What’s that supposed to mean? You know that 1. Berkeley’s CS Master’s Program is much more competitive than Stanford’s and 2. Is focused on research, meaning the op would almost certainly be rejected without research experience.</p>
<p>@LongPrime, what you say may be correct but not everyone lives their lives in the way to make or save the maximum amount of $$$. The OP eventually wants to go for a PhD and a Master’s is a good step towards that because with his current profile he won’t be able to get into a decent PhD program. Other people may simply enjoy studying (like me) or may want to get a job that makes them happy, not the one that pays the most. A life constantly lived based on “opportunity costs” must be a pretty sad one.</p>
<p>@LongPrime: I appreciated your comment though! I’m in a similar situation as the OP credentials-wise and definitely want to go into industry after college (graduating in December). I’m interested in an MS, but right now it seems like CS is too hot to ignore and keep going to school for 1-2 more years! At this rate I think I’ll have to just suck it up and take a few CS classes part-time while working, if my future employer has tuition reimbursement.</p>
You know that 1. Berkeley’s CS Master’s Program is much more competitive than Stanford’s and 2. Is focused on research, meaning the op would almost certainly be rejected without research experience.</p>
I’m in a similar situation as the OP credentials-wise and definitely want to go into industry after college (graduating in December). I’m interested in an MS, but right now it seems like CS is too hot to ignore and keep going to school for 1-2 more years! At this rate I think I’ll have to just suck it up and take a few CS classes part-time while working, if my future employer has tuition reimbursement.</p>