<p>Thank you for your time. I am thinking about applying to MS in Computer Science.</p>
<p>About me:</p>
<p>*International Student, But Go To US 4-Year College, Rank 60-70th
*GPA 3.9 (both major and overall)
*Top 5% in my class in my major
*Some Research Experience (submitted one paper, 2nd author, stilling waiting for result)
*GRE: V730 Q800 AW 3.5
*3 Internships in Top Companies in the industry
*LOR - unknown</p>
<p>I am thinking about MS only in the following schools, (in my order of preference)</p>
<p>Stanford,
MIT,
Harvard,
Berkeley,
Princeton,
CMU,
Princeton,
Yale,
UPenn,
UCLA,
USC,
University of Washington</p>
<p>Please, could you guys give me any input of my chance of getting into those? I would really appreciate it!</p>
<p>You’ve got a pretty good shot at getting admitted to all of these places if you’re applying for a Master’s, but you probably won’t get funding. I know Stanford doesn’t fund their MS students; other schools might offer you a TA or RA, but don’t count on it.</p>
<p>I am OK with no funding for 2 years if I can go to Stanford, Harvard, MIT or Princeton.</p>
<p>I have thought about applying to PHD but just do 2 years and then drop out. But I don’t think I have any chance of getting in to PHD in Stanford, Harvard, MIT or Princeton.</p>
<p>Ok here’s the thing: you might be able to get into PhDs at places like stanford and MIT. Don’t see yourself short. Of course that also really depends on how much research you’ve done and if you can get glowing letters of recommendation from a PI that you have worked with. </p>
<p>That being said don’t apply to PhD programs with the intent of getting a masters and dropping out. It’s unfair to the university and, more importantly, unfair to the professor who takes you on and puts time and money on you.</p>
<p>@EMCVelocity - I think that chaospaladin is right. If you can get something for free why not take it. I am an international student and am currently pursuing my MS in states at an expensive institution that is taking care of 70% of my costs. GRE is not the only thing that folks see. It is a combination of acads, recco letters, GRE and good fortune that guarantee admits with or without funds. I know kids who got 1600 in GRE but received one reject after the other. As far as name is concerned - MBA degree - extremely important to have a fancy name so you can strut around, MS - name is of little significance. Besides, undergrad and grad school are different. Moreover, getting into Stanford is not the Final Frontier if you see what I mean. Folks do very well in undergrad but burn out in grad school. If you ask me - rank 60 school (grad level) 4.0 gpa with a decent job is better than rank 2 school (grad level) 3.4 gpa with no job (simply because of level of competition). If your aim is to get into silicon valley even an MS from NJIT, SJSU or CSU will guarantee that.</p>
<p>Are you pursuing your MS? Are you a PHD student but plan to drop out after getting master? Lucky for you that you have 70% covered as a MS.</p>
<p>If I don’t care about funding, do you say I have a chance of getting into MS in top schools? (Stanford, CMU, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Berkeley) I not only want to get into silicon valley, I also want to meet some fellows/professors in some good schools. So maybe later we can share ideas or create something amazing.</p>
<p>I am an MS student and will graduate from my school with the MS (most importantly because I like what I am doing) and then head for Phd wherever the opportunity presents itself. I have worked in research at my hometown for a couple of years and know the value of phd in research. My bosses were phds from U Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Cornell. Since I intend to make a career in research, phd is a must. Getting into Stanford is competitive but has become easier over the past few years. For instance my buddy got into Stanford in 05 with 1590 GRE and 4.0 undergrad gpa. Another peer got into Stanford with 1290 GRE and 4.0 undergrad gpa in 07 or 08. No funding in either case. The name comes at a price - 50 K USD per annum. MS in CS is top in Stanford no doubt but if the idea is to work in silicon valley then it is immaterial. Be it market boom or recession, my buddies in NJIT and SJSU with 3.9 gpa got similar it-sector jobs as folks from USC or CMU with 3.5 gpa if you see what I mean. Alumni from CMU or USC have a better network no doubt. However, the fact remains that a working professional cannot depend on alumni networks alone.</p>