University of Michigan Master's Program?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

Hi everyone I’m a prospective student currently at Tsinghua University looking to study at a top United States university for a computer science master’s.

I was considering applying for the University of Michigan and I wanted to find out more about their program. Here are some of my questions:

  1. How good is U of M's computer science master's program? How competent are their professors? How much research do students get the opportunity to do?
  2. How hard is it to get into U of M's CS program as an international student? As a domestic student? As a U of M student?
  3. How intelligent are the students that attend the program? How many kids from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, etc. go to their CS master's program?
  4. How smart are the students in the master's program compared to their undergraduate students?
  5. What kind of reputation does U of M have in the United States in general and for computer science?

Thanks.

2

Some of your questions are impossible to quantify, while others seem irrelevant.

1.How good is U of M’s computer science master’s program? How competent are their professors? How much research do students get the opportunity to do?

Generally speaking, Michigan’s CS department is ranked among the top 15 in the US. As such, it is not as strong as MIT, CMU, Cal or Stanford, but it among the group of programs that immediately proceed those elite 4 or 5 CS programs. The competence of the faculty will obviously mirror the quality of the department. As for research opportunities, it is safe to say that students who seek out research opportunities will find them, but if you are truly serious about research, I recommend going for an all out PhD.

  1. How hard is it to get into U of M's CS program as an international student? As a domestic student? As a U of M student?

No graduate program will ever release admissions details broken down in such a way. That’s perhaps because graduate programs do not distinguish applicants according to residence or undergraduate program. Suffice it to say, gaining admission into a top graduate program such as Michigan’s CS program is not easy. A strong undergraduate degree with a good GPA in Mathematics or CS will likely be expected, as will a good score on the GRE.

  1. How intelligent are the students that attend the program? How many kids from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, etc. go to their CS master's program?

Like I said above, getting into a top graduate program is not easy. As such, the students will be intelligent. How intelligent depends on your own standards.

  1. How smart are the students in the master's program compared to their undergraduate students?

Why is this relevant?

  1. What kind of reputation does U of M have in the United States in general and for computer science?

Michigan has a strong reputation, both overall and in Engineering/CS. Overall, I would say top 15, in Engineering and CS top 10.

3

Thank you for responding Alexandre.

I can understand the confusion around number 4. I think it is relevant because I have a small benchmark population for U of M students from my high school and it is a way for me to determine how intelligent the master’s students are. I value peer intelligence very highly because those are who I learn from and motivate me the most. I hope that explains why it is relevant. If you need I can elaborate more.

4

It goes without saying that smart peers is a given at any good university and Michigan is not exception. Larry Page is a Michigan alumnus. He built a printer out of a Lego set when he was at Michigan. Michigan students tend to be a bright bunch.

5

I would hope you mostly learn from your professors.

My peers at both my undergrad and grad schools were very smart, but my profs knew a ton more.

6

Agreed PurpleTitan.