CSGuy

Hi everyone, here's a summary of my background: B.S. in CS, minor in IT from a small private school in Massachusetts (overall regional ranking < 100)GPA: 3.43 Major GPA: 3.352 year internship involving bus. intelligence, data modeling and project management at a fortune-ranked companySummer REU program at UMASS Amherst involving systems research (2010)GRE scores on the lower end - 390V // 600Q And here is my current situation/dilemma: I was accepted to Auburn's CS PhD program, but without any funding. Apparently this is typical and most students find funding within the first year. I was accepted to Brandeis' CS MA program with a 50% tuition scholarship (although I applied for the PhD program) I accepted a job at a small financial company, with a salary slightly below the average for CS. I haven't really traveled much at all, and i feel Auburn is too much of a "risk" - I will have to pay rent without having an immediate job and possibly be stuck with first years tuition . Brandeis is still too expensive with the scholarship, especially considering I already have 20k in loans. The job feels like a safety choice for me - I can pay off loans and *maybe* do a part time program, maybe even a distance program. But are there any legitimate programs? RPI-Hartford is within commuting distance from this company, and it looks like a 3 yr part time program.How about distance programs? Is the MS in CS at Nova Southeastern reputable at all? I am also looking at BU and Florida Tech but they are less technicalAny suggestions for distance programs? Perhaps I should just pay off loans, work on certifications, and work towards getting into graduate school when I am more financially able to? (within the next couple of years) I can work and do a part time distance program but I feel that is also a risk after reading some reviews. Any advice for my situation? Thanks

Hi there, thanks for the reply angusBF. I ended up choosing the top 20 school REU. I think my GPA averages out about right, between a B and B+ overall (3.15). Yes you are right, I need to be focusing on research now as I am planning to apply this coming fall. I understand there is a great divide between certain MSCS and MSCS/PhD tracks - mainly theory vs. application. I'm still trying to decide which direction I want to go in

Sorry for double post

Hi guys, I'm currently a Junior at a small private college in MA. I intend to apply to grad school in the fall for a MS in CS. I have a decent academic record - 3.15 CS GPA and 3.33 cumulative GPA. However I have not taken some core CS courses yet (e.g. algorithm analysis, architecture), but I have been checking out the ArsDigita lectures in my free time. This is how my audit looks (for CS and Math): CS 1xx* B- 4 Computer Science I Fal 07-08 CS 1xx* B- 4 Computer Science II Spr 07-08 IT 1xx B 3 Intro to Information Tech Spr 07-08 CS 2xx* B- 3 Data Structures I Fal 08-09 CS 2xx* B+ 3 Data Structures II Spr 08-09 BIS 3xx* A 3 Database Management Syst Fal 08-09 IT 2xx A- 3 Intro to Oper Sys & Scrip Spr 08-09 CS 2xx* B+ 3 Visual Basic.Net Spr 08-09 CPE 2xx* B 4 Digital Design Spr 08-09 CPE 3xx* B 3 Machine/Assmbly Language Fal 09-10 CS 4xx* A 3 Operating Systems Fal 09-10 MATH 1xx B+ 3 Calc I Mgt,Life,Soc Sci Fal 07-08 MATH 1xx A 3 Calc II Mgt,Life & Soc Sc Spr 07-08 MATH 2xx C 3 Discrete Structures I Fal 08-09 MATH 2xx B- 3 Discrete Structures II Spr 08-09 MATH 3xx B+ 3 Linear Algebra Fal 09-10 MATH 3xx Probably B- 3 Theory of Computation Spr 09-10 As you can see, I struggled in the beginning, as I had no programming experience coming into college. I have also struggled with discrete and theory. I have 1.5 years of industry experience at a large insurance company (internship) - experience with Cognos 8 BI and ERwin tools I have been working on a large open source project through an NSF fund at my school. The project will be part of the Software Engineering course in the fall. I am very motivated to participate and initiate projects and extracurricular activities like this. I also help out with all the open houses. I took the CS practice test, the ETS book that is online - got a 680 without having taken algorithms or architecture yet, but having basic knowledge of asymptotic complexity analysis and search/sort algorithms. I have been practicing GRE quantitative problems, with few incorrect, so I will likely score above 700. Here's the dilemma: I got accepted into 2 CS REUs: 1 at a top 20 CS school and another at a small liberal arts college. If I choose to do one of those, it is likely I will lose the internship. I am leaning towards the top 20 school one - which i have to get back to by Friday. Did anyone have a similar record like mine, and is now in grad school? Should I reconsider staying in the industry? (it looks like they may make an offer to me next year but I'm not sure). Any comments? thanks a bunch

Hi guys, I'm currently a Junior at a small private college in MA. I intend to apply to grad school in the fall for a MS in CS. I have a decent academic record - 3.15 CS GPA and 3.33 cumulative GPA. However I have not taken some core CS courses yet (e.g. algorithm analysis, architecture), but I have been checking out the ArsDigita lectures in my free time. This is how my audit looks (for CS and Math): CS 1xx* B- 4 Computer Science I Fal 07-08 CS 1xx* B- 4 Computer Science II Spr 07-08 IT 1xx B 3 Intro to Information Tech Spr 07-08 CS 2xx* B- 3 Data Structures I Fal 08-09 CS 2xx* B+ 3 Data Structures II Spr 08-09 BIS 3xx* A 3 Database Management Syst Fal 08-09 IT 2xx A- 3 Intro to Oper Sys & Scrip Spr 08-09 CS 2xx* B+ 3 Visual Basic.Net Spr 08-09 CPE 2xx* B 4 Digital Design Spr 08-09 CPE 3xx* B 3 Machine/Assmbly Language Fal 09-10 CS 4xx* A 3 Operating Systems Fal 09-10 MATH 1xx B+ 3 Calc I Mgt,Life,Soc Sci Fal 07-08 MATH 1xx A 3 Calc II Mgt,Life & Soc Sc Spr 07-08 MATH 2xx C 3 Discrete Structures I Fal 08-09 MATH 2xx B- 3 Discrete Structures II Spr 08-09 MATH 3xx B+ 3 Linear Algebra Fal 09-10 MATH 3xx Probably B- 3 Theory of Computation Spr 09-10 As you can see, I struggled in the beginning, as I had no programming experience coming into college. I have also struggled with discrete and theory. I have 1.5 years of industry experience at a large insurance company (internship) - experience with Cognos 8 BI and ERwin tools I have been working on a large open source project through an NSF fund at my school. The project will be part of the Software Engineering course in the fall. I am very motivated to participate and initiate projects and extracurricular activities like this. I also help out with all the open houses. I took the CS practice test, the ETS book that is online - got a 680 without having taken algorithms or architecture yet, but having basic knowledge of asymptotic complexity analysis and search/sort algorithms. I have been practicing GRE quantitative problems, with few incorrect, so I will likely score above 700. Here's the dilemma: I got accepted into 2 CS REUs: 1 at a top 20 CS school and another at a small liberal arts college. If I choose to do one of those, it is likely I will lose the internship. I am leaning towards the top 20 school one - which i have to get back to by Friday. Did anyone have a similar record like mine, and is now in grad school? Should I reconsider staying in the industry? (it looks like they may make an offer to me next year but I'm not sure). Any comments? thanks a bunch