MS in CS -- Columbia vs UCLA vs Wisconsin-Madison?

[NVP12345]

I've just learned I'm admitted to these schools for MS in Computer Science, and they are my only serious contenders at this point. A few things that are factors for me:

- I am already at Columbia (School of Continuing Education), and the 3 graduate-level courses I am taking now will transfer in directly. UCLA MAY let me transfer in two of these pending a petition to the department. Wisconsin will not take any transfer credit.

- I am out of state for UCLA and Wisconsin so cost is comparable to each other and Columbia

- I've been in New York for almost 4 years and am getting a little sick of it

- I think I'd rather end up on the west coast after I graduate, but would like whatever school I choose to be held in high regard on either coast

- My number one concern is the quality of job I'll be able to find when I graduate

I am interested in Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and Software/Networks engineering.

Any thoughts from those with some knowledge about this area would be helpful. Thanks!

[spark1989]

I think best people to advice you are the profs at Columbia. They can tell you more about the faculty at UCLA and Wisc-mad working in their areas.

From my experience, I think columbia is a better place for ML(jabera, collins,..).

Btw, it's always better to change your place, and if you are looking for a better job, then may be UCLA is a better fit.

[finknottle]

If you want to factor funding in, Wisc Mad has a pretty good record of funding grad students (including MS) through TA/RA posts since Wisc Mad is pretty selective, and they evaluate MS students in the same way as PhD students while admitting them. However, WiscMad is better in Comp Arch & Systems than other areas.

[spark1989]

If you want to factor funding in, Wisc Mad has a pretty good record of funding grad students (including MS) through TA/RA posts since Wisc Mad is pretty selective, and they evaluate MS students in the same way as PhD students while admitting them. However, WiscMad is better in Comp Arch & Systems than other areas.

I don't agree with this view. WiscMad is having a really hard time in giving aid to their incoming PhD students. We've seen so many Phd admits w/o any aid. Expecting them to fund MS students is just unreasonable in my opinion.

[finknottle]

I don't agree with this view. WiscMad is having a really hard time in giving aid to their incoming PhD students. We've seen so many Phd admits w/o any aid. Expecting them to fund MS students is just unreasonable in my opinion.

I wasn't aware of recent changes in Wisc Mad's policy or the funding situation. My information is probably a couple of years old. The people I know at Wisc Mad have been there for about that long.

[EB456]

I don't agree with this view. WiscMad is having a really hard time in giving aid to their incoming PhD students. We've seen so many Phd admits w/o any aid.  Expecting them to fund MS students is just unreasonable in my opinion.

UW Madison doesn't seem to make distinctions between PhD and MS students in the first years of the program, so I'd imagine the funding situation would be pretty similar for both.