CS for Non-tech background

[suomiseth]

Hey, I've got a crazy question for Stanford, particularly, but more broadly for MSCS applicants and admits WITHOUT an extensive tech backgroud.....

 

I'm a business background applicant that wants to apply for the new joint degree program this coming Fall for MBA and MSCS at Stanford.  I do not have a CS background.  I have a business background, but learning to develop is one of the primary reasons that I am interested in going back to school.  

 

Stanford's admissions FAQ's says:

 

 

Q: Do you have to be a Computer Science undergraduate major to apply?

A: No, it is not required that a student have majored in CS but it is important that you have strong quantitative and analytical skills.

 

But, does anyone know people that actually got accepted without a CS background?  I scored 99th percentile on the GMAT and hopefully will do just as well with the GRE.  I will be taking a few programming courses this years, including 2 NDO's from Stanford to try to prepare...... but that is really limited experience!

 

Any similar profiles out there?

 

[DFitz]

Not exactly a business background, but my background is in conservation policy and natural resource economics. I graduated with a BA in economics in 2011 and have been working in economic consulting since then. When I applied, my CS-related experience consisted of just a few CS courses I had taken online or in high school.

 

I had the same concerns as you when applying - but I think as long as your GPA/GRE stats are good, you have good LORs, and you can tell a good story in your SOP, you'll have a shot at some top-notch programs. The programs are taking a big risk by letting you in, since you will have to work VERY HARD to make up for your lack of experience. So the more your profile proves that you can put in hard work and handle these obstacles, the more the programs feel OK taking on that risk. Chances are, some programs will reject you, because the plain fact is that they have a lot of students with CS backgrounds that would be "safer" options. My strategy was to throw a lot of darts out there... Fortunately, that worked for me. I would expand your sights to include some other programs in addition to Stanford, since they get insane numbers of applicants.

 

Getting good grades in your 2 NDOs is probably the best thing you can do to show them you can handle the work. Good luck!

[cinoadam]

I'm in the same boat as you.  I was BBA Marketing.  I didn't have a great GPA either, it was about 3.4.  On top of that, most people consider Marketing to be an easy major.  

 

I'm hoping to take some remedial CS and Math courses and do well in those to make myself a more competitive applicant.