How important is the rank for CS master's programs, especially to be a product manager? Penn MCIT vs. postponing for a year for better-ranked program?

[tjs625]

A bit of a non-traditional background/path here - would appreciate any help and input!

 

I was recently admitted to MCIT at Penn, which seems like a great program for those with non-CS backgrounds to learn CS foundations and dive into some advanced topics, though not as in-depth as a pure CS master's program (http://www.cis.upenn.edu/current-students/graduate/mcit/index.php).

 

I was an Econ major at a top 3 school and worked at a top consulting firm and a startup before this. My ultimate goal is to combine my business background with technical skills to work in a product management and/or data science role in tech.

 

I'm currently considering either:

1) enrolling at Penn MCIT this fall (my other options are NYU MSCS with one year of the PAC program or Cornell Tech's MEng in CS program)
2) taking a job at a big tech company in a business / sales operations & strategy role, taking online classes for the next year while at this job, then applying to more traditional, better-ranked CS master's this fall such as Stanford or CMU, to start grad school a year later. I'll have taken 4 courses by the application time later this year.

 

If I DON'T want to be an engineer long term (I'd consider doing it for a couple years out of school, but my strengths lie more more in strategic synthesis and communication/collaboration) and already "check the boxes" for a good school from my undergrad, how important is it to try to get into a better-ranked program in a year?

 

The upsides for 2) would be better reputation and maybe better cutting-edge coursework, discounted by the chance that I might NOT get into a better program by then, as well as making some money / building connections at the big tech firm. Downsides would be that job isn't on the path I want to be on ultimately, and it would delay getting on that path by another year.

 

Would someone interviewing me for PM roles at Google/Facebook/LinkedIn/etc. look down on the Penn MCIT program for its rank, or would the fact that I took and did well on CS classes there be enough to get me in the door, as long as I can interview well?

 

How important really are CS master's rankings for someone who doesn't want to be an engineer ultimately (but still work in cutting edge fields in tech in PM/data roles)?

 

What do you think between Penn MCIT vs. NYU MSCS with one-year delay of PAC vs. Cornell Tech MEng in CS?

Edited April 15, 2015 by tjs625

[chordy68]

When did you submit your application? I am still waiting to hear back and submitted for the March 15 deadline. 

[billrach]

How much CS did you take as an undergrad?  It might be hard to keep up with Cornell MEng if you don't have a strong background.  If you don't plan on being an engineer for life, I would say go with UPenn MCIT.  Their degree is the perfect fit for you IMO.  It's still technical enough to get an engineer job.

[tjs625]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

 

@chordy68 - which program are you referring to? I submitted for Cornell and Penn around the day of the deadline, Mar 15.

 

@billrach - I took one intro Java class in school, but am making up the coursework now in the spring/summer before starting, but I agree going into the program, I'd have much less CS experience, in terms of both academics and work experience, compared with the other Cornell MEng students.

[tjs625]

And @kimasx - very helpful thanks! Yeah I think if I do start this fall I'm leaning toward MCIT because it fits well with my background and goals.. basically still need to decide on that trade-off I'd make for the extra year vs. the reputation of a program like Stanford/CMU/etc.!

[tjs625]

Hey all quick update to this - I've recently also received an admit from Columbia MSCS. In light of that, does that make any difference in how you'd weigh the 2 decisions?

 

Clearly, the network, reputation, etc. of Stanford's MSCS program is still greater than Columbia's, but would it be correct to think that IF I work hard and put in the effort to do well at Columbia, there would be few opportunities that would be open to me at one and not the other? Thoughts?

[cs_phd]

columbia MSCS is great. since you want to join industry, columbia gives you enough opportunities.

[billrach]

Hey all quick update to this - I've recently also received an admit from Columbia MSCS. In light of that, does that make any difference in how you'd weigh the 2 decisions?

 

Clearly, the network, reputation, etc. of Stanford's MSCS program is still greater than Columbia's, but would it be correct to think that IF I work hard and put in the effort to do well at Columbia, there would be few opportunities that would be open to me at one and not the other? Thoughts?

You were able to get into Columbia MSCS with only 1 CS course?  I was looking at the application requirements, and they said that they required 4 CS courses as a minimum background.

[tjs625]

Thanks all for the input & comments!

 

@billrach @kimasx

One thing I forgot to add is that I am currently taking classes full-time through online programs & self-learning to make up the 4 essential prereqs that Columbia requires for its program (and a bit beyond that as well), in math & CS. So while I think I'll still enter classes with less preparation than someone with a full CS degree and years of work experience in programming, I'll be able to catch up to the master's level classes by the fall, with some additional legwork in the beginning.

[billrach]

That's pretty interesting.  Did you get letters of rec. from any of the online CS professors?  Would you mind sharing which online university you took those classes through?

 

It really depends on how much CS background you have.  It seems that if you have Data Structures and Algo, you should be able to survive at Columbia/Cornell.  But you'll probably still be behind most everyone else.