UC Riverside - MSCS vs MSCE

[rishabh1711]

I got this mail in the morning today.

Dear CS MS Applicant,
We would like to invite you to apply to the Master's program in Computer Engineering at the University of California, Riverside. You were selected because your application to the CS MS program at UCR was reviewed well, but due to the very high competition you may not be offered admission.

Because time is short, you must apply within a week of receiving this email. One you apply, we will use the application materials(GREs, recommendation letters etc.) from your previous application to the CS MS program to evaluate your application.

Please note that this invitation does not constitute a promise of admission, since admission to the computer engineering program is also highly competitive.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Graduate Student Advisor, Computer Engineering Program

I would very much like to apply to this university but I'm not so sure about Computer Engineering. The program is more hardware oriented than I would like and involves very very heavy mathematics. Is it possible that once in the univ you can apply for switching the program. Also I'm afraid this might just be an advertisement to get some application money out of me.

Any Ideas?

[svent]

Sounds like they want another $90 out of you. Unless you're actually interested in embedded systems or other related areas, study CS elsewhere.

[GradSchoolTruther]

You cannot just switch programs. In many universities, you have to apply to the department like a new applicant.