Stanford MSCS vs Berkeley MEng

[_DisplayName]

I got into Berkeley's MEng program for Data Science and Systems. It comes with a tempting $20,000 fellowship. However, I'm concerned that an MEng isn't as valuable as an MS (is that right?), but Stanford will be much more expensive unless I can get a TA position. 

Is Stanford's program better? Is it $20,000+ better? How likely are MSCS student to get a TA position? Stanford claims their program takes 3-5 years part time, how long is that full-time?

[rising_star]

Your last two questions are ones best answered by the Stanford program staff. It may be that you can't attend the program full-time because of the way courses are scheduled but, it's impossible for any of us to know this.

Personally, I'd take the fellowship and the financial savings it brings you.

[.letmeinplz//]

What is even your goal? A terminal MEng degree and a research oriented degree probably have the same value (+2) in industry if you are just going to be a developer at Google, etc. If your plan is to continue on to a PhD, a more research oriented degree could help you get the research experience (and connections) admissions committees want (what I did to get into my new program). That said you can still do independent research with professors in terminal degrees too, they just don't usually require a thesis. But if your plan is to simply get a job, both will do fine (so take the money).

[TheMostPowerfulApplicant]

On 4/13/2017 at 10:53 PM, _DisplayName said:

I got into Berkeley's MEng program for Data Science and Systems. It comes with a tempting $20,000 fellowship. However, I'm concerned that an MEng isn't as valuable as an MS (is that right?), but Stanford will be much more expensive unless I can get a TA position. 

Is Stanford's program better? Is it $20,000+ better? How likely are MSCS student to get a TA position? Stanford claims their program takes 3-5 years part time, how long is that full-time?

Full time MS programs at Stanford is 2 years (and maybe 1.5 years if you kill yourself). Expect to get a TA-ship after your first quarter at the earliest to maybe offset SOME tuition.

If I were you, I would do the Berkeley MEng program since it is geared toward industry AND they gave you money. If you go Stanford, you will have to pay at least 50-60k in tuition alone. Sure Stanford has slight edge in terms of prestige, but money talks and Cal will not prevent you from getting just as far.

 

p.s.

I applied to both twice, and got rejected twice