With most students flocking to secure a degree in the domain, computer science is one of the most popular and competitive fields. There are three reasons in addition to the obvious ones that make studying MS abroad in Computer Science a very competitive course:
There are many students who apply for the MS in CS program who do not necessarily come from the IT or CS or computer engineering academic backgrounds. Thus, CS is among the most competitive courses in the world, with most students seeking admission to the same top schools.
University policies on eligibility for CS courses can be rigid, and students from non-CS backgrounds are explicitly invited to apply to other courses. Many colleges do not explicitly mention this criterion, such as SJSU, Penn State, and NEU, for example. Columbia University, for example, has a question asking if you have studied operations systems, data structure, and other CS-related coursework in your undergrad.
If you are admitted to the MS course abroad despite coming from a non-CS background, many universities outline mandatory pre-requisite courses. The specific course will not be stated in your transcripts, so you will be expected to take them regardless of your domain knowledge. Therefore, your total cost of education and length of study is increased as a result of the prerequisite courses.
In order to provide you with more clarity on your options, let us look at the Indian scenario in parallel. Your academic profile may qualify you for admission to the EE/ECE/CE fields at IIT Bombay. For colleges like VJTI, SRM, PICT, etc., you get short-listed for computer science. In such a situation, what would you choose? The brand or the course?
Let us weigh the pros and cons of your choices:
If you apply for Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE):
- Getting into a better university could lead you to a career change in computer science. In the same way as in India, we see engineering students going to Georgia Tech, CMU, Rutgers University, etc for ECE and then taking up computer science positions at top companies like Google, Morgan Stanley, Amazon, etc.
- For ECE, you should choose universities that offer you a flexible selection of computer science courses and CS electives. There are several universities like CMU UCSD, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, NEU, UCSC, NCSU, NYU, BU, NW, Penn State University, Stony Brook, Buffalo University, University of Pittsburgh, and others. Several of these universities have AI/ML/DS tracks within the ECE discipline.
If you apply for Computer Science:
- Computer science is certainly part of your preferred curriculum. By not taking ECE, you are not burdened with the additional ECE-related courses you would have to take.
- Choosing CS, on the other hand, limits your university choices. You may not be able to get into a university with the same reputation you might get into if you choose ECE instead.
- Applicants with one year or more of work experience can apply to the Professional MS in CS courses that emphasize work experience as a prerequisite. You may be able to use your experience to get into some top schools, such as UCI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Minnesota, and University of Colorado Boulder.
There is a vast difference between studying MS in the USA and MS in India. Jobs and salaries in the US tend to be better for students with CS backgrounds than those from fields like ECE, MIS, etc., since Google, Apple, Amazon, and others pay their employees well. Students with an MS in CS from a Tier 2 university may end up earning more than students with an MS in ECE from a Tier 1 university.
Ultimately, if you prefer the brand name of the university, an MS in ECE course is the best choice for you. The MS in CS is a viable path if you are willing to sacrifice the university brand name for curriculum, courses, jobs, and salaries. Alternatives like MS in Data Science, MIS, Data Analytics, Software Engineering, etc., are equally lucrative.
If you are still confused and do not know how to start your career in Computer Science abroad then Visawebs will give assistance with it. Visit www.visawebs.com or message at info@visawebs.com