I have been accepted for both MSAII and MSCS at CMU and I’m conflicted about which one is better
Is MSAII seen as more of an auxiliary Masters Degree, with MSCS being the more desirable one?
Does MSAII’s focus on application in companies mean that you don’t learn as much theory about how ML/AI actually works, especially mathematically, but instead only how it’s applied?
Is MSAII riskier than MSCS in that it won’t help me get a normal CS job if I’m unable to find a good AI job?
I know that I want to go into industry after my degree, so I’m not concerned about research. I’m also very interested in AI over systems type stuff. However, I don’t want to just learn applied stuff—I want to learn the real underpinnings of AI and machine learning.
I’m leaning towards MSAII because AI is what I truly want to pursue. But ultimately I care most about finding the best job afterwards.
Which program do you think is stronger? Where can I get more information to help me choose?
You should pursue what you want - what interests you.
That said, the MSAII shows 34 grads, 100% placement at an average of $149,900 and median of $158,000.
The top titles are Machine Learning Engineer, Senior Associate Data Scientist, and Software Engineer with Bank of NY Mellon by far the biggest employer (7 of 34).
The MSCS has 93% working, 4% continuing education and 2% seeking with 50 grads. It’s average is $159k and median $150K - with by far the top title as software engineer and top employers are Databricks and Snowflake - but with only 3 each.
In the end, both can bring you success - but which do you prefer? I’d always choose that.
Congrats and best of luck.
You may need to reset the filters - to masters and your major.
First of all, congratulations! These are both excellent programs.
However, they are not the same thing. Neither is “better”. The issue is, would you rather work in computer science in a more general way, or work specifically in artificial intelligence?
It has been a long time since I studied artificial intelligence. For one year I thought that I would be an AI major. Then I took multiple courses and changed my mind. The thing that talked me out of it: Back then AI people seemed to want you to solve the problem the “right way”, meaning the way that seemed to them to mimic intelligence. I just wanted to solve the problem in a way that worked and got the correct answer. A few years later (in the 1980s) I had a good friend who was into genetic algorithms. He had the same problem. He wanted to solve problems in a way that worked and got the right answers. He got criticism for solving problems in a way that worked but that did not mimic genetics in a sufficiently appropriate way. He did however have a good job working for a boss who just wanted to see problems solved in a way that worked and got the right answers.
I have no idea whether this is still a problem for students studying AI. It has been a long time.
One daughter has a boyfriend who works in machine learning. He was working for a very small company that lost funding and very suddenly went out of business. He intentionally took a few weeks off and then starting looking for a new job. He found several very good jobs very quickly. I think that AI and machine learning are areas where there are currently lots of jobs.
I think that this provides the answer. Do what is right for you.