Most important for data science grad school

Graduate School
1

I wanted to ask if anyone who has gone through the process (or knows someone who has) of applying to masters programs for data science know what the ranking of how important parts of your application are? I know there was a general ranking for undergraduate apps, but for masters programs, where would things like gpa, internships, LORs, personal statement, GRE, etc rank?

Is there anything else I am not considering? I am a junior in T20 CS program, have a GPA ~3.75, have swe + dsci experience and am trying to see what I can do now to improve my chances for getting into top dsci programs (like NYU, Northeastern, CMU, UPenn, etc).

Any advice is appreciated!

2

I would make sure that you have the appropriate background in mathematics.

Also, at least when I was applying to graduate programs (in a subfield of applied mathematics) it looked like they cared about my grades in related classes, but did not seem to care at all about my grades in completely unrelated classes (such as art history).

2 Likes
3

What NU says

  • Online application and fee
  • Transcripts from all institutions attended
  • Statement of purpose that should include career goals and expected outcomes and benefits from the program
  • Recent professional resumĆ© listing detailed position responsibilities
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • GPA minimums: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, 8.0 on a 10.0 scale, or 80 on a 100 scale
  • Official TOEFL (100 minimum) or IELTS (7.5 minimum) examination scores (international students only)
  • GRE Optional
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4

When you say grades in related class, is there a typical GPA that is good for the most competitive schools on my list? I tried reaching out to these colleges, but was not able to find an objective measure like that.

5

Thank you, do you rank these in a specific order? This list is pretty much what all the schools Iā€™m applying to are asking, but I want to know if there are certain parts that are much more important than others (ie. GPA much more important than LOR? or CV >> statement of purpose?)

6

This is why you need a balanced list. You may never know but if a top school, build assuming a 3.5. If itā€™s not needed, you have cushion.

Minimums donā€™t necessarily = acceptance.

So plan for less competitive schools as well.

7

I canā€™t answer. Only the schools can.

Iā€™d assume gpa trumps all and rigor, etc. but certainly any part can sink an application. Not sure if one can save a bad gpa, unless the student was out of school for years. But thatā€™s not you.

It sounds to me like you are afraid of LORs. Best to quickly get to know your profs !!!

In the end, if you want to go to grad school, with a 3.75 youā€™ll find ample.

Your record is your record. So no point in questioning.

There is point in selecting your list appropriately, like undergrad.abd perhais working a few years first.

Good luck.

1 Like
8

Thank you for your advice! One final question ā€“ is there any specific way you would objectively rank having a balanced list?

I have been doing research into GPAs and acceptance rates for grad school in these programs but there has been significantly less info online about objective stats. Iā€™m worried I donā€™t really know how to rank what schools are safeties/targets/reaches for me in order to have that balanced list.

9

Share your GPA, GRE assuming domestic, link to your current program so we can see the curriculum, and your list.

Also, doesnā€™t your school have a grad school advisor who can assist ?

10

I have found it difficult to find useful information in terms of what GPA you actually need. I also have not been able to find any ā€œobjective measureā€.

To me a 3.75 GPA at a ā€œtop 20ā€ CS program does not look like it will destroy your chances at the most selective programs that you listed, but I would expect that you will be competing for admissions with some students who have higher GPAs.

This experience could be quite important, depending upon what specifically it involves.

If you do not get into an appropriate masterā€™s program in your first attempt, this internship experience is likely to help you to find a good first full time job, and good work experience can help you to get accepted to a good masterā€™s degree program in the future. At least when I was getting a masterā€™s degree, it appeared that the majority of the other students in the same program had some relevant work experience. For many of us I think that this work experience was a big part of what got us accepted to a good graduate program.

In applying to graduate programs, at least in my immediate family I do not think that any of us had a safety. Perhaps we just each lucked out and got into a good program that was a good fit for us. I think that relevant work and/or research experience helped all of us, but it is not easy to quantify how schools will measure this experience.

You just need to do your best and see how this turns out. If you do not get in anywhere, then working for a year or two and then reapplying is a perfectly reasonable plan.

Best wishes.

11

You make a good point and the ā€˜resumeā€™ is interesting. So top schools want work experience ?

A top 50 MBA requires it as an example.

I donā€™t know related to CS. I know someone at an SEC public who is staying out for their masters. Theyā€™ll have 3 internships - including one after senior year.