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Is my plan to apply for a master's degree feasible?
#16
(11-14-2023, 09:28 AM)puga Wrote:
(11-10-2023, 09:58 PM)LevelUP Wrote: Why do you want to pursue OMSCS?

You are already doing well in that you got an "undergraduate degree in BEng of Software Engineering 7 years ago, and I've been working in software development since then."

I wouldn't opt for another technology degree, such as Computer Science, as it may not significantly enhance your career prospects.

A master's program takes various factors into account, including your undergraduate major, GPA, and job experience. Job experience plays a crucial role in gaining admission to OMSCS, along with a robust portfolio. It's noteworthy that some individuals with GPAs as low as 2.3 or 2.5 have successfully gained admission.

If you attended UMPI and completed 10 courses with straight A's, your average GPA would still only be 2.6, or 2.85 with 20 courses. However, on your UMPI transcript, the GPA would likely be 3.7 or better. Choosing UMPI might be advisable only if you have both the financial resources and time to spare, and if you are genuinely interested in business-related courses.

I recommend applying for OMSCS first and exploring other options only if you receive a rejection.



I am planning to change my main direction of work to AI but it is not that easy. Therefore I need a graduate degree like OMSCS that includes various AI related courses.

Maybe OMSCS would be able to accept a 2.3 GPA, but I am initially looking to apply to multiple schools (online or not) at once. I think there may be some grad schools that require a final GPA to meet the requirements, and others that only require a GPA from the last undergraduate degree to meet the requirements. So that's what I had planned at the beginning.

Based on your advice, I should apply to OMSCS first, and if I fail it's not too late for me to try for a second undergraduate degree.

(11-13-2023, 02:12 PM)frankc Wrote: Since you already have a degree in software engineering, I don't think getting another similar degree (CS) from TESU is that helpful.
The issue in your case is a low GPA, but since it's from a while ago, it might not be as significant. Instead of getting another CS degree, which would be redundant, I recommend just enrolling in some accredited courses from a regional-accredited university, like TESU or Oakton Community College. You may be able to show the admissions team that you are capable of handling graduate-level coursework by getting As from all the courses. I've often seen people with low GPAs get accepted, but they typically need to show improved grades from accredited schools.



Thanks for the reply.

Do I need to take courses that I already took in my previous undergraduate degree but didn't do well in? 
Do I need to take more computer related courses to strengthen my application?

It really depends on what courses you took during your undergrad and what grade you received. Take/retake the courses you did not do well in undergrad, like data structure and algorithms, OOP, linear algebra/discrete math, etc (If you already have good grades in those courses, I would just apply now and see how it goes). It's really hard to fix your GPA as of now, but 3.0 is not a hard requirement. I saw a few people get in with a GPA below 3.0, but you do need good grades in certain courses, so getting A's in those three or four courses might work well for you. After that, you could just apply to OMSCS right away and see how things unfold. The admissions process is relatively flexible, with the goal of admitting everyone they believe can successfully complete the graduate program.

Also, there's another university that might interest you, which has been mentioned by others: the University of Colorado Boulder. For their CS master's program, you don't necessarily even need a bachelor's degree to start. You just have to pass three specific courses to start the program.
In Progress
Georgia Tech MS Computer Science 
Specialization: Machine Learning
Enrolled: 01/2024 (6 down, 4 to go!)
Completed
TESU BA Computer Science & ASNSM Mathematics
Conferred: 09/2023
Excelsior University BS Psychology 
Conferred: 02/2023




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RE: Is my plan to apply for a master's degree feasible? - by frankc - 11-14-2023, 01:10 PM

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