please suggest me some universities for spring 2009

[CalmLogic]

Regarding the prices of some of the most expensive schools, this is what I remember:

CMU - $45,000 per semester after partial waiver that everyone gets (68k per semester without waiver) -- you would probably be accepted, but I don't see good return on investment at those crazy prices

UIUC - $4,000+ per course (you don't have the profile for regular admission, but I think you would be accepted for their distance learning MS program)

Columbia - $3,200+ per course

USC - over $1,000 per credit (but a bargain compared to CMU)

Memory is a tricky thing, but I am pretty sure about the tution prices at CMU and USC. Of course, you can check online to verify.

[Dudeman]

Thanks for the comments guys.
@CalmLogic.....You are absolutely right...cost of CMU-INI program is absurd...45k per sem is horrendous....
I believe i can manage the USC , columbia and Upenn.

But i have some doubts about the quality of the program offered by univ of chicago. I think that the course is open to everyone and moreover, its specifically targeted for those who don't have a background in cs. Won't that dilute my degree ??

But the most pertinent question is whether i have a chance there or not....
is 770Q,550V enough ???

could you pls estimate my chances in the following ...
1.columbia
2.Upenn
3.usc
4.arizona state univ
5.new york univ
6.ncsu
7.Texam A&M college station
8.north-eastern univ

please modify my list as much as possible .. :-)
i have heard that the probaility of getting an admit in spring is comapatively higher than fall !!! can you please clarify this....

Thanks

[CalmLogic]

is 770Q,550V enough ???

I think so. Let us know when you get your AWA score, though I suspect it will be high enough given your verbal score. Rather than invest further in the GRE at this point (which is just one indicator that some applicants tend to overvalue), I would consider maybe doing some research and writing a poster paper for a conference (a short 2-page research paper), studying for the November GRECS exam, or something else like that to give you an edge, especially if you want to apply to someplace like GA Tech. (You don't even have to get the paper accepted for it to be valuable since you can attach it to the application and have a professor/recommender mention it.)

BTW, as you may have already noticed, USC has a very late deadline of June 15th or something like that. So that's one reason people use them as a safety school after they have been rejected elsewhere. (Most of the higher ranking CS departments in the US seems to give decisions significantly before April 15th.)

[MDK]

could you pls estimate my chances in the following ...
1.columbia // Safe
2.Upenn // Not Sure but you will reach the match
3.usc // Hell yeah
4.arizona state univ // Not sure, I guess it's safe
5.new york univ // Moderate
6.ncsu // Moderate
7.Texam A&M college station // Moderate
8.north-eastern univ // No Idea

Why don't you consider University of Michigan ? I suppose you might get accepted since their tuition is relatively high for international students ( 31K) and their Financial Aid would barely cover the life expenses.

[CalmLogic]

After looking at TheGradCafe, I agree with MDK's comments about high chances at Columbia. Regarding UPenn, none of the people at TheGradCafe listed an acceptance to the MS program, and one person said this about the PhD program:

In 2005, U of Penn had 515 applicants to the CS PhD program and only took 21. Their acceptance rate is way lower than a lot of better schools. U Penn is simply a waste of the application fee. It's better to use that money on beer instead... or other schools. Just my opinion.

computer science pennsylvania • thegradcafe.com

Considering some schools admit PhD students before they admit MS students, I would try to get the latest admission statistics from their department. However, some people who were accepted:


http://www.urch.com/forums/admission...ce-needed.html (PSU or USC? Your Advice Needed!!)
http://www.urch.com/forums/admission...sssssssss.html (University of Pennsylvania: YESssssssssssssssss)
http://www.urch.com/forums/graduate-...ease-vote.html (USC or UPenn: Please Vote)

Regarding USC, I certainly would be shocked if you weren't admitted there. I'm not as familiar with the other schools, but some search tips:

site:urch.com ncsu ms computer science - Google Search
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%...e7&rlz=1I7GGIC
site:urch.com admitted asu computer science - Google Search
http://www.urch.com/forums/computer-...selection.html (need comments on profile and university selection)

[MDK]

Regarding Columbia University, I remember a guy with a moderate profile who got in there, but the big surprise that he was rejected from Buffalo (I am really worried now)
Applycorner: place for graduate school applicants

If you decided to join Columbia, you have to manage your financial situation thoroughly because it's NYC (I love it, but it's too damn expensive)

After being rejected by the PhD program earlier, I was accepted into MS program. They sent a long accept form email, but this is what they should have written: Dear XXX, Someone we loved way more than you recently rejected us and this made us realize that they were really an ******* and it was you that we dearly loved all along. Congratulations. We can only imagine your excitement as you contemplate paying our obscenely high tuition in the Fall. Indeed, all our faculty who live in Columbia apartments on the upper west side with river views are very much looking forward to your coming on board. Sincerely, Your new best friends. PS -- Where is XXXXXXXX?
computer science columbia • thegradcafe.com

[CalmLogic]

Regarding GA Tech (which I mention, Dudeman, as an ambitious but possible choice if you give your profile an additional boost):

site:urch.com gatech ms admit - Google Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...mputer+science

An admitted profile from UPenn from 2006 that seems to be one of their above average admits:

I had applied for MS in CS.

My Profile:-
GRE - 1440, CS GRE - 810, TOEFL - 290, GPA - 3.84 (after conversion)
few papers and projects relevant to my field.

http://www.urch.com/forums/admission...enn-admit.html (UPenn Admit...........)

The above profile from UPenn would certainly be above average for GA Tech MS admissions.

[Dudeman]

@ CalmLogic....thanks for such an informative post.... really got no words to appreciate it.
I would love to do what you said but unfortunately i am stuck at office from 10 to 6 :-( . Infact, i never prepared for gre.
and regarding AGRE CS, its long way off...approx 9 months !!!! i dont think i will be able to sustain the level of motivation i have now to prepare diligently. Paucity of time and commitments to workplace only make it harder.......

btw...i found a couple of universities but i am not sure about their rankings and whether i have a chance in them....can u plz me out with them...

1.Clemson university
2.University of Florida,Gainsville
3.university of cicinnati
4.university of illinios at chicago
5.university of Rochester
6.Kansas state university
7.university of Utah
8.university of Texas at Austin
9. University of north carolina, chapel hill
10. Syracuse university...

thanks....

[Dudeman]

MDK dude, are u referring to univ of michigan,ann arbor ??? or michigan state univ ??......i will definitely consider both of them.....

[MDK]

MDK dude, are u referring to univ of michigan,ann arbor ??? or michigan state univ ??......i will definitely consider both of them.....

I was referring to University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Unfortunately they don't offer spring admission. On the other hand Michigan State University offers spring admission.