Post Pandemic U.S. CS Masters Guide | Generated by AI
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9FeX8D-q2xy_4eYztTMj3A
Context & Motivation
- 21Fall cycle was uniquely hard: COVID-19 campus closures, visa suspensions (e.g., Proclamation 10043), travel bans/NIE rules, and U.S.–China tensions.
- Article assumes you already decided on a U.S. CS master and hold TOEFL & GRE scores.
Country & Program Choices
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Country pros/cons (author’s take):
- U.S. best CS hiring (NYC/Silicon Valley) but highest cost.
- UK/HK weigh undergrad pedigree (985/211 bias).
- EU/Japan may require extra language exams.
- Canada/Singapore/Australia solid but weaker CS job market vs U.S.
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Program types:
- Course-based vs Research-based; only MS with thesis cleanly targets PhD.
- Terminal (e.g., MCS/MEng) typically not PhD-feeder; MS without thesis often can transition to PhD.
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Internships matter: programs offering CPT provide crucial hiring on-ramps.
Applicant Profile & Materials
- Author: non-985 undergrad, TOEFL ~98+, GRE ~320+3, GPA ~3.82/4 (major 3.9).
- GPA: aim high; consider WES evaluation where accepted (excludes politics/PE courses → often higher converted GPA).
- TOEFL/GRE: finish early to avoid delaying applications.
- Soft background: research, competitions, exchanges, big-tech internships; summer research can yield strong faculty recommendations.
- Essays: tailor “Why school/program/track”; diversity essays need real alignment with school values (not stats).
- Recommendations: prefer 2 academic + 1 industry; watch anti-fraud (IP, file metadata, upload patterns).
Application Strategy
- Tiers from “lottery” (Stanford/MIT/CMU/UC Berkeley/Princeton) down to Tier 3.
- Deadlines: rolling rounds fill fast—submit R1 for target and even safeties.
- Expect interviews (live/Kira) and occasional coding tests.
I-20 & Funding
- Prepare financial proof early.
- Avoid “self-funding” unless you can show full program cost; parental sponsorship is simpler and safer.
Visas (F-1) in the COVID Era
- Embassy closures led many to Singapore “third-country” routing (ATP, insurance, PCR, quarantine hotels, local fee payment).
- Once China reopened slots, many switched back (CGI account transfers, long call waits).
- First attempt: refused under 214(b) (strong immigration intent signals: self-funding, years of work, traveling with partner).
- Second attempt: removed risk factors (no dependent, parental funds), resulted in administrative processing then issued.
Pre-Departure Logistics
- Health certificates (“yellow/red books”), vaccines (school-required + COVID), consider dental work before departure, spare glasses, timed PCRs, customs forms.
Pandemic-Driven Shifts
- Massive application surge (50%+ in places), slower staff responses (WFH), later decision releases; some schools dropped GRE temporarily → more volume and competition.
Outcomes & Costs
- Admits include CMU (MSSE, MSE SCS), Columbia MSCS, UChicago MPCS, USC (multiple), Rice MCS, WUSTL MSCS, NEU COE, Tufts, UTD.
- Rejections include CMU MCDS/MITS, Cornell Tech MEng, GaTech MSCS, NYU Tandon, UCSD CSE, Stanford, UoT MScAC, etc.
- Rough application spend: ~23 programs ≈ $3,151 (fees + score reports; extra certification fees possible).
Key Lessons
- Front-load tests and submit early.
- Pick programs with CPT if aiming to work in the U.S.
- Optimize funding narrative and ties to home for visa.
- Customize essays deeply; secure strong, authentic recommendations.
- Expect volatility (policy changes, delays); build plan B/C (countries, terms).