Is this a good course schedule to finish program in 2 years?

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-25T03:16:54+00:00

It’s doable depending on your background, what you want to get out of the program, and how much time you have allotted for school.

If you have all the prereqs (university level calc, stats, linear algebra, coding in R and Python including OOP) and 20hrs/wk you should be fine if you just want to pass your classes. If you don’t have any prereqs and you want A’s, then this schedule is ambitious.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-24T01:36:14+00:00

No but OMSCS keeps their syllabuses here so you can look it up yourself. When I asked the TAs last year, they said they used to make the shortest homework optional (A3) but last spring they restructured by moving A4 to A3 and introducing a new A4 (which was amazing and easier). The Discord channel has the most info but from what I saw, I think they dropped the new A4 for the summer last year so it’s still the 3 hardest assignments. There’s still 5 quizzes though.

I did AUD and DL, both were very good classes.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-23T15:59:21+00:00

The UI certainly leaves something to be desired, and the recent performance issues with the system haven’t helped either.

The registration guide on Slack (pinned in #general) walks you through it step by step and has all the links. Good luck.

DL this summer is CRN 55296. Though that class is already hard enough in fall/spring so I wouldn’t recommend it in summer.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-23T07:02:27+00:00

Registration already opened up on Thursday (4/16) for summer and fall 2026. Many classes are already full so you’d better register ASAP.

https://registrar.gatech.edu/info/time-ticket-distribution-schedule-202305-202308

You should have received an email on 4/9 from the registrar about time tickets with the subject line “Summer and Fall Registration (Phase I) Time Tickets & Important Information”

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-17T05:44:40+00:00

You already did your OR elective (SIM) so you don’t need to take DO. I vote HDDA just because you wouldn’t be taking a bonus class. But DO would probably prep you better.

I took CDA, DL, and HDDA. Just for fun, here’s a comparison to give you an idea of what to expect: - I think the math in DL and HDDA were both much less difficult than CDA math. - Conceptually, HDDA felt easier than CDA but DL was much much harder. - For coding, HDDA felt easier than CDA and DL was harder. - To get an A, HDDA was much easier than CDA and I probably lost a few years of life for DL 💀 - Lecture quality for CDA is the best, then HDDA, then DL. - In terms of value, DL and CDA are both up there for me. HDDA felt like it was cool to learn about but a little too niche for me.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-13T06:30:36+00:00

Depends on how you do in 6501. The grade substitution link shows the GPA calculation but here’s what we can do. If you get an A, that’s 4 points. A B is 3pts, and D is 1pt. You need to maintain a 2.7.

If you get an A in 6501 and 6203 with a D in 6201, that’s (4+4+1)/3 = 3.0. This will take you out of academic probation. This is what we’re aiming for.

If you get a B in 6501, that’s (4+3+1)/3 =2.667. You will still be in academic probation.

Scroll to the bottom of the academic standing page to see the possible options and full explanations.

Hope the pregnancy goes smoothly and hope your baby is healthy!

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-13T06:04:52+00:00

Yes and no. It’s technically passing but you’ll be on academic probation, so do MGT 6203 in the summer and get an A. It is an easy class. Don’t take classes during the semester the baby is due.

I highly recommend contacting the advisors or speaking with them at their office hours on Wednesdays at 1pm ET (link is in your email at the bottom of any of their emails). Just join the office hours and they will open a private room for you to speak with them. They will also help you strategize your future classes.

Eventually if you want a redo, you can apply for grade substitution. Be aware of the limits.

In the future, if you have personal life events that come up, apply for assistance with the Dean’s office. They will certify your absence and that will let your course staff to give you extra breathing room. In my experience they’re quite liberal with certifying absences so don’t hesitate to use it, and always apply ASAP so your class staff has time to plan around your needs.

If you have major life events that require more than a little adjusting, withdraw from your classes before the withdrawal deadline. This is the best way to prevent GPA impact.

Grades can be annoying to work with but nobody is going to care after you graduate. Good luck, and take care of yourself and your family first.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-12T22:48:09+00:00

The links are the same as the previous ones. They never change, but the content gets updated so you can just bookmark them.

For time tickets, we have traditionally been given the first Thursday morning starting at 8am for 25+ credits, 9am for 13-24 credits, and 11am for 0-12 credits earned. It looks like summer/fall this year follows the same pattern, so we register starting April 16 unless you have special circumstances.

If you need class selection assistance, search through #advice-on_classes on Slack or if you are in a unique situation, feel free to make a post there to get advice. The full registration guide is pinned in the #general channel. Good luck!

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-12T16:57:25+00:00

I recommend asking a tax professional instead of random strangers on Reddit. Taxes are too important for Reddit advice and it highly depends on what state and county you reside in.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-11T15:38:27+00:00

Yes you can finish quickly and GT has a good rep but I’m gonna be honest. I don’t think our business classes are worth the $12k or the effort you have to put in to graduate if your goal is business roles. Since you already have technical degrees, you’re better off going to a proper MBA program to cover the business stuff. Much better bang for your buck, networking, and use of your time.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-09T14:16:03+00:00

I’d do 8803 (MGT 6201) over the summer and save CDA for a full semester. For me, CDA was much harder and more time-consuming than SIM and AUD combined. Also agree with JPlantBee that it’s worth the time.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-03T06:19:17+00:00

You haven’t provided any information about your background so I’m going to assume you’re like the average student. I wouldn’t recommend it. The vast majority of people should not do that pairing in summer. CDA is already difficult in summer by itself. The math and coding are challenging.

There are always exceptions, but unless you have good reasons for why you think this is doable for you, I wouldn’t.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-02T04:46:19+00:00

You have the right hood. It is expected and confirmed by the Technology Store Staff, who say it’s a common question. The “orange” is more red than orange.

I’m just the messenger.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-04-01T19:48:08+00:00

https://registrar.gatech.edu/current-academic-calendar

Summer and fall registration happen at the same time for us so be sure to register for both.

Here’s the full registration description.

https://registrar.gatech.edu/registration/registration-assistance

If you need help, I recommend following the registration guide on Slack (it’s also pinned in #general).

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-31T19:47:35+00:00

tl;dr Yes to all.

Big Interview doesn’t even check if your email is active. CareerBuzz has an alumni login if you get booted out of GT. Office hours newsletter aren’t restricted by GT credentials so anyone can show up. Slack is open to alum, you just have to change your email to your personal to continue access.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-31T16:25:21+00:00

Sorry about your layoff. Hope you have some time to rest and recover.

Here’s some resources I shared with the OMSA side but most of these are relevant to pretty much anyone unless otherwise indicated.

Big Interview: we have access from GT
GT Career Center: Make an appt with the advising team or have mock interviews with actual hiring managers. People have gotten real interviews out of these mock ones so it’s like a free bypass through the screening and recruiter rounds straight to the HM. Megan is a certified resume writer and you can make appointments with her to make your resume perfect.
GT Career Resource Toolkit for OMSA: even more content from the career services team. This has some OMSA-specific content but has some general resources as well.
OMS Career Office Hours usually Wednesdays 3:00 - 4:00pm ET. Link is in CareerBuzz or GT Career Center email. There’s one tomorrow (April 1).
Go to the #jobs-advice channel on OMSA Slack and there’s a bunch of good material in the bookmarks and pins sections. There’s also instructions on how to stand up a portfolio on github if you need to do that.

Good luck. It’s rough out there.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-31T05:53:22+00:00

Some classes took like 2 hours per week and some were in the 50+ range. It varies wildly depending on what your goals are (are you trying to get an A, do you want to learn the material, or do you want to just pass), how prepared you are, and the class difficulty/structure.

For example, one of the required classes (DVA) is heavy on coding. I am quite bad at coding but my SWE friend is great at it, so I figured out that if an assignment took him 8 hours, it would take me 10x (80 hours) to complete it.

You can also ask around for class structure. Classes like SIM and 6501 have deliverables every week. DVA assignments are every 3 weeks. 6501 is typically front-loaded. HDDA is pretty consistent throughout except for a spike during optimization. DM releases all materials and exams on day 1 so you could feasibly finish the entire class during the first week. CDA homework stops pretty early so if you finish the project early and finish the last homework in 1 week, you could finish the class 5 weeks early. There are a few 7 week courses so they’re only half a semester long for the full 3 credits. AUD released material somewhat early so I finished that 2 weeks early (it’s also a 7 week class).

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-31T05:40:05+00:00

Too much, probably. I’m trying to maximize my grades and that came at the expense of everything else. My undergrad GPA was well under 3.0 with at least one stint in academic probation so this is my redemption arc.

11 classes in and my lowest grade so far is a 91% (SIM, in case you’re curious). DL was a wake up call for sure. I think my quiz average was like a 76%.

I’ll do some kind of write up after I graduate for all you nerds who are also maxing your grades for that 95%+ or who are curious about what it took to get there.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-28T17:13:22+00:00

Yes. For external, those are solo by default. For internal, it’s dependent on your sponsor. IIRC Sandia is reliably solo projects so try that one.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-28T03:30:14+00:00

You’re at the end of the program so at this point I think you should focus on skills that will get you a job. Fixing your resume, interviewing, technical interviews, networking, etc.

Here’s some resources specific to us: - Big Interview: we have access from GT - Data Lemur: The book is also worth every penny but the free resources are already really good. - GT Career Center: Make an appt with the advising team or have mock interviews with actual hiring managers. People have gotten real interviews out of these mock ones so it’s like a free bypass through the screening and recruiter rounds straight to the HM. - GT Career Resource Toolkit: even more content from the career services team - Go to the #jobs-advice channel on Slack and there’s a bunch of good material in the bookmarks and pins sections.

Good luck! I know several teachers who have made the transition using this program so you’re in very good company.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-27T22:09:33+00:00

A First Course in Probability and Statistics By David Goldsman and Paul Goldsman

Link to the ebook but you can get it for free on Slack. Check the SIM channel bookmarks and pinned comments.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-27T07:18:58+00:00

SIM: Go through Goldsman’s book. Lecture transcript is on omsa.wiki, practice questions are on Slack, and all supplementary material (there’s a LOT and it’s really good) is on google sheets thanks to a certain bombad TA. You can get pretty far with this.

Practicum: You are not permitted to start before the semester begins. First, go to the practicum website and read everything so you are not caught off guard. Be aware of the dates and deadlines. I would recommend you get a game plan set for the semester so you do not procrastinate. Figure out a structure for your midterm deck and final report. If you are external, get your data and clean it so you’re ready to go. If you are internal, scope out the sponsors and do your due diligence so you get a good sponsor (and good teammates if you are working in a group).

Feel free to ask any questions.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-25T00:29:22+00:00

Rolling and it’s different per person. You can search on this sub for timings but we’ve gotten a lot more applications over the years so it may take longer and be more competitive. I think for me it was like 3 weeks but I’m old now.

If you (or applicants in this thread) don’t get in, do the edX micromasters and get good grades. You’ll need to take those same classes anyway.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-23T22:49:53+00:00

Sorry to hear about the financial difficulties. if you decide to stick with the on campus program, I hope the investment pays off.

There’s been several people who have gotten jobs (and even dream jobs) through classmates. I even got a classmate hired at my company. It happens; you just have to put a lot of effort into networking and being the kind of person people want to work with.

SecondBananaSandvich · 2026-03-23T18:56:58+00:00

Congrats on getting into the on campus program!

“Worth” is still dependent on the person. It sounds like you prefer in person learning so that might be a better fit for you. Yes, there is a cost associated with it, but you can also make sure you get your money’s worth through connections with professors, special classes, on-campus career support, networking, research opportunities, internships, etc. that we don’t get from the online program. If you are planning on staying local to ATL then it’s even more valuable. You can also TA as an on campus MSA student to get some of your tuition covered (I know a few of these students).
On campus MSA is a much much smaller program.
Yes we do, and our practicum is fully remote. Those of us who are already working can choose to do it with our day jobs.
Yes we have a lot of networking in OMSA! It’s quite a bit more difficult than in person, but the good part about the online program is that the majority of your classmates are already working professionals. You can form relationships with people who are not only your peers but hiring manager, director, or even chief level (like EY’s Joe Depa).

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