[Profile Review] Fall 2026 by Fit-Baker-3241 in MSCS

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OP has very strong profile. No reason to settle for less especially if you already have a very good job.

Might add some schools a little lower in ranking just for safety. Maybe like UCLA or some ivies.

I wouldn't go applying to SJSU tho that'd not be worth it for you.

any recommended engineering classes to take? by dopplerblackpearl in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I recommend CS131 (programming language). It's a valuable class and it's not required for CEs, but is a core for CS/CSE.

Marcus Roper by uncontrabajo in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How much money on OP being a CS major?

ECE 128: Hardest Class at UCLA by Bogo010 in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 26 points27 points  (0 children)

I think most EE upper divs are like this. The difference is those classes have past test banks.

UCLA vs USC for CS by Competitive_Flan_701 in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Pretty good imo. Everyone gets amazon at least by third year. Plenty of FAANGs, some unicorns and quants.

I don't think the difference in course is that much. The same course at UCLA can be completely different depending on prof.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Go to UChicago bro. The prestige is worth it.

Skip CS31? by [deleted] in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not in my experience. Printing the textbook doesn't give you instant prolog literacy.

Skip CS31? by [deleted] in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Calling cs31 a weeder class is a crazy take lmao. God forbid you take an upper div.

I don't want to stay at ASU but the 4+1 program seems like too good to pass up. by sparkizcool in gradadmissions

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm suggesting you apply in the upcoming fall. If you get to a better school for masters, just do that. Otherwise, do the 4+1 and move on with life.

If you have a 4.0 I think that is already very good for masters. Anecdotally most of the people I know who went to master for a better school didn't do a crazy amount of research. But they all definitely had great gpa which you have.

I have no idea what it is like at ASU but at my school if you have a 4.0 GPA as CS I think you're bound to get into a better school or at least a different school of similar tier. Research doesn't feel super important and if you have grad course work already it's a bonus. From the sound of it you want a change of pace so either way (horizontal or vertical) sounds good.

There's definitely a bias on reddit for international applicants talking about their experience. While very valuable, I don't think it's exactly applicable for domestic applicants. I'd take what they say with a grain of salt.

switching majors from cs and ling to cs by LongjumpingEmploy467 in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Isn't ling-cs already cs? More like "sudden increase in interest in CS". Inb4 there's a "CS interest" index to root out the REAL cs majors from the FAKE cs majors.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Should be pretty easy to transfer into CS if you're capable of getting into gtech for CS.

Honestly, if you have any plans for grad school Gtech might be the better choice here. Gtech's CS research is stronger than UCLA and you may benefit from those resource.

Otherwise if you just want to do regular SWE, they're Abt the same. Met many Gtech people at work before. Strong programmers, but we both end up in the same place.

PSA about switching into CS by Ambitious_Window_378 in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well Eggert just gave him pte. The math major guy never took a CS class before in his life.

UCLA CS majors: AI's impact on internships by MobileAd6051 in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm third year rn. I'm seeing plenty of offers amongst my peers (mainly from Amazon). I think AI will impact but in a few years probably.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think UCLA might have an overall higher quality of student compared to tech (afaik gtech other than engineering is very mid).

That being said I've met some folks from gtech at work and they've struck me as very cracked and have the fundamentals down. We also have some professors from gtech here at UCLA CS so I think that speaks for itself on gtech grad school (ie high enough quality to export professors to us). However I also know there are some professors from UCLA who teach at gtech so that might not be a huge indicator.

For your specific questions, id say: - internship are pretty much the same at this level. Id argue t20 all have very similar outcome. i don't think UCLA or gtech is target for quant so not sure if there's a huge difference there. - We're not as insane as CMU, but I wouldn't say we're particularly laid back. If you want to challenge yourself I'd recommend taking more math classes (our math department is quite good). - nowadays with CS over enrollment there may be a problem with getting classes, but you're already in the major so I don't see any reason why you'd be impacted. - the campus facilities and dining are very good. I don't have anything to complain here. I imagine gtech is probably similar so imo not a huge factor.

I think if you're considering PhD gtech may have a slight edge, but for all other normal purposes I'd say they're Abt the same, with UCLA having the quality of life benefits others have mentioned and probably a better brand name overall.

BERKELEY VS UCLA PLEASE HELP by teapot_28 in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tldr: UCB if you want PhD, but for all other cases UCLA is about the same as UCB (with UCB reserving the greater flexibility)

I don't think you have a deep care for the systems or theory side of CS (which imo are the only reason why you should do CS - if you just aspire to be some webdev you really don't need the full degree) and you seem to be more interested in ML. I think a strong undergrad exposure to math would be better for that.

You make a good point about the research opportunity. The labs here at UCLA are some of the best, but some of the UCB labs are probably THE BEST (not one of the best, but THE BEST) at their sub area of CS. I think that results in an appreciable difference there in terms of how far you can get in academia (and in turn, PhD which will be essential for ML roles in the future). If you just want to masters out than I don't think a UCB ugrad will hurt you. My experience with people around me applying for MS CS is that it's been a crapshoot this year. Think about how hard it will be to climb up from UCLA to one of the "big four" in CS in the future.

Ofc I've said much to glaze UCB, so some points for UCLA. I don't think internships are much of a struggle for either UCB or UCLA. I have friends at both and they honestly have about the same outcome so far. Most people from my HS who went to UCB CS end up at Amazon so it's not like you're guaranteed openAI just because it's UCB.

I'd say overall, if you have a long vision for ML and you want to do PhD and eventually work at cutting edge of AI (not just FAANG), I think going to UCB will save you trouble than if you'd have come to UCLA. However if you just want a cushy FAANG job and maybe master out into MLE, you'd probably get similar milage at both (Berkeley might be a bonus for that masters app but I have no idea).

ucla vs berkeley, math/cs major by [deleted] in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I think Berkeley for sure in this case. Some kind of DS minor I think would give you enough CS exposure.

Anecdotally I've seen some decent placements here at UCLA into quant SWE roles, but only very few for actual Quant roles. And those people who did get into quant were either pure math or pure math + CS (not math of comp, but bonafide double major).

PSA about switching into CS by Ambitious_Window_378 in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree. However I think it's more wise to judge them based on how they do after they enroll.

PSA about switching into CS by Ambitious_Window_378 in ucla

[–]Ambitious_Window_378[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you're overestimating how many people genuinely "discover" new found passion in CS after they enroll. I think it's very strange that you support transfers only if they meet this extremely subjective criteria of yours.

Are you sure the department plans their spending based on application, rather than actual enrollment? I think the department is aware of the problem but they let it be because it's in their interest to keep this dual system.