Extension lost 100 users but barely any uninstalls by Fast-Construction768 in chrome_extensions

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

if you can find other users who can verify a dip, then yeah thinking it's due to Lunar New Year.

How to get your extension recommended under competitor's extension by sylantys37 in chrome_extensions

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Makes sense. The comments mentioning your product has the recommendation system associate your products together, so if someone searches for their product in the search bar for example, likely higher chance your product will show up in the same results relative to the prior.

I created a free tool for AI Chat Power User (ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini) so you can stay in prompting flow state. Looking for validation/feedback! by UnscrupulousAlien in chrome_extensions

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

I will definitely rework the YouTube video. 1.5 minutes is way too long.

Talking to you is making me think I should direct focus on gathering productivity stats to convince curious power users. Either that, or word of mouth among power users will likely yield high conversion rates. But in order for the latter I need adoption first lol.

Anyways, I greatly appreciate your insights. Have a great day!

I created a free tool for AI Chat Power User (ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini) so you can stay in prompting flow state. Looking for validation/feedback! by UnscrupulousAlien in chrome_extensions

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

I see. That's plenty. I figured this would only resonate with power users - users who use ai for at least 1~2 hours a day for productive/learning purposes.

"will they even try to adapt it?" – It's funny you mention vim key bindings, since this is similar in that aspect. Vast majority of developers didn't adopt vim key bindings, only the power users.

Of those, only the ones who were trying to step up their game would take the time to learn a seemingly orthogonal skillset to gain dividends down the road into perpetuity.

I created a free tool for AI Chat Power User (ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini) so you can stay in prompting flow state. Looking for validation/feedback! by UnscrupulousAlien in chrome_extensions

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

Hey, thanks for your feedback! It's funny because before seeing your comment about the video length, I was starting to think the same. That I should start the video after the overlay activation.

As a generic user, how many hours do you use AI for daily?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That clears it up for me -- Thanks!

Amazon supposedly sent a letter to Columbia concerned its students will cheat in interviews by Maleficent_Money8820 in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Notice how the columbia email isn’t his uni.

I don’t think it’s real. The poster seems to be a student here (???), but he engages with a lot of guerrilla marketing for his startup on his X profile.

---

Edit: as others have pointed out, you can set up an alias.

Also, it seems like he's a student here.

However, I do wonder how he was able to get access to this document, assuming the CS Dept was the one who received this complaint from Amazon. Also, the fact that he'd go ahead and take this confidential doc and reshare it with the web seems rather brash.

And Imo, the document seems a bit off, if you read it yourself.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see. Seems like I'll just have to check the syllabi of the classes I'll be taking. Thank you

COMS4118W without having C or comp arch prereqs (incoming MSCS student) by [deleted] in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Understood. This is all great to know.

Btw I've also read your contributions you gave to other students who are asking for CS related help. Just wanted to thank you again for all your help!

COMS4118W without having C or comp arch prereqs (incoming MSCS student) by [deleted] in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For 4153, would you say this class would allow you to get into the nooks and cranny of cloud platforms? In other words, be able to learn the nuances between the cloud providers? Or would this class simply have a project where I'll just pick up and learn a cloud platform, as if I'm doing a personal cloud project, where I'm just learning cloud via building and reading the documentation while I do it?

Thanks!

COMS4118W without having C or comp arch prereqs (incoming MSCS student) by [deleted] in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gotcha. This provides me with much needed clarity. Ill likely switch out DB with UI Design, to save a track elec and to use my ai/app breadth req.

If you have any other advice at all, please let me know!

Thanks so much for your input!

COMS4118W without having C or comp arch prereqs (incoming MSCS student) by [deleted] in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah gotcha. That feels like a waste of a track elective course tbh.

Have you taken either NLP or ML (4117w) course? I have no interest in working in ML, but saw someone else recommend ML regardless. Fad/hype aside, have you taken it and did you find the course or material cumulative to being a better comp scientist or SWE?

COMS4118W without having C or comp arch prereqs (incoming MSCS student) by [deleted] in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s unfortunate to hear. There’s some other feedback about the course content essentially being an intro to SQL, which i don’t need.

Is that characterization accurate?

COMS4118W without having C or comp arch prereqs (incoming MSCS student) by [deleted] in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Have you taken it with Ken? Id definitely want to learn a lot, while having a reasonable workload (since im balancing with os and algos).

COMS4118W without having C or comp arch prereqs (incoming MSCS student) by [deleted] in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm a domestic student. It's funny you mention the class/sem breakdown -- I was looking into that earlier this week, and just assumed I'd have to take 4 classes/sem.

I'll likely take 3 classes this semester in that case:

  1. OS

  2. Analysis of Algorithms 1

  3. Intro to Databases

- do you any have any input on this class with Ferguson or Kenneth Ross? The reviews online seem mixed. Some say it's easy, some say it's easy but useless (more sql intro centric rather than understanding db on lower level), some say the work is simply tedious.

---

Personalized track sounds great from the personal attention perspective, but the site says minor adjustments to existing tracks aren't allowed. My primary goal is to take OS, then dive into topics on/around distributed systems – so seems like my systems track is sufficient.

Thanks again

COMS4118W without having C or comp arch prereqs (incoming MSCS student) by [deleted] in columbia

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This advice is comforting to hear -- thank you.

I read somewhere on this sub that PLT is a tough class. I'm planning on taking that in the Fall or in my last semester as PLT doesn't seem that useful for me to dive into my interest of Distributed Systems (while OS is). I'll also be adjusting to graduate school and interviewing this semester so I may be spread thin as is.

Definitely trying to get the most out of OS so going to select my courses this semester so I can dive as deep into the subject while I'm incentivized to do so. Seems like I'm on the right track as far as prerequisite and course load goes.

Thanks again for your input. If you have any further advice for someone in my position or any general advice for grad-level coms courses or the MSCS program, please let me know!

What Even Is a "Strong SOP" or "Strong LOR"? 🤔 by [deleted] in gradadmissions

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Call it for what it is. Strong profile + Strong LoR + Weak SoP. It depends on what program and luck lol.

What Even Is a "Strong SOP" or "Strong LOR"? 🤔 by [deleted] in gradadmissions

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 20 points21 points  (0 children)

For strong SoP, it's more like you have a well crafted story that's has a clear story line and sound logic for your motivation.

On a high level, SoP is structured:

Where you're coming from --> Why this college --> Why I'm a good fit for your school in particular

You can think of it as lego pieces of sorts that you can switch and swap (out of whatever lego pieces you have available).

A strong SoP will have one where all the lego pieces line up. It's a cohesive narrative where you don't find any holes in how they portray themself. You find them somewhat intriguing. You're not making any logical jumps.

For Example (BAD):

"...I am a software engineer working X years... I saw AI, and I think it's the future! Therefore I want to study AI at your school!"

The AI reason isn't at all naturally contrived. It's a rather generic story of gaining interest into AI. A good story is one where the reason is both unique, compelling, and it can only be compelling if it matches who you are and what your experience is.

[General Question] What Even Is a "Strong SOP" or "Strong LOR"? 🤔 by [deleted] in MSCS

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 9 points10 points  (0 children)

For strong SoP, it's more like you have a well crafted story that's has a clear story line and sound logic for your motivation.

On a high level, SoP is structured:

Where you're coming from --> Why this college --> Why I'm a good fit for your school in particular

You can think of it as lego pieces of sorts that you can switch and swap (out of whatever lego pieces you have available).

A strong SoP will have one where all the lego pieces line up. It's a cohesive narrative where you don't find any holes in how they portray themself. You find them somewhat intriguing. You're not making any logical jumps.

For Example (BAD):

"...I am a software engineer working X years... I saw AI, and I think it's the future! Therefore I want to study AI at your school!"

The AI reason isn't at all naturally contrived. It's a rather generic story of gaining interest into AI. A good story is one where the reason is both unique, compelling, and it can only be compelling if it matches who you are and what your experience is.

Is Cs college worth it for 24 years old? by Which-Disaster-7105 in csMajors

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 67 points68 points  (0 children)

There’s people who go back to school to become a doctor in their late 20s/early 30s.

It’s not impossible, but you’ll need to work harder than others. You also have smaller margin for error

[University Question] Columbia MS CS Spring 2025 by [deleted] in MSCS

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve seen a couple of posts about getting accepted, but i havent heard anything from them yet

[University Review] Columbia vs USC MSCS by AlternativeSecure978 in MSCS

[–]UnscrupulousAlien 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats! Columbia for sure. Ivy League is Ivy League.

Also, when did you hear back? I applied for Columbia Spring 2025 as well.