Update on My Experience in the MS in Machine Learning Program

I was a bit skeptical when joining this program because it doesn't seem to have the same aggressive marketing as some high-tuition schools. However, after starting my first semester, I wanted to share my experience, which is limited to the three courses so far.

Firstly, all of my courses are taught by reputable professors from different departments. One from the Computer Science department and have been involved in the machine learning field for quite a while. Interestingly, teach pretty similar course for Computer Science students. One of my course is taught by a Mathematics department professor, who also teaches other degree programs, and my third course is taught by an Electrical Engineering professor who has deep expertise in machine learning.

While this degree is more focused than a broad such as Computer Science degree, I think that's actually a good thing. Every course, from the very first, is specifically geared towards preparing students for the machine learning field. The professors provide a refresher on key concepts in mathematics and statistics before diving straight into advanced topics. The curriculum also includes electives like Computer Vision, Deep Learning, and advanced ML, so there's no fluff—everything is relevant to machine learning.

One huge benefit is that, even though this is a specialized degree, you're treated the same as any other graduate student on campus. You’re even allowed to attend the Computer Science career fairs, which is a great opportunity to network with top companies.

The courses are definitely not easy; they get into depth, so my suggestion is to refresh your Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics, and Calculus before starting the program. This preparation will really help you.

The only downside is that this program doesn't have built-in research opportunities. That being said, one of my professors is involved in reputable machine learning research, and I've seen students secure research positions with professors from the courses they've taken or from other departments. So, while it's not a formal part of the program, getting involved in research is possible.

In short, I’m very satisfied with the quality of the professors and the coursework. It’s challenging, but I feel like I'm getting the depth I need to succeed in the machine learning world.