Fall 2019: Popular Research Universities for MS in CS

As an aspiring student of a graduate or doctoral program in Computer Science in the US, you will be well aware of the fact that it is among the most sought-after programs by international students.

How do you beat the competition and reach your dream university?

It all begins with your selection of universities and programs where you choose to apply.

Planning your applications on research opportunities that overlap your interest and past experience will definitely increase your chances for an admit!

To begin with, you need to be aware of the various areas of research currently being explored by graduate and doctoral students in the US. From there, you can identify your specialization and look for MS/PhD programs that have sound research inclination in your domain.

Read on to gain a clear picture of the scope of research in the academic domain of Computer Science in universities abroad.

Computer Science is a vast field with huge scope for research and development.

Here is a tabulation of the key research areas in this domain and some of the popular subtopics therein.

Some subtopics can be a part of multiple areas, as they have application in more ways than one.

We can identify a few universities to be highly popular and reputed for their Computer Science department.

But, we should be aware that each of those universities will be renowned for some research areas within the domain, not all.

For example, Stanford University is working on fascinating research in Artificial Intelligence, while Carnegie Mellon University is most reputed for its Machine Learning program.  

Have a look at the table below to know about the most reputed programs in the US and the research areas they are known to offer to their students.

If one takes a look at the ongoing research endeavors in the research centers of various universities, or follows the current discussion in the world of science and research, one can conclude that, broadly speaking, the following areas are among the most happening research domains in the field of Computer Science:

• The Internet of Things (IoT)
• Computer Security
• Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) 
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In fact, this month, MIT has launched a new initiative focusing on Artificial Intelligence under the leadership of Prof. Antonio Torralba in partnership with IBM. 

Of course, these are very wide topics – what questions you address and how you do so will add a lot of value to your academic performance in the university.

Once you have narrowed down your choices based on your research interest, practical concerns, and career aspirations, you can start planning your application process with these universities.

As substantial investment of both finance and time is at stake, it will be wise to select a mix of some dream universities and some sure shot options.

[Read]: How to Research & Shortlist Universities for Your Profile, like Admission Experts

Before you submit your final application, you can read up on the ongoing research ventures and connect with like-minded professors through emails. This will help you in multiple ways:

1. Gain clear and current understanding of the university’s research scenario
2. Mention the interaction in your SOP and/or application to convey that you are a focused, enterprising aspirant who has made an informed decision to apply to the university.
3. Give the SOP some personalized content like the names of professors you have interacted with and the topics in which you share interests etc.

The key to gaining an admission into a program that will take your research interests to the next level is to start planning early. You must give yourself enough time to network with the professors and understand the admission requirements of the universities.

A study of the university website alone may not give you a clear understanding of the current research scenario, however, you can become aware of the research centers, key faculty, and research groups under the Computer Science departments from there. This is a tedious task in itself, as it means a lot of reading and data collection.

Learn how close you are to a top university admit for Fall ’19!

After attempting that, you can connect with department alumni, your friends, and professional counselors who have been helping students for a considerable amount of time. This way, you can identify good research opportunities and take a firm step ahead.

Good Luck!

If you have any doubts regarding Fall ’19 admissions, comment below and we’ll clarify it for you!