u/Aritra_2007

Hi everyone,

I'm a Computer Science student from India and I'm currently researching universities for a future Master's degree in CS.

I've seen a lot of mixed opinions about San Jose State University. Some people say it's relatively accessible compared to top universities, while others say the MS in Computer Science program is actually quite competitive because of its Silicon Valley location.

I'm trying to understand the reality.

For people who were admitted, rejected, or know current students:

- How competitive is SJSU MSCS for international students?

- What GPA/CGPA do admitted students typically have?

- How important are projects and internships?

- Does the reputation of your undergraduate university matter significantly?

- Would a strong profile with good projects and internships compensate for coming from a non-IIT/NIT background?

- What makes an applicant stand out for admission?

I'm not looking for official admission requirements—I can find those on the website. I'm more interested in real experiences and honest opinions from people who have gone through the process.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

​

I'm a Computer Science student from India and I'm trying to understand how competitive ETH Zurich admissions really are for international students.

​

When I read online, I see people describing ETH Zurich as one of the best STEM universities in the world, but it's difficult to judge how realistic admission actually is.

​

For those who were admitted, rejected, or know people who applied:

​

- How competitive is ETH Zurich for a Master's in Computer Science?

- What kind of GPA/CGPA do successful applicants usually have?

- Does the reputation of your undergraduate university matter a lot?

- How important are research experience, projects, internships, and recommendation letters?

- Is ETH Zurich closer to the level of Oxford, Imperial, MIT, and Stanford, or is it more attainable than those universities?

- What are the biggest factors that separate admitted applicants from rejected ones?

​

For context, I'm currently working on improving my academic profile and would like to understand what a realistic ETH Zurich applicant looks like.

​

I'm looking for honest opinions and real experiences rather than official admission requirements.

​

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

​

I'm an international student from India and I'm currently researching universities for a future Master's in Computer Science.

​

Recently, I've become very interested in the University of Glasgow. The university looks beautiful, has a strong reputation, and seems to have a great student experience. However, I'd like to know more about the academic side, especially for Computer Science.

​

I would appreciate honest opinions from current students, alumni, or anyone familiar with the university.

​

Some questions I have:

​

- How good is the University of Glasgow for Computer Science compared to other UK universities?

- How is its reputation among employers in the UK and internationally?

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Computer Science department?

- How are internships, placements, and job opportunities after graduation?

- How does it compare with universities such as Manchester, Edinburgh, Durham, Nottingham, and Birmingham?

- If you had offers from Glasgow and similar Russell Group universities, would you choose Glasgow again?

​

I'm interested in hearing both positive and negative experiences. I'm looking for realistic feedback rather than marketing material.

​

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

​

I'm a Computer Science student from India (KIIT University) and I'm about to enter my second year.

​

My first-year CGPA is around 6.2–6.6. I know this is not a strong start, and I take full responsibility for it. However, most of my first year consisted of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and common engineering subjects, with very little actual Computer Science.

​

The reason I'm asking this is because I genuinely enjoy Computer Science and feel much more motivated by CS-related subjects than by my first-year curriculum. As I move into second year, my goal is to significantly improve my academic performance and build a strong profile.

​

My current plan is to:

​

- Raise my CGPA to 8.5+ by graduation

- Build strong Computer Science projects

- Obtain internships

- Gain research experience if possible

- Develop strong relationships with professors for recommendation letters

- Prepare for IELTS/TOEFL and GRE if required

​

My dream universities include:

​

- Oxford

- Imperial College London

- Edinburgh

- Durham

- Glasgow

- Other Russell Group universities

- MIT

- Stanford

- Carnegie Mellon

- UC Berkeley

- Similar top US universities

​

I understand that universities like MIT and Stanford are extremely competitive and that admission is never guaranteed.

​

My questions are:

​

1. How much does a weak first year affect Master's admissions if there is a strong upward trend afterward?

2. Have you seen students recover from a low first-year CGPA and get admitted to top UK or US universities?

3. Would a final CGPA above 8.5 combined with strong projects, internships, research, SOP, and recommendation letters make me competitive?

4. For someone in my situation, which universities would you consider realistic, ambitious, and extreme reaches?

​

I'm looking for honest feedback, not false hope. I want to understand what is realistically possible if I spend the next three years working as hard as I can.

​

Thank you.

Hi everyone,

​

I'm a Computer Science student from India (KIIT University) and I'm currently entering my second year.

​

My first-year CGPA is around 6.2–6.6, which I know is not impressive. However, most of my first year consisted of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and common engineering subjects. We had very little actual Computer Science.

​

The reason I'm asking this is because I genuinely enjoy Computer Science. As I move into my second year, I'll be studying core CS subjects and I am fully committed to improving my academics. My goal is to raise my CGPA to 8.5+ by graduation, and hopefully even higher if possible.

​

My long-term dream is to pursue a Master's in Computer Science (or a related field such as AI/ML) at Oxford University.

​

I'm not looking for motivation or false hope. I want realistic advice from people who understand graduate admissions.

​

My questions are:

​

How difficult is it for an international student to get into Oxford for a CS-related Master's?

​

How much does a weak first year matter if there is a strong upward trend later?

​

Would a final CGPA above 8.5, combined with strong projects, internships, research experience, and recommendation letters, make someone competitive?

​

Are there examples of students from universities outside the IITs/NITs getting admitted to Oxford Master's programs?

​

I understand Oxford is extremely competitive and that admission is never guaranteed. I'm simply trying to understand whether this goal is realistically achievable if I spend the next three years building the strongest profile possible.

​

I'd appreciate honest opinions and experiences from current students, alumni, or anyone familiar with the admissions process.

​

Thank you.

​

​

Hi everyone,

​

I'm a Computer Science student from India (KIIT University) and I'm currently entering my second year.

​

My first-year CGPA is around 6.2–6.6, which I know is not impressive. However, most of my first year consisted of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and common engineering subjects. We had very little actual Computer Science.

​

The reason I'm asking this is because I genuinely enjoy Computer Science. As I move into my second year, I'll be studying core CS subjects and I am fully committed to improving my academics. My goal is to raise my CGPA to 8.5+ by graduation, and hopefully even higher if possible.

​

My long-term dream is to pursue a Master's in Computer Science (or a related field such as AI/ML) at Oxford University.

​

I'm not looking for motivation or false hope. I want realistic advice from people who understand graduate admissions.

​

My questions are:

​

How difficult is it for an international student to get into Oxford for a CS-related Master's?

​

How much does a weak first year matter if there is a strong upward trend later?

​

Would a final CGPA above 8.5, combined with strong projects, internships, research experience, and recommendation letters, make someone competitive?

​

Are there examples of students from universities outside the IITs/NITs getting admitted to Oxford Master's programs?

​

I understand Oxford is extremely competitive and that admission is never guaranteed. I'm simply trying to understand whether this goal is realistically achievable if I spend the next three years building the strongest profile possible.

​

I'd appreciate honest opinions and experiences from current students, alumni, or anyone familiar with the admissions process.

​

Thank you.

​

​

Hi everyone,

​

I want to share my academic background and get honest feedback about my plan for applying to Russell Group universities for a Master’s in Computer Science.

​

I’m currently a Computer Science undergraduate student. My first year CGPA was 6.64, which I know is not strong compared to competitive applicants.

​

However, I want to give some context. In my first year, the curriculum included Physics, Chemistry, and Biology along with Computer Science. I struggled with those subjects because they were not aligned with my interests, and I found it difficult to perform well in them.

​

On the other hand, my Computer Science performance has consistently been much better, and I am genuinely more interested in this field. Over time, I’ve realized that CS is where I can perform at my best, and I am now fully committed to building my career in this direction.

​

Going forward, my goal is to improve significantly and build a strong profile for postgraduate applications. I am planning to:

​

Increase my CGPA to 8.5–8.85+

​

Strengthen core CS fundamentals (DSA, OS, DBMS, etc.)

​

Work on internships in software development / AI / ML

​

Participate in research projects, even if initially small or guided

​

Build meaningful projects to strengthen my practical skills

​

Secure 2–3 strong LORs from professors who can evaluate my CS performance

​

I understand that admissions to Russell

​

Group universities are competitive, and I know that improvement alone is not enough.

​

I am focusing on building a consistent trajectory of academic growth, technical skill development, and practical exposure over the next few years.

​

I would really appreciate honest advice on:

Whether this path is realistic for Russell

Group universities

​

What should be my top priority right now (CGPA vs projects vs internships)

​

Any mistakes I should avoid while building my profile

​

Thank you for your time.

Hi everyone,

​

I am currently a Computer Science student at KIIT and have completed my first year with a CGPA of around 6.2–6.6.

​

I know that doesn't look great, but I want to provide some context. During my first year, most of the curriculum was Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and other common engineering subjects. We had very little actual Computer Science.

​

The reason I am asking this question is because I genuinely love Computer Science. As I move into my second year, I will finally be studying subjects like programming, data structures, algorithms, databases, operating systems, and other core CS topics.

​

My goal is to pursue a Master's abroad in the future. Some universities that inspire me are MIT, Oxford, ETH Zurich, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, TUM, Edinburgh, NUS, and similar institutions.

​

I am fully aware that my current CGPA is far from competitive. However, I am willing to work extremely hard over the next three years. My target is to raise my CGPA above 8.5 by graduation while also building strong projects, gaining internship experience, and hopefully getting involved in research.

​

I am not looking for false hope. I would like honest opinions from people who have gone through the process.

​

How much does a weak first year affect Master's admissions if there is a very strong upward trend later?

​

Have you seen students recover from a low first-year CGPA and get into top universities?

​

Which of the universities I mentioned would be realistic, ambitious, or extremely difficult given this starting point?

​

What should I focus on the most during the next three years besides academics?

​

I would appreciate any honest advice, success stories, or reality checks.

​

Thank you.

​

​

Hi everyone,

​

I am currently a Computer Science student at KIIT and have completed my first year with a CGPA of around 6.2–6.6.

​

I know that doesn't look great, but I want to provide some context. During my first year, most of the curriculum was Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and other common engineering subjects. We had very little actual Computer Science.

​

The reason I am asking this question is because I genuinely love Computer Science. As I move into my second year, I will finally be studying subjects like programming, data structures, algorithms, databases, operating systems, and other core CS topics.

​

My goal is to pursue a Master's abroad in the future. Some universities that inspire me are MIT, Oxford, ETH Zurich, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, TUM, Edinburgh, NUS, and similar institutions.

​

I am fully aware that my current CGPA is far from competitive. However, I am willing to work extremely hard over the next three years. My target is to raise my CGPA above 8.5 by graduation while also building strong projects, gaining internship experience, and hopefully getting involved in research.

​

I am not looking for false hope. I would like honest opinions from people who have gone through the process.

​

How much does a weak first year affect Master's admissions if there is a very strong upward trend later?

​

Have you seen students recover from a low first-year CGPA and get into top universities?

​

Which of the universities I mentioned would be realistic, ambitious, or extremely difficult given this starting point?

​

What should I focus on the most during the next three years besides academics?

​

I would appreciate any honest advice, success stories, or reality checks.

​

Thank you.

​

​

Hi everyone,

​

I am currently a Computer Science student at KIIT and have completed my first year,

my_qualifications are of a CGPA of around 6.2–6.6.

​

I know that doesn't look great, but I want to provide some context. During my first year, most of the curriculum was Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and other common engineering subjects. We had very little actual Computer Science.

​

The reason I am asking this question is because I genuinely love Computer Science. As I move into my second year, I will finally be studying subjects like programming, data structures, algorithms, databases, operating systems, and other core CS topics.

​

My goal is to pursue a Master's abroad in the future. Some universities that inspire me are MIT, Oxford, ETH Zurich, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, TUM, Edinburgh, NUS, and similar institutions.

​

I am fully aware that my current CGPA is far from competitive. However, I am willing to work extremely hard over the next three years. My target is to raise my CGPA above 8.5 by graduation while also building strong projects, gaining internship experience, and hopefully getting involved in research.

​

I am not looking for false hope. I would like honest opinions from people who have gone through the process.

​

How much does a weak first year affect Master's admissions if there is a very strong upward trend later?

​

Have you seen students recover from a low first-year CGPA and get into top universities?

​

Which of the universities I mentioned would be realistic, ambitious, or extremely difficult given this starting point?

​

What should I focus on the most during the next three years besides academics?

​

I would appreciate any honest advice, success stories, or reality checks.

​

Thank you.

​

​

Guys I am getting 40.5 in Bio pass ho gaya ya gaya

So I got 37 in biology in which 28 was my internal marks and 9.5 I got in theory I am very weak in biology I just need 3 marks to get 40 what can I do now.

I have given for a recheck tho for only 2 questions i have mailed my teacher what will happen now please help me out

Ig I am getting Backlog in Bio for just 3 marks will then pass me or i have to give back exams ?

So I got 37 in biology in which 28 was my internal marks and 9.5 I got in theory I am very weak in biology I just need 3 marks to get 40 what can I do now