u/FuzzyBoysenberry7695

For internships, new grad jobs, research opportunities, or grad school, does going to a more well-known school actually make a big difference? Or does it mostly come down to major, coursework, projects, internships, and interview skills?

For example, would you rather choose a better-known school with a related major like Data Science/Stats, or a less “prestigious” school where you’re directly in CS?
I’d appreciate honest thoughts from people in CS, recruiting, industry, or grad school.

I’m choosing between two undergraduate degree paths:

• Computer Science, with guaranteed coursework in algorithms, systems, software engineering, AI, and machine learning
• Statistics and Data Science, with stronger statistics and modeling coursework but limited access to upper-division CS classes

My goal is applied AI/ML or NLP engineering, with graduate school in CS, AI, NLP, or computational linguistics as another possibility.

I already have lower-division experience in C/C++, OOP, data structures, discrete math, computer architecture, calculus, and linear algebra. I also build software projects and have experimented with locally fine-tuning language models.

Assuming I continue doing projects and pursuing research, I’m trying to understand:

1. Does the CS degree provide a meaningful advantage for SWE and ML-engineering résumé screening?
2. Can a Statistics and Data Science degree be equally competitive for applied AI/NLP if I independently maintain strong coding skills?
3. For CS/NLP graduate admissions, which transcript would usually provide better preparation?
4. How important are systems and advanced algorithms courses for applied NLP work?
5. Would you prioritize the more relevant major curriculum even if you personally preferred the environment attached to the other option?

I’m especially interested in responses from ML/NLP engineers, graduate students, and hiring managers.

I was admitted to UCR Computer Science as a junior transfer, and I’m currently making my final decision between UCR CS and UCSB Statistics and Data Science.

My background includes C/C++, object-oriented programming, data structures, discrete mathematics, and computer architecture, along with calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and multivariable calculus. I’ve built several software projects and have some experience fine-tuning language models locally.

My long-term goal is applied AI/ML or NLP. I’m particularly interested in language technology for low-resource languages, and I may eventually apply to graduate programs in CS, AI, NLP, or computational linguistics.

Academically, UCR CS is the option that excites me more. I want to study algorithms, systems, software engineering, AI, machine learning, and possibly NLP. My hesitation is mostly about relocating, leaving my current community, and understanding how UCR’s opportunities and recruiting compare with other UC campuses.

I’d appreciate honest input on the following:

1. How difficult is it for CS transfers to register for required upper-division courses and popular AI/ML electives?
2. Which professors, courses, or labs would you recommend for someone interested in NLP, LLMs, trustworthy AI, or autonomous agents?
3. How realistic is it for a transfer student to join a research lab during the first year?
4. What has the internship search been like for UCR CS students? Do companies recruit meaningfully through UCR, or is most recruiting self-directed?
5. Have you seen UCR CS graduates reach Big Tech, applied AI/ML roles, or competitive CS graduate programs?
6. How supportive is BCOE advising for transfer-credit evaluation and graduating within two years?
7. What do you wish you had known before starting UCR CS?

I’m not expecting the school name to determine my career. I’m trying to evaluate whether UCR provides the technical depth, faculty access, research opportunities, and peer environment needed to build a strong AI/NLP profile.

If you’re a current student or graduate, it would be helpful if you could mention your graduation year, concentration, and whether you entered as a transfer. Thank you.

I was recently admitted to UCSB as a junior transfer in Pre-Statistics and Data Science. I currently live near UCSB, already have housing through next year, and genuinely like the campus and Santa Barbara community.

My academic background, however, is primarily computer science. I’ve completed coursework in C/C++, object-oriented programming, data structures, discrete mathematics, and computer architecture, along with calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and multivariable calculus. I’ve also built several software projects and experimented with locally fine-tuning language models.

My long-term interests are applied AI/ML and NLP, particularly language technology for low-resource languages. I may eventually pursue graduate school in CS, AI, NLP, or computational linguistics.

UCSB advising confirmed that I can complete the Statistics and Data Science degree by Spring 2028. They have also made it clear that, as a transfer student, I cannot change into Computer Science. I would therefore be attending with the understanding that my degree will remain Statistics and Data Science.

I’m trying to understand what the program is actually like beyond the course catalog:

1. How much programming do you do in the upper-division major? Is it mostly R and theoretical statistics, or are there meaningful opportunities to use Python, SQL, machine learning, and software-development tools?
2. Which upper-division SDS courses feel the most applied or computational?
3. Can SDS students realistically enroll in upper-division CS courses such as algorithms, AI, ML, or NLP during Pass 3, or are those courses usually full?
4. How accessible are AI/ML/NLP research opportunities for technically prepared non-CS students?
5. What kinds of internships and full-time roles have SDS students actually obtained—data analyst, data scientist, ML engineer, SWE, research assistant, or something else?
6. If your goal were applied AI/NLP or a CS-related graduate program, would you choose this major again?

My other option is UCR Computer Science. The UCR curriculum is more directly aligned with the subjects I’m excited about, but UCSB is the environment and community I would prefer if I can still build a rigorous coding and AI/NLP path.

I’m especially interested in honest responses from current SDS students, transfers, recent graduates, and students who attempted to take CS courses or join CS research groups. Thank you.

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Did anyone hear back?

I just called UCSB admissions to ask about the transfer waitlist. From what the person told me, it sounds like UCSB has not started releasing transfer waitlist offers yet.

AO said they are still waiting on final enrollment numbers because other schools are also releasing waitlist decisions, and some students may drop their UCSB waitlist spot or commit elsewhere. Basically, UCSB seems to still be figuring out how many spots they actually have before making waitlist offers.

They also mentioned that in some years the yield is high, so they may take very few or no students from the waitlist, but it varies year by year. However, they kind of implied that they may give some waitlist offers this year, though they didn’t say it directly or guarantee anything.

So my understanding is:

- Transfer waitlist offers have likely not gone out yet
- UCSB is still waiting for final numbers
- Movement may still happen, but nothing is guaranteed
- It depends on yield and available space by major/college

Hihi, I'm an incoming CS transfer student and trying to get a feel for what life is actually like in the program before I get there.

A few things I'm curious about:

• How's the CS program overall? Workload, professors, how impacted the upper-div classes are, whether it's easy to get into the courses you need.
• Any fun clubs worth checking out? CS-related or just generally good for meeting people.
• What's the research scene like? Is it realistic to get involved as an undergrad, and how do people usually find labs/profs to work with?
• How are the career/job fairs and recruiting? Do good companies actually show up, and have people had luck landing internships through them?
• Anything you wish you knew before starting?

Would love to hear from anyone in the major (or recently graduated). Thanks in advance!

I was checking reddit posts about waitlist admission for UCSB, and I didn't see anyone got off both this year and last year. Do they actually accept transfer students from the waitlist?

transfer students

We are almost there guys 😭

Hi everyone,

I recently spoke with my counselor and found out that my UC rejections may be related to having too many units. I currently have 92.5 semester units, which may put me in a senior-standing situation.

I am considering submitting an appeal and explaining my circumstances. In my case, it was basically one non-major course from another university/non-degree extension program that pushed my total units beyond the threshold.

Has anyone seen UCs make exceptions in cases like this? Or is senior-standing usually a strict cutoff with little flexibility?

If so, please tell us;

Which UC?

Your stats?

What new information you provided?