I’m applying for Fall 2027 MS programs and I’m currently trying to figure out how I should shape my university list and overall application strategy.

I’d really appreciate some blunt feedback on my profile, program selection, and whether my current approach makes sense.

I’m primarily interested in MSCS and MS AI/ML programs in the US, but I’m open to related programs if they provide a better fit for my background and career/research goals.

Profile

Undergrad: B.Tech in Computer Science with specialization/coursework in IoT, Cybersecurity & Blockchain from a Tier 2 university in India

CGPA: 9.09/10 (through 6th semester)

Expected graduation: 2027

Research/Publications:

• 3 research publications (2 IEEE, 1 IET)
• 1 patent
• Research/projects involving AI/ML, computer vision, IoT and related areas

Internship Experience:

• Currently working as an AI Research Intern at a US-based startup
• 6-month internship experience at another technology company

Projects:

• Multiple projects across AI/ML, full-stack development, blockchain and IoT
• Several projects developed through hackathons/competitions

GRE: 310s — currently not planning to retake

IELTS/TOEFL: Planning to take before applications

LORs:

• 1 from Founder
• 1 from Project Guide
• 1 from Head of Department

SOP: Planning to build a coherent narrative around my research experience and growing interest in AI/ML rather than making it a generic CS application.

Funding

I will not be taking an education loan.

My MS will be funded by my parents, so cost is an important consideration when building my university list.

I’m willing to consider expensive universities when the program, research opportunities and career outcomes justify the cost, but I would prefer to be strategic rather than apply to a large number of very expensive programs.

What I’m trying to figure out

I currently have a rough university list, but I’m having difficulty deciding what type of programs I should actually prioritize.

My main interests are:

• MS Computer Science
• MS Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning

I’m also open to closely related programs if they make sense for my profile and long-term goals.

The main things I’d appreciate feedback on are:

1. Does my profile have a coherent enough research/AI narrative for top MSCS/MS AI programs?
2. Is my combination of 9.09 CGPA + publications + patent + AI research internship + projects strong enough to make highly competitive programs worth attempting, despite having a GRE score in the 310s?
3. Should I primarily focus on MSCS, or would programs specifically focused on AI/ML make more sense given my research direction?
4. Are there any program types or universities that I should be considering but am currently overlooking?
5. Since I’m parent-funded and not taking a loan, how would you approach balancing tuition/cost, research opportunities, and career outcomes when building the list?
6. If you were building an application strategy with this profile, what factors would you use to divide universities into ambitious, realistic, and safer options?

I’m particularly looking for honest feedback rather than encouragement. If there are weaknesses in my profile or parts of my current strategy that I should change before applications, please point them out directly.

And if there are programs that you think would be a particularly good fit for my background in AI/ML + research + systems/software, I’d appreciate recommendations.

Thank you! :)

PS: I’m not looking for admit statistics or a database of past admits — mainly looking for feedback on profile positioning, program fit, and application strategy.

Hi everyone,

I recently took the GRE and scored 306 (Q157, V149). My AWA score is still pending.

For prep, I followed GregMat's 2-month plan, but I completed it in about 1 month since I had limited time. I studied for around 1 hour every day while managing my 4th year engineering coursework. I also learned around 650 GRE vocabulary words.

The part that's really bothering me is my Quant score. In my PowerPrep tests, I scored:

• PP1: Q162
• PP2: Q164

So getting a 157 on the actual exam was a huge disappointment. I honestly don't know what went wrong on test day. I didn't feel completely overwhelmed, but somehow my performance dropped significantly.

I'm planning to retake the GRE in October, and this time I want to maximize both my Quant and Verbal scores.

I would really appreciate advice on:

• How to improve Quant from 157 to 165+
• How to improve Verbal from 149 to 155+ (or higher)
• Whether I should stick with GregMat again or use additional resources
• How to analyze and fix whatever caused the drop on test day
• Any study plans or strategies that worked for you, especially if you improved a lot between attempts

If you've been in a similar situation or managed to significantly increase your score on a retake, I'd love to hear what you changed.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I recently took the GRE and scored 306 (Q157, V149). My AWA score is still pending.

For prep, I followed GregMat's 2-month plan, but I completed it in about 1 month since I had limited time. I studied for around 1 hour every day while managing my 4th year engineering coursework. I also learned around 650 GRE vocabulary words.

The part that's really bothering me is my Quant score. In my PowerPrep tests, I scored:

• PP1: Q162
• PP2: Q164

So getting a 157 on the actual exam was a huge disappointment. I honestly don't know what went wrong on test day. I didn't feel completely overwhelmed, but somehow my performance dropped significantly.

I'm planning to retake the GRE in October, and this time I want to maximize both my Quant and Verbal scores.

I would really appreciate advice on:

• How to improve Quant from 157 to 165+
• How to improve Verbal from 149 to 155+ (or higher)
• Whether I should stick with GregMat again or use additional resources
• How to analyze and fix whatever caused the drop on test day
• Any study plans or strategies that worked for you, especially if you improved a lot between attempts

If you've been in a similar situation or managed to significantly increase your score on a retake, I'd love to hear what you changed.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to apply for Fall 2027 and would appreciate some honest feedback on my profile. My biggest dilemma right now is whether my GRE score is worth retaking or if I should focus on strengthening other parts of my application.

Profile:

• CGPA: 9.09/10 (through 6th semester) from VIIT Pune
• GRE: 306 (157Q, 149V)
• Research:
  • 3 publications (2 IEEE, 1 IET)
  • 1 patent
• Internship: 6-month internship at Synclature Consultancy,
• Projects: AI/ML, full-stack, blockchain, and IoT projects.
• LORs: Planning to get recommendations from professors I've worked with and my internship mentor.
• SOP: I'll focus on tying together my research, internship, and technical projects into a coherent narrative.

I'm interested in applying to MS in Computer Science, but I'm also open to AI, Data Science, and Software Engineering programs.

Some universities I'm considering are:

• Purdue
• Georgia Tech
• UMass Amherst
• NYU Courant
• NYU Tandon
• Texas A&M
• Penn State
• Northeastern

My main question is: Should I retake the GRE?

I know 157 Quant is below the average for many top CS programs. However, since I have over a year before applications, I'm wondering whether my time would be better spent:

• Retaking the GRE and trying to improve my Quant score, or
• Focusing on research, projects, open-source contributions, and strengthening my overall application.

I'd really appreciate any honest opinions, especially from people who applied with similar profiles or served on admissions committees. Thanks!