As everyone knows, computer-related majors mainly fall into three categories: CS, CE, and EE. If there was one hottest major for U.S. graduate applications in 2018, it was undoubtedly CS (Computer Science). The primary reason is simply that "studying CS in the U.S. leads to good jobs and high salaries," since the demand for software from companies will never cease.
Indeed, there are many CS-related jobs, spanning from software engineering to finance. ( Click here for a detailed introduction to the CS major. )
Overly popular majors easily give rise to hot-button issues or controversies:
Is CS a Major That Anyone Can Apply to and Get Into?
Are Spots in CS at Prestigious U.S. Universities Nearly Impossible to Secure??
As people say, CS offers the best employment prospects in the U.S., making it one of the most popular study-abroad majors among Chinese students in recent years. However, with too many predators chasing limited prey, the competition for admission to graduate CS programs at top U.S. universities has become increasingly fierce.
The admission thresholds for graduate CS programs at prestigious U.S. universities are relatively sky-high: GPA, academic/school background, GRE/TOEFL scores, internships, research/competitions—everything seems indispensable, and no requirement is low.
Sufficient CS prerequisite courses:
The CS major is not as friendly as many programs that have "no background requirement"! CS has very strict prerequisite courses, which arguably rank ahead of standardized test scores in importance.
Excellent GPA and standardized test scores:
GPA is a crucial factor in STEM applications, especially for CS. Although the minimum GPA listed on official websites for top-20 schools is typically 3.0/4.0, the average GPA of admitted CS students is actually above 3.6, and at some schools it reaches an average of 3.8. The average TOEFL score is 100+ and GRE 320+, as stated on school websites—nothing more to add.
Impressive personal soft skills:
For CS master's applications, research projects, internships, publications, patents, awards, and work experience—all of these personal soft skills that demonstrate your CS abilities are extremely important.
With too many applicants for too few spots, is CS the only path to a good job for STEM students?
CS vs EE vs CE
Many people say that EE (Electrical Engineering) is harder to study than CS and also harder to find a job. However, with CS becoming increasingly popular, competition in EE is actually not as fierce as in CS. The employment threshold for EE is high; undergraduates rarely work in directly related jobs and thus are less involved in competition, meaning most people need to pursue graduate studies.
Moreover, precisely because EE is difficult to learn, the possibility of self-study is very slim (much of CS programming can be self-taught). Therefore, EE talent is in short supply, and employment competition is relatively less intense compared to CS. For software companies and internet firms that need CS, many self-taught individuals have met their requirements, intensifying competitive pressure within the CS industry.
If a school offers CS, EE, and CE programs simultaneously, generally speaking, the difficulty of graduate admission is: CS > EE / CE. Let's take the application requirements for NYU Tandon's CS and CE programs as an example:
NYU Tandon MSCE:
For master's applicants in CE, an undergraduate background in EE, CE, or CS is considered in-field; all others need to complete prerequisite courses.
NYU Tandon MSCS （Click here to learn about NYU's CS program）:
For CS master's applicants, besides requiring an undergraduate background in CS, EE, mathematics, science, or an engineering-related field, they must have at least one year of college-level science courses, proficiency in a high-level language (preferably C++), and a basic understanding of computer systems and operations, data structures, and computer architecture.
With similar qualifications, applying for EE/CE might gain you admission to a top 20–30 school, but applying for pure CS might only get you into a school ranked 50–60.
In summary, CS leans toward software development, EE toward hardware design, and CE is an interdisciplinary field combining both. If you truly lack confidence in finding a good job with EE and have no particular passion for pure hardware development, CE is also a very good choice. As a cross between the two, CE offers great curricular flexibility, allowing you to take many courses from both EE and CS. And it's already widely accepted that CE graduates can pursue CS jobs!
It's long been common to see cases of EE students switching to CS, as if everyone assumes CS leads to better jobs. However, here I want to remind everyone: if you want to switch to CS, I hope it is out of passion—a love for CS, for studying programming and algorithms. If you choose CS only because it's "easy to find a job," think carefully. Without interest, it is hard to master technical skills. If you jump into the ever-expanding vortex of CS without any planning, you may lack competitiveness. Although CS is hot, it continuously attracts top talent; to get a slice of a good pie, you need both ability and passion.
CS vs MIS (Management Information Systems)
Many say CS is a more "technical" major than MIS, that MIS is a branch of CS and any job it can do, CS can do as well; the reason MIS has decent employment is that it rides on CS's coattails. This statement is only half true. But in any case, we first must acknowledge that MIS truly has promising job prospects.
The other half that needs correction is that MIS is not merely a branch of CS. MIS programs generally fall into two types: one is technology-oriented, with curriculum and employment leaning toward CS; the other is business-oriented, with courses emphasizing strategy/business management and employment leaning toward BA. Product managers at tech companies, consultants at the Big Four, and business analysts at financial firms are all career options for MIS graduates.
It can be said that MIS is an interdisciplinary field combining computer science and business. Although its curriculum may not be as technically intensive as CS, it can be even more flexible than CS in terms of school choice, career direction, etc. Whether in the West Coast tech hubs or East Coast financial centers, MIS professionals are needed.
If you feel you are not entirely "techie" but still want to master and enhance technical skills, and are also interested in business and enjoy communicating with people, then a business-oriented MIS program is a perfect fit for you.
If you are confident in all aspects of your profile and deeply passionate about CS, then come on in—let us help fill in any gaps and add the finishing touch to your application! If you're not fully confident but still hope for a career prospect as bright as that of CS, CheersYou（清柚教育） welcomes you too~ Let CheersYou（清柚教育） guide you in "retreating to advance" and become the wise one who gets the last laugh!
Finally, click here to view the latest 2018 CS professional rankings.
