Currently, the job prospects and salary levels for programmers worldwide are quite attractive. Related majors such as CS, EE, SE, MIS, ECE, and MISM have attracted large numbers of applicants, including many 'career-switchers' from non-technical undergraduate backgrounds, leading to intense competition. Under these circumstances, many students without a technical background or with low GPAs who want to switch to CS for graduate studies can't help but worry that they might never become programmers.
However, that's not true. There are many programs that are friendly to applicants with no background or low GPAs. Today, CheersYou（清柚教育） has compiled these 'hidden gem' programs for you (including many from top schools like Penn, Columbia, JHU, etc.), along with many real application cases. Students who want to switch to CS without a background, as well as those with low GPAs looking to continue in CS with a differentiated approach, should not miss this!
University of Pennsylvania — SE Systems Engineering
Career-switchers applying to Penn usually choose between EE and SE, but SE is actually more 'software-oriented' compared to EE. SE allows you to take a data science track and also take courses from EAS and CIT within the same department, all of which are quite friendly for switching to CS.
Admitted Cases:
US undergrad Top80 / Finance / GPA 3.4+ / No GRE
US undergrad Top40 / Mathematics / GPA 3.5+ / GRE 330+
Chinese 211 undergrad / Supply Chain Management / GPA 3.6+ / GRE 325+ / TOEFL 105+
US undergrad Top50 / Energy Business & Finance / GPA 3.6+ / GRE 330+
Johns Hopkins University — MIS Information Systems
JHU's MIS program is designed to train students to connect technology and business through courses in big data, predictive analytics, cybersecurity, IT, and more. From hands-on web services experience to advanced strategy, the program will advance students' careers in IT.
Admitted Cases:
US undergrad / Business Management / GPA 3.0+ / GRE 320+
US undergrad Top30 / Statistics / GPA 3.3+ / GRE 325+
US undergrad Top90 / Information Technology / GPA 3.4+ / GRE 325+
US undergrad Top40 / Mathematics / GPA 3.4+ / GRE 320+
Columbia University — EE Electrical Engineering
The transfer-friendly aspect of Columbia's EE program is that you only need to complete half of the credits (15 credits) in EE, and courses with EECS or CSEE prefixes also count toward EE credits. Courses like DB (Database) and OS (Operating Systems), which lean toward algorithms, are generally available, and ML can be taken after completing prerequisite coursework.
Admitted Cases:
US undergrad Top30 / Mathematics / GPA 3.6+ / GRE 325+
US undergrad / Applied Physics / GPA 3.7+ / GRE 325+
US undergrad Top40 / Physics / GPA 3.6+ / GRE 320+
Canadian undergrad Top3 / EE / GPA 3.6+ / GRE 310+
Brown University — ECE Electrical and Computer Engineering
Brown's ECE program has a smaller cohort, so peer pressure is relatively low. For students planning to switch to software engineering roles, the course selection is quite flexible, with the possibility of taking entirely software-focused courses, such as C++, ML, and options in CV or AI.
Admitted Cases:
US undergrad Top40 / Statistics / GPA 3.3+ / GRE 320+
US undergrad Top50 / EE / GPA 3.3+ / GRE 315+
US undergrad Top30 / CE / GPA 3.2+ / GRE 315+
US undergrad Top40 / Physics / GPA 3.4+ / GRE 320+
Carnegie Mellon University — MISM Information Systems Management
CMU's Master of Information Systems Management (MISM) program blends technology and leadership skills, equipping students with the ability to transform organizations through technology. The program includes five tracks, and the Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (BIDA) track is suitable for students planning to switch to CS.
Admitted Cases:
US undergrad Top40 / Business Economics / GPA 3.8+ / GRE 325+
Canadian undergrad Top5 / Statistics / GPA 3.5+ / GRE 325+
US undergrad / Information Management Technology / GPA 3.7+ / GRE 320+
Canadian undergrad Top5 / Mathematics / GPA 80+ / No GRE
For more details on switching to CS for graduate studies, please add CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor for consultation~
