Why I Chose Georgia Tech’s OMSCS Over UT Austin’s MSDS (FAQs)

Georgia Tech OMSCS vs. UT Austin MSDS?

I’ve been getting a lot of questions asking why I decided to enroll into Georgia Tech’s online masters in computer science instead of UT Austin’s masters in data science since my last Medium post. My goal is to share my thought process in hopes to help you make a decision in the same dilemma.

Disclaimer: The following questions will address my (opinionated) comparisons between the two programs. These are just my opinions and are not representative of any professional advice.

Check out my applications to Georgia Tech OMSCS and UT Austin MSDS by clicking the stories below:

The application that got me into Georgia Tech OMSCS

I Got Accepted to UT’s First M.S. in Data Science Program

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Did you consider other programs other than GT and UT Austin?

Very briefly. The GT OMSCS and UT Austin MSDS programs were the most obvious choices in terms of cost and educational competitiveness, but I also checked out UC Berkeley’s online MIDS program. When I talked with an advisor on the phone, they said their tuition was about $70k. Which is ridiculous when you compare that to GT OMSCS tuition ($7k, 10% of the cost) or UT Austin MSDS ($10k). I also wasn’t interested in submitting multiple applications due to application fees. Eventually, I narrowed my selection to these 2 excellent schools.

Why didn’t you apply to UT Austin’s Online CS program?

I steered away from UT Austin’s Online CS program due to the vast amount of pre-requisite course requirements. Without a traditional education in CS, the masters program just wasn’t practical in my case. I was looking for a program that offered a career change without additional pre-requisite requirements.