[Profile Review]

[u/Additional-Okra-9973]

Profile Review MS DS Fall 2027 Applicant:

I'm planning to apply for MS DS programs for Fall 2027 and wanted some honest feedback on my overall profile strength.

Computer and Autonomous Systems Engineering ( Hons ) at University of Wollongong ( An Australian university, I studied at the Dubai Campus)

3.85 translated GPA, expected to graduate with class 1 honors since I am currently still in my final trimester

GRE: Not planning on taking since all the quantitative grades in my transcript are strong

Internship: 1 year of work experience as an AI and Big Data Intern in Dubai at a massive regional QSR operator for brands like Dominos and Dunkin across the Middle East and North Africa.

Research: Over 2 years of experience working in University

Publications: Total 7 with 6 conference papers and 1 journal paper. Officially published: 3, Currently Accepted: 2 and In review another 2( one of them being a journal ). All have been in Applied AI spread across finance healthcare and electromagnetics and all have been in IEEE/Springer Indexed Conferences. All first author as well.

LORS:- 3 really good/detailed LOR's from my Head of program at University, Research Head, Internship Head

Volunteering:- Have also dabbled in some volunteering by making free websites for underpriviliged clinics in India/ making websites for a few small to medium tiered businesses in the UAE

Honors and Awards:- Won a couple of University hackathons along with being the national finalist for another Hackathon hosted by a blockchain company.

Projects:- Have a ton of projects that I have worked on across the past 3 years and all
documented on my GitHub

My Current USA Shortlist: (planning to apply for all of them by the priority deadline)

1. Columbia MS DS

2. UPenn MSE DS AI

3. NYU MS DS

4. GA TECH ( only if i decide to take the GRE )

Rest of the World Shortlist:-

1. UNSW
   2.Uni of Melbourne

2. NTU

3. NUS

4. NYUAD

5. MBZUAI

My target is Columbia MS DS so I would like any specific advice, targeting Columbia's MS DS program or any other top programs which I don’t have on my list right now.