Did you easily make your connection when you last traveled by plane? If so, artificial intelligence (AI) might have helped ensure that you did. Was cancer detected in a family member at such an early stage that their complete recovery was guaranteed? AI could have played a factor in that fortunate outcome as well.
It seems that AI and machine learning (ML) are everywhere, with applications across fields, including computer science, healthcare, education, transportation, finance, and agriculture. AI is able to analyze large amounts of data to improve decision-making, automate customer service, accelerate and optimize financial transactions, and allow early detection of disease. No wonder so many individuals are flocking to the field as AI transforms our world.
If you are interested in entering this field, you might be wondering whether you have to have a computer science undergraduate degree to do so. The answer to that is no, but you do have to have completed computer science and math prerequisites. You can do this prior to applying, or you could find a program that includes those prerequisites in its curriculum. Several semesters of calculus, linear algebra, probability and statistics, and programming are usually required to enter a graduate AI program.
The following universities are ranked highly for their AI offerings:
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Cornell University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, San Diego
- University of Illinois
- University of Maryland
- University of Michigan
- University of Washington
With so many applicants drawn to the field, how do you compete? In addition to demonstrating through your GPA or standardized test scores that you have the ability to succeed, you must communicate why you want to enter the field, offer clear goals indicating how you want to use your degree, and explain what you have already accomplished that is related to the field. Through your statement of purpose, you must tell the adcom your story in a way that shows you fit with the program’s environment but also stand out because of your unique background.
I have helped clients whose goals were very different successfully enter graduate school, such as the following:
- A candidate applying AI to learning modules to help the elderly more easily use technology
- An applicant parsing orthopedic imaging and asking a Language Learning Module probing questions, thereby enabling early detection, automating longitudinal tracking, and predicting surgery outcomes
- An individual leveraging modern ML techniques to help develop new robot control architectures and solve the challenges of human-robot collaboration in complex environments
While these clients’ goals were different, what the applicants had in common was the ability to clearly communicate their passion for the field through their accomplishments and objectives. In addition, they made sure to find professors or supervisors who could write a letter of recommendation offering specific examples of their work. They were also able to name professors in their target programs whose research and classes aligned with their interests.
With 30 years of career and admissions experience at four universities, including Cornell University’s College of Engineering and Johnson Business School, Dr. Karin Ash has facilitated students’ entry into the world’s best companies. As an adcom member, she also evaluated applications and therefore knows what schools and employers seek. Want Karin to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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