If the topic is not covered here, we are happy to respond to e-mail inquiries sent to meng@cs.cornell.edu and to engage in a dialogue where clarification is needed.
Q: What are the criteria for acceptance into the program? Basically, we evaluate your application on all of the material you submit,(i.e., test scores, letters, transcripts, etc.,) Applicants should have a solid background in Object oriented programming, functional programming, discrete structures, data structures and architecture either through courses or documented real life experience.
Q: I have been admitted to the program, but I would like to defer my admission. Is this possible? We no longer allow deferrals except under extreme circumstances. If you need a deferral, you should contact the CS M.Eng Office.
Q: Does the Department of Computer Science provide any financial aid to the M.Eng. students? The Department of Computer Science does not provide Financial Aid to students in the Masters of Engineering Program. Students are responsible for securing their own funding for the program. There is some financial aid offered through the College of Engineering visit their
website for additional information.
Q: Can I work as a Teaching Assistant or grader for a course? Every semester there are limited number of half time TA/grader positions offered to M.Eng. students. All students are considered for available positions. You will be notified by our office if you are awarded a TA position. Please be advised that it is rare for an M.Eng. student to be awarded a TA position in their first semester at Cornell.
Q: My application to your program was rejected. I suspect this was due to my low GRE (or TOEFL) score. Can I retake the test and apply again next time? You may reapply after re-taking the GRE or TOEFL test. You will be required to complete an entirely new application and supply all new materials at the time of your new application.
Q: I am currently enrolled in a Master's Program in CS at another University. Will I be able to transfer credit towards my M.Eng. degree at Cornell? The Masters of Engineering Program does not accept transfer credit from other Graduate Programs. Only courses which are taken after matriculation at Cornell will be counted towards the CS M.Eng. Degree.
Q: My undergraduate degree was in physics (or math or mechanical engineering etc.,) but I've taken some CS courses and I'm think I'm ready for your program. Can I apply? Yes, we are happy to consider your application. It might be useful for those whose undergraduate studies were not in CS or for those who have been away from Computer Science for a number of years to take the CS subject GRE to represent their abilities. Additionally, we expect to see from your transcripts that you have taken courses that are equivalent to
- CS 2110 - Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures
- CS 3110 - Data Structures and Functional Programming
- CS 2800 - Discrete Structures
- CS 3410 - Computer System Organization and Programming
Q: Can I take the GRE subject test in my "native" area of physics (or math, engineering etc.,) instead of the Computer Science test? No. We want to make sure you have sufficient background in computer science, not physics or math.
Q: How will I be notified of the admissions committees' decision? Should I phone the M.Eng. Office and inquire? Please do not call us. It is the policy of the CS M.Eng. Office not to give decision information out over the telephone. You will be notified as soon as a decision is made via e-mail or postal mail.
Q: How will I find a job when I'm done? Our M.Eng. graduates are in very high demand! Many well known companies recruit on campus throughout the term. We have found it common for M.Eng. grads to have several excellent offers from which to choose.
University Career Services offers many services which assist our graduates in finding employment. The College of Engineering publishes
employment statistics.
Q: May I apply to the PhD program after I'm done?
Of course you may always apply. The M.Eng. program is a professional degree program, aimed at enhancing your practical skills in computer science. The PhD program (at Cornell and elsewhere) is an academic degree program in which highly qualified students pursue research goals. While the goals of these programs are certainly not disjoint, the M.Eng. program is not usually considered a path to entry into the PhD program.
Q: Is the degree from Cornell Tech the same as the degree earned in Ithaca? At the end of one academic year, graduates from both programs will earn a Master of Engineering, but the focus and requirements of the programs are different:
- Technical Content. Equally deep. The menu of possible courses is much greater in Ithaca. Courses in NYC are smaller, less structured, and resonate with the entrepreneurial theme.
- Business Courses. NYC has specially designed courses offered by the Johnson School. Ithaca students have access to more general courses offered by the Johnson School and other units such as the Department of Economics and the Department of Science, Technology, and Society.
- Project. In NYC there are team projects associated with local organizations. In Ithaca there is a greater number of project formats, e.g., 1:1 with a CS faculty member, 1:1 with a non-CS faculty member, IT work in a science laboratory.
Q: Can I apply to both the Ithaca-based and NYC-based M.Eng programs at the same time? No. However, if you are rejected by one program you can ask to have you application considered by the "other" program. The process is not automatic--you must contact the "other" program directly to initiate the evaluation.
Q: Are there other Masters programs at Cornell of potential interest? Yes. The programs in Operations Research, Information Science, and Electrical and Computer Engineering have features that are attractive to students with CS inclinations.
