So we have been talking a whole lot about universities in the US. But there are some really nice universities in Canada where people find good education at cheap rates and its good value for money. Many times its easier to find scholarships at Canadian univs. We spoke to Amod Gupta, who is a Masters student in computer science at University of Waterloo. We asked him why he chose to go to this university, how he was funding himself and what avenues he saw after his masters. He also talks about what the university values in the applications it receives from students. Here is Amod himself telling his story..

kaaledge: Which univ and what program are u enrolled in currently?

Amod: I am currently doing Master’s in Computer Science from University of Waterloo, Canada.

kaaledge: What advantages do u think studying in canada (masters) has over that in india?

Amod: There are different advantages of doing master’s in Canada as compared to India. For those interested in research, the universities here have a very research oriented master’s program. For example, in Waterloo there are three option for Master’s program in the CS Department.
1. Course Work Option: Take some courses (I think 10) and graduate.
2. Research Paper Option: Take 7 courses, write a research paper and graduate.
3. Thesis Option: Take four courses, write a thesis and graduate.
This sort of a structure offers more choice in terms of what you want to do as compared to the way Master’s is structured in India. The research atmosphere is also more conducive in terms of financing, facilities and work culture.
Another major advantage of doing Master’s in Canada is financing. Most of the universities here guarantee funding with admission. This funding may come as scholarships, TA/RA, non-academic awards and tuition waiver etc and is usually substantial.
Other than the above, there are all the usual advantages of doing Master’s in North America.

kaaledge: How are u financing yourself?

Amod: I am on a fellowship from the University. The funding is substantial and takes care of tuition, living expenses and other things.

kaaledge: what opportunities do u see for yourself after your masters?
Amod: Generally speaking, the opportunities after Master’s can be in two directions. For those interested in Academics, a Master’s degree offers a solid platform upon which to do a PhD. Though this is not necessary and students can directly enter a PhD program straight after their bachelor’s but I personally believe doing a Master’s gives a flavor of research and a better understanding of what a PhD actually means. This becomes important for those who are undecided about PhD immediately after their bachelors. For those who are sure of their PhD plans, a master’s can help them to lay the foundation and explore their area of interest.

The other direction to go after a Master’s is Industry oriented. CS being what it is today, there are opportunities galore for graduates in this field and a Master’s degree is a good value addition. Salaries after a Master’s are more than after a bachelor’s. The difference however may vary from company to company.

kaaledge: When did u start preparing for your applications to univs and what do you think the admission committee at your university values the most?

Amod: I started preparing for my applications immediately after appearing for GRE which was in the first week of September. There’s no One Thing that the admission committee looks at. Its generally a combination of various factors which include, Cumulative Grade Point Index, GRE score (Maths mainly, the school of CS in Waterloo is under the faculty of Mathematics), the university from where undergrad was done, recommendations, SOP etc. I’d say, the university from where the undergrad was done, CGPI are the more important selection factors with the Maths score in GRE acting more like a rejection criteria than a selection criteria. However, this is not official and is just my impression.