OMSCS: Why it can cost so much more than $8k

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Georgia Tech's Online Master's of Science in Computer Science is a much cheaper way to get a graduate degree online than actually going on campus. But is it really less than 8 thousand dollars as they claim? It can be, but for most of us, it really turns out to be much more than that; but I still think it is worth it. Let me know your opinions in the comments below.
• OMSCS - My Online Comp...
#OMSCS #OnlineMastersDegree #ComputerScienceDegree

[@astramolly]

Honestly this sounds no different than my BS in Aerospace Engineering at GT. This is just how GT is. I took several classes where I was failing, then got a B or a C. Others where I thought I had a B or C and got an A. I once got a 16/100 on a test and that was a B with the curve. So, idk maybe this is a business model for omscs, but honestly I think this is just the way GT is and they’re probably just making it more like on campus degrees. Also, my BS classes tests were also most of my grade. Only a few classes were project based. You can work hard all semester, get absolutely blasted by an exam, feel terrible, then either you beat the curve or you didn’t. Essentially you’re not just learning the material and getting graded on it, you’re sort of competing against your peers in the curve. It can be rough, and rewarding. Good luck to all of you in here!

[@EdwardMendoza]

Thanks for your input Molly. The real difference in the graduate degree, is that the better grade will not replace a bad grade; you keep the C as well as a B(that happened to me in KBAI which I was off the first time by less than one point). This motivates us to drop courses we are not doing badly in, because we cannot graduate with less than a 3.0 GPA.

[@JimmyGeniusEllis]

Deep Summary: it costs more than $8000 dollars for the degree because the school is so hard and so strict about you having to graduate with a 3.0 that you’ll have to retake classes which will cost you more money.

[@EdwardMendoza]

Correct, and also add to that summary that the GPA is cumulative; so retaking a course you have a C in initially and get a B in on the second run, the initially C is still counted. So you are incentivized to drop and retake courses multiple times. You do get a partial refund, though; but I care more about time, and finishing quickly now.

[@조바이든-r6r]

@@EdwardMendoza IS IT POSSIBLE EVEN IF I DROP COURSES BUT STILL effect in whole gpa? omg

[@javierflores2543]

Men take you so much for this review. I was undecided if I wanted to do a OMSCS o MIS master degree. I know what I will do now.

[@the_jumpy_gamer]

Can we get an update on this?

[@retropenguin49]

If you fail a class, it would be very hard to graduate. This sounds like a video game, if it’s very hard then no one wants to play it.

[@EdwardMendoza]

True, which explains the high drop out rate.

[@Vim_Tim]

I’m not sure the evidence is strong enough to claim they’re deliberately making classes harder with the intent to create a higher drop/retake rate. I still don’t think it’s terribly difficult to get a B in most classes (I’ve finished 4 classes so far). I do agree that many of the tests are poor quality compared to the assignments.

[@EdwardMendoza]

Which classes did you take? Depends on the level of difficulty and how busy you are with work/life that particular semester. It's not an easy program; if it was it would not have such a high drop out rate for the cost and the name recognition the University has.

[@Vim_Tim]

@@EdwardMendoza CN, IHI, GIOS, CP, AI, KBAI, now VGD with you :) Some classes definitely have become slightly harder: CP switched around the final project options and replaced the "easiest" research paper. That is an uncurved class, so this effect is observable in the grade distribution trending down semester-over-semester (maybe confounded by changes in the background/dedication of students?). However, I believe other classes are sometimes easier: I had no trouble at all with AI and felt that the take-home exams were generally easy (at least much shorter in page length compared to previous semesters) with the majority of points coming from rote, step-by-step calculations. For KBAI, they definitely added more content with the new programming assignments. However, Dr. Joyner explicitly said the grade distribution has moved upwards since this change because the grading is more objective & predictable now. More work, but easier to pass. I'm not suggesting that the classes are easy; many have high withdraw rates of ~30%. However, since the majority of withdrawals were students not on track for the passing grade (A/B), most of the students who actually finish will receive the A/B. This means that ~70% of students "pass" each hard class each semester. Yes, the program is a *ton* of work, but to my knowledge only a few classes (e.g. ML, GA) have difficult grading that can't be overcome mostly by putting in the appropriate amount of effort to get through the assignments.

[@Usernotknown21]

What's your background?

[@EdwardMendoza]

I used to be a music video director/internet marketer. programming with php on a few websites. that's why I needed to go back to college before getting into OMSCS

[@michaelniyurite2643]

Vids lookin good, cuz!!

[@locklessviking2978]

Hi, I am planning to enroll in this program.Can you share your experience with online proctored exams?..what kind of a setup is required for a smooth experience?..any gotcha's etc?

[@EdwardMendoza]

They made a chrome extension plugin now, it's very smooth just one monitor can be used and some apps cannot run while using it like dropbox; it's so much better than before and it rarely crashes

[@miguelalonso7752]

So they don't use Honorlock or Proctor U? Do they have their own custom proctor system?

[@techguy1911]

this is great information.

[@FF18Cloud]

Well, I mean, it's like the old saying of whether or not you needed the MS in the first place. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ granted, I'm interested in the interactive intelligence specialization, just yeah. Like, this is sorta like what happened for some of my classes in my undergrad, just had a support group of people telling me to keep pushing to find out I was fine in the end, especially those 2d game engines classes... But yeah, I think, for a university, they aren't project based institutions. computer science right, is still technically a science, not an engineering technical degree. I'd imagine there's going to be dry material, that you end up with exams in subjects you'd hate, all so you can dig into the specialization and elective courses you'd want to take

[@mindsetnuggets]

Wow. This crazy. I guess your Specialization is Interactive Intelligence

[@EdwardMendoza]

Computational perception initially; now it's II but I might change to ML if I have time

[@mindsetnuggets]

@@EdwardMendoza Thanks for responding. I just got admitted to OMSCS. I plan to go for II. I have done so much work in ML and DL, I feel that I don't want to repeat a lot of subjects. II because the courses sound interesting but I will take the Graduate Algorithms class as an elective. Is this allowed for II specialization?

[@Swamy456]

Facts.

[@pieter5466]

2:09 what's your evidence for this? 2:55 OMCS is well known for lenient admissions and a high drop-out rate "they keep- changing the classes" insofar as true, can just as easily be interpreted as: they're doing an experiment with online Ed. , and are actively iterating and improving

[@EdwardMendoza]

'what's your evidence for this?' I used to regularly check the course reviews on omscentral, and my own personal experience by taking courses that were harder the semester I took them(such as in KBAI, which had a curve on the final grade up until the semester I took it; which I was off by less than I a point and had to take it again).

[@harriettjackson4436]

I really hope you're wrong; I can't spend more than 10k on a degree

[@bradleyzimmerman1327]

I'm starting next semester; but I'm more prepared than you, so I'll be fine :D

[@EdwardMendoza]

finishing up on ML this semester; see you around!

[@leonardvigil6892]

How about that free version of a master's degree? Better thank 8k anyday

[@EdwardMendoza]

true

[@reaniegane]

Who issues a free MS?

[@aylinfranecki1105]

college is too expensive no matter where you go

[@frankfernandez6424]

I'd rather go to a real university.

[@rban123]

it is a real university. It is the same exact degree offered as the on-campus MSCS. Georgia tech is a top 10 computer science school and your instructors are the same instructors who teach courses at georgia tech's campus.

[@EdwardMendoza]

@@rban123 It's not 'real' in the sense you will not make any 'real' connections; maybe they change it in the future but after 3 years, I haven't made any lasting friendships at all. This was the opposite effect of every college and university I physically went to.