We appreciate your interest in our new full-time MS Software Engineering program.  Applicants to the full-time program are assessed on both a quantitative and qualitative basis.  Please click on the application components, below, for more information on applying to the Carnegie Mellon West MS SE full-time program.  International students are strongly encouraged to apply early to allow time for visa processing and other logistics.  If you have any additional questions, please contact the admissions office at (650) 335-2808 or email admissions@west.cmu.edu.

Fall 2008 Application Information
Quick Link: Create an account and complete the online application.

Deadlines
Admission Requirements
Transcripts
Letters of Recommendation
GRE
TOEFL
Interview
Coding Diagnostic
Questions

Admission Requirements
Although most students admitted to the MS SE program hold undergraduate degrees in computer science, engineering, mathematics, cognitive science or physics, applicants who can clearly demonstrate the ability to perform graduate-level work in software engineering are also considered. Excellence and promise will balance a lack of formal preparation. Programming experience is essential, but applicants who have allowed a zeal for programming to interfere with other aspects of education are not usually considered qualified.

To enter the MS SE program you must have:

• An undergraduate degree in Computer Science, or a minor in Computer Science, or equivalent preparation, including:
  • Knowledge, at least at the level of an undergraduate course, of algorithms and data structures and programming languages
  • Basic knowledge of object-oriented design
  • Skills in programming-in-the-small, as well as competence in using an object-oriented language such as Java
  • Practical knowledge of programming methods and computer organization.
• A summer internship is highly recommended; the internship might be completed the summer prior to beginning the MS SE program
• A completed online application
• Official academic transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation
• Official scores from Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test are required.  Your scores should be sent to the Carnegie Mellon West. The subject test in Computer Science is not required but highly recommended.
• TOEFL - All international applicants MUST provide TOEFL scores from tests taken within the last 1-2 years. International applicants whose undergraduate degree was completed in the United States, or who attend an institution whose primary language of instruction was English, or whose mother language is English, are exempt from this requirement. Scores should be added to the online application and originals sent directly to Carnegie Mellon West.
• Interview
• Coding Diagnostic
• Application fee (USD $100)

Any materials not submitted on-line should be sent directly to us at:
Carnegie Mellon West
ATTN: Admissions
NASA Research Park
Building 23 (MS 23-11)
Moffett Field, CA 94035

Transcripts
You must submit one official transcript from each college or university attended (including community, undergraduate, and graduate programs), even if no degree was granted.  Transcripts must arrive in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution, to be considered official.  If you know you will not be able to get an official copy of your transcripts sent in by the deadline, you may submit unofficial copies and email them to admissions@west.cmu.edu or fax to 650/603-7032 for the admissions committee to review, so as not to slow down your application process. However, a final decision cannot be confirmed until after your official transcripts are received.

Letters of Recommendation
Request a minimum of two letters of recommendation from individuals who are in a position to evaluate your technical and/or academic performance. The title of the recommender is not nearly as important as the ability of the recommender to comment on the quality of your work. If possible, one recommendation should be from an instructor and another from a supervisor in an internship program or technical job. The recommendation process is facilitated through our online application.

GRE
Carnegie Mellon West’s GRE institution code is 4024. There is no minimum score requirement.  Test scores are accepted for five years from the date of the last application deadline date. To schedule a GRE examination, please go to http://gre.org or to schedule a GMAT examination, please go to http://mba.com.

TOEFL
International students who did not attend an institution in which the primary language of instruction was English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. We do not have a minimum requirement; however, most graduate departments at Carnegie Mellon prefer to see TOEFL scores of 600 for the paper/pencil exam, 250 for the computer-based exam, and 100 for the iBT.  TOEFL scores must be sent by ETS electronically to Carnegie Mellon West. Applicants must also report their TOEFL scores on their application. The institution code for Carnegie Mellon West is 5759.

Interview
In addition to your application materials, you will be asked to interview with a member of the admissions committee. The interview gives you an opportunity to learn more about the masters program and also enables the admissions committee to learn more about you beyond the written materials you have provided in your application. Specifically, the interview enables the admissions committee to learn more about your communication and interpersonal skills, background, education, and professional goals. Within two weeks of receiving your completed file, a representative from the admissions committee will contact you to schedule an interview. Interviews are required for all applicants and can be done in person or by telephone.

Coding Diagnostic
A coding diagnostic is included as part of your application.  This is a simple application that we ask you to write in order to assess your programming skills.  You may use Java Swing, JSP/ servlets, or any one of the following languages to implement the user interface: 

• C++
• Java
• Ruby on Rails
• PhP
• C
• C Sharp

You will be asked to walk through your application during your interview.  During this part of the interview, the focus of the interviewer will be on your ability to explain, step-by-step, your process in creating the code.

Questions?
Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or concerns. We can be reached at650/335-2808 or at admissions@west.cmu.edu.

Quick Link: Create an account and complete the online application.

HOME   SAVE   EMAIL   PRINT   MOST POPULAR