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Should I apply right now if I am unsure about my chosen field?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Should I Apply for Grad School?
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    sara_hasan LUMS
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    I majored in electrical engineering, and I am currently in my last year. Over time, I beleive I like pure Computer Sciences more, specifically distributed systems. However, this interest is newfound based on a few courses I took at the end of my junior year. Since I am a rising senior, I want to fix a path so I can dedicate focused effort. I am thinking of applying to Computer Science master's but I might need to switch my specialty later on, depending on how my interest pans out. Is this the right line of thinking?

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    agha.ali.raza Professor LUMS
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    If you already know you want to switch from a program, then don't apply. Only apply to programs you're genuinely excited about. Don’t waste your prime years doing something you’re not excited about and try switching later.

    It isn’t important that you’ve to go to grad school right after undergrad. Not everyone has the same situation. There are alternate pathways as well. It isn't important that you apply in your last semester. You can do an RAship for one year, do independent research, or get enrolled at a local good program and get a good GPA. Longer gaps are difficult to justify and they have the tendency to make your ability rusty and knowledge obsolete. The field of CS is constantly changing so don’t stay idle for too long.

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    ihsanqazi Professor
    wrote on last edited by ihsanqazi
    #3

    If you are about to graduate and feel undecided about graduate school, that is completely normal. There are various paths you can take. For example, you could spend a year or two working in the industry to explore your interests. Gaining work experience can provide valuable insight into how much you enjoy the field and help you clarify your future goals.

    Dr. Ihsan Ayyub Qazi is a recipient of Google and Meta/Facebook Research Awards and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Lahore University of Management Sciences (http://web.lums.edu.pk/~ihsan)

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