I have a GRE score of 318 (V:148, Q:170) and limited professional experience which makes my CV weak. What universities in the US or Canada would be suitable for an MS in Data Science?
Hi Samir,
A GRE 318 (especially with a 170 in Quant) is solid for MS in Data Science, but yeah, limited experience can make applications a bit tricky. Don’t stress too much—plenty of universities value strong quant skills and academic potential over work experience.
For the US, you can aim for:
- Arizona State University – good for career outcomes, not super competitive.
- Northeastern University – industry-focused, co-op programs help with job prospects.
- University of Cincinnati – solid data science program, easier to get in.
- UT Dallas – great for analytics & data science, affordable.
- Michigan Tech – underrated but strong in AI & data science.
For Canada:
- Simon Fraser University (SFU) – decent program, good industry ties.
- University of Victoria – easier admission, solid research opportunities.
- York University – newish but good for AI/data science.
- Ryerson University (now TMU) – applied focus, industry-linked.
Your quant skills stand out, so highlight projects, coursework, or any Kaggle/online certifications to make up for experience gaps. Play up research work, if any. You got this!