ACCEPTED into Georgia Tech's OMS Cybersecurity!

[Nixi]

Today I found out that I have been accepted into the first cohort of Georgia Institute of Technology's new Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program!! This will be for the Information Security Track (as opposed to their Energy Systems Track or Policy Track). I thought this was a long shot when I applied, especially since they said they were limiting the first round of admissions to 250 students and there was a very large application pool.

Classes start January 7th, and I'm limited to taking two courses at a time. So this will be a much longer program than I'm used to, which might be hard to adjust to after finishing two undergrad degrees in about year or less each.

I'll use this thread as a progress share once I start up, and let everyone know how the program goes.

I'm very excited, even though a little nervous about the caliber of work and having to commit to such a long program.

Go Yellow Jackets!

Wow, congrats! 

Congratulations! What is the cost for the program, if you don't mind me asking?

Just under $10k. My work reimburses up to $5k a year, so since this is a 2 year program it’ll end up being free for me 

NICE! 

[cookderosa]

Today I found out that I have been accepted into the first cohort of Georgia Institute of Technology's new Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program!! This will be for the Information Security Track (as opposed to their Energy Systems Track or Policy Track). I thought this was a long shot when I applied, especially since they said they were limiting the first round of admissions to 250 students and there was a very large application pool.

Classes start January 7th, and I'm limited to taking two courses at a time. So this will be a much longer program than I'm used to, which might be hard to adjust to after finishing two undergrad degrees in about year or less each.

I'll use this thread as a progress share once I start up, and let everyone know how the program goes.

I'm very excited, even though a little nervous about the caliber of work and having to commit to such a long program.

Go Yellow Jackets!

Now THAT'S some great news!!!!! Congratulations!!!!

[mudball]

Wow, that's fantastic! Please keep us updated.

[jsd]

There are 3 tracks (concentrations) for this Cybersecurity program - Information Security, Energy Systems, or Policy. They've only admitted InfoSec track people for this first Spring 2019 semester, and the other two won't open until Fall 2019.

However, they have approved my request to be moved into Policy track come Fall, and in the meantime I can take courses that overlap between tracks while still being in the original track.

The Policy track is a little more related to what I do (and what I want to do going forward). The team has been really great to work with and quick to answer questions. They had a virtual orientation last week that was very well run, too.

[quigongene]

they have approved my request to be moved into Policy track come Fall, and in the meantime I can take courses that overlap between tracks while still being in the original track.

Good to know that you can switch up. I'm planning on the Infosec track, but will shift to policy if it gets beyond my capabilities.

[jsd]

Each track is run by a different college within the school, and I just needed approval from the public policy college advisor. It took a couple days and was really easy.

[jsd]

Registered for my first two courses today, which start on Monday. Both courses are part of the program "core" that all tracks require:

CS 6035 Intro To Info Security
PUBP 6725 Info Security Policies

[ThatBankDude]

Registered for my first two courses today, which start on Monday. Both courses are part of the program "core" that all tracks require:

CS 6035 Intro To Info Security
PUBP 6725 Info Security Policies

That is great! Good luck and I look forward to seeing updates as you progress in the program!

[cardiacclep]

Congrats. This is really impressive to be accepted. I was reading some posts on Reddit that list who got in and who did not get accepted. People with impressive backgrounds IMO were rejected. Can you add any insight or tips into what you think made you stand out to the selection committee? Again, great job and good luck with the program.

[jsd]

Thanks!

Not too sure what made me stand out.

I currently work in the infosec field in a Fortune 30 company within the financial industry and have a few years under my belt. I have a BS in IT Sec (from WGU), as well as an unrelated BA in Psych (TESU).

As part of my WGU degree, I racked up a number of industry certs that I talked about in my application essay (CCNA Security, CCNA, CCENT, Linux+, LPIC-1, Security+, Network+, Project+, A+, & CIW SDA). I also talked about accelerating my first two degrees through competency based education (WGU - 76 cr in just over a yr, and much of my Pysch degree was done at Patten Univ [now JFK Univ] - 27cr in 3mos, then a number of quick ACE credits for TESU).

My early academic performance was poor right after high school and I ended up dropping out after my first couple semesters, but when I got serious and came back I made pretty decent grades (3.6+ GPA even with Fs, Ds, and a chunk of Cs from my first go around).

So it was a lot for them to look at. I think I did a pretty good job on my application essays as well. Despite my numerous typos and half-expressed thoughts in this forum, I can write pretty dang well when i need to.