Questions That Reveal More Than a Brochure
Use this as a shortlist interview sheet. You do not need every school to answer every question perfectly; the point is to uncover differences that marketing pages often hide.
Bring your shortlist: open the three-program shortlist tool and record answers for each finalist.
- Which courses are required versus electives?
- How much programming is expected before the first semester?
- How many AI/ML courses are required—not merely offered?
- Which cloud, database and analytics platforms do students actually use?
- Is there a required capstone, practicum or internship?
- What percentage of students obtain internships?
- What was the latest graduating cohort’s employment response rate?
- Does the school report median or mean salary?
- How soon after graduation is employment measured?
- Which employers hired multiple graduates recently?
- What is the total required tuition and fee cost for my residency/status?
- How many students receive scholarships or assistantships?
- Can foundation/prerequisite courses add time or cost?
- For international students: what is the exact CIP code and STEM status?
- When was the curriculum last materially revised for AI and emerging technology?
A useful rule
If a school cannot provide basic context behind a salary, employment-rate or curriculum claim, treat the claim as incomplete rather than automatically comparable with another program.