University of Chicago Masters Program in Computer Science

The 2026 MPCS Practicum Symposium & Capstone Showcase brought together students, faculty, and the MPCS community for an exciting afternoon of research, innovation, and real-world problem solving.

Students showcased projects in AI, machine learning, mobile applications, computational biology, education technology, and more while sharing their work and experiences with attendees.

👉 Read more about the event and featured projects here: https://masters.cs.uchicago.edu/2026/05/22/mpcs-practicum-capstone-symposium/

Alumni Spotlight: Thomas Vecchio (MPCS ’14) ✨

Now serving as Director of Infrastructure & Data Analytics at Sinai Health System, Thomas reflects on how the MPCS program—especially courses like discrete math and algorithms—pushed him to new levels and helped shape his career.

👉 Read more: https://masters.cs.uchicago.edu/2026/04/30/thomas-vecchio/

When you think of a software engineer, you might picture someone at a big tech company—but the reality is much broader.

Today, software engineers are working across industries like finance, healthcare, energy, logistics, and even government—building the systems that power everything from trading platforms to medical devices.

So what does a career in software engineering really look like?

👉 Read the full article to explore the possibilities: https://masters.cs.uchicago.edu/2026/03/20/where-do-software-engineers-actually-work-everywhere/

Curious where our 12-course students completed their 2025 summer internships?

From established tech companies to global organizations, our students gained hands-on experience across a wide range of industries.

👉 View the full report:https://bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/voices.uchicago.edu/dist/4/4035/files/2026/03/MPCS_Internships_2025-1.pdf

From IT to building large-scale AI systems. 🚀

Ryan Lempka (MPCS ’19) is now a Senior Research Engineer at NVIDIA, where he works on LLM inference and agentic workloads.

Learn how the MPCS helped him transition into advanced engineering and research roles.

👉 Read the full alumni spotlight: https://masters.cs.uchicago.edu/2026/03/06/ryan-lempka/

FAQ: Do I need to submit a GRE/GMAT score?

Great news — GRE/GMAT scores are optional for MPCS applicants ✅

However, if you don’t have a strong demonstrated quantitative background, we recommend submitting a score to help strengthen your application and show academic readiness 📊

👉 Learn more about our application requirements: https://masters.cs.uchicago.edu/mpcs-admissions/application-requirements/

💡 From whiteboard challenges to real tech offers: MPCS Algorithmic Problem Solving Workshops are more than just study sessions. Hosted by Professor Ishan Agarwal, these biweekly gatherings help MPCS students develop the confidence and skills they need to perform in technical interviews.

One participant even credits the workshop with helping him ace a Meta interview! 🙌

👉 Read the full article: https://masters.cs.uchicago.edu/2026/01/30/mpcs-algorithmic-problem-solving-workshops/

Alumni Spotlight: Richard Xu, Class of 2022 🎓

Richard’s journey from the University of Chicago’s MPCS to becoming a Senior Full Stack Engineer at Coforma LLC, highlights the power of a UChicago education in driving meaningful career growth and real-world impact.

Read more about Richard’s story: https://masters.cs.uchicago.edu/2026/01/27/richard-xu/

🚨 Deadline Reminder! 🚨

The Round 2 Full-Time Deadline for the University of Chicago’s Masters Program in Computer Science is only one week away on February 4, 2026.

This is your chance to join a rigorous, high-impact program that prepares you for a fast-evolving tech landscape.

✨ Apply by: February 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time

Start your application today: https://apply-psd.uchicago.edu/apply/

✨ 2025 was a big year for the MPCS! We introduced new courses, watched students build real-world projects and businesses, welcomed new leadership, and reconnected with alumni at events throughout the year.

If you missed any of our news or highlights, now’s a great time to catch up! Visit this link to explore our latest stories: https://masters.cs.uchicago.edu/news/

Happy Holidays from all of us at the MPCS! We’re looking forward to an exciting 2026 ahead.