Choosing an IT master's program in St. Petersburg?

Question

IT education

Good afternoon.
Next year, I'll be going to graduate school. The goal is to gain knowledge and experience in the field of software development. It is clear that in some work you can get more knowledge and experience than in a university. But, I would not like to discuss it in this issue.
For admission, I am considering (so far) 3 universities. These are:
1) St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University.
2) St. Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics.
3) Department of Mathematical and Information Technologies, SPbAU RAS.
It is clear that at St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences you can definitely get decent knowledge. However, there is a competition of about 5 people for 1 place, and I will most likely not make it there.
In this regard, you need to find some more good alternatives. Maybe you studied at one of these universities and can say something about it. Maybe they just heard something. I will be glad for any information.

Answer 1

If you focus on applying to AU and go for an interview in the spring, then you still have half a year - more than enough. I would put all my efforts into preparing for this, since the place is really amazing in terms of the possibility of acquiring knowledge, and, importantly, almost devoid of the shortcomings of Russian reality (bureaucracy, incompetence, etc.), which you will have to sip in full in " big universities.

Answer 2

Well, from the second, it seems like the guys take the first place at programming olympiads (moreover, several times, in 04, 08, 09, 12 and 13 years).

Answer 3

http://clubs.ya.ru/company/72708
http://compscicenter.ru/about

Answer 4

Most importantly, don’t go to ITMO for a master’s degree, they don’t teach anything there!