Hello, I am currently a QA engineer and I will shortly be graduating with a MS in Software Development from Boston University. Good program, learned a lot, but my bachelors degree is in an unrelated liberal arts degree. In terms of applying to development jobs and switching out of QA, I suppose I am in the same category as a new grad? Would I likely be rejected at other higher level openings due to lack of experience?
All that matters is whether or not you leet code.
They could reject you up front due to QA experience, especially if they use resume screening. Make sure you have some solid sections of software engineering- whether school projects or side gigs- on your resume. The silos run deep and most companies won’t even give you a chance to leet code.
How many YOE of QA?
2 years
If you did stuff similar to SWE, you can add that in your résumé so the recruiter won't think you are at the bottom of entry level. But you probably still don't have enough experience to be mid level yet. Keep doing LC. You will get there.