Nuclear Engineering hopes..

vish22

Hey members,
I've taken the GRE lately and scored 311 (Q-161).
Well,I'm in my final year,doing Civil Engg. from Mumbai University and my acads are pretty much on the lower side(actually its pretty crap).And I wish to get into a nuclear engg. grad program.The thing is,I'm not sure what kind of universities I should be looking at.I mean,I know the top 5-10 for nuclear engg. programs and all,but I'm really unsure about the student enrollment in these universities for the NE program -the number of students applying and their relative scores with respect to other students applying in other branches.If the no. of students applying for NE say for top 10 univs. is pretty low then I know I got a good shot at getting in,but if they are high,and plenty in number,then its pretty much hopeless for me.
Anyways,could you guys give some cool universities for the NE program?

I went through the previous theads and got a good idea.But with my acads,I'm pretty much a hopeless case I think .I do loads of math(undergrad-grad) and physics though(undergrad-grad level) and I just know I can excel when it comes to topic likes thermal hydraulics,reactor physics,etc.I've even read much about them!I can never really get my head around structural engg. and all that in Civil and I wish to include this in my SOP.But is it worth a shot?

nukapprentice

Well, a few I am applying to for nuclear are the following:

MIT, Texas A & M, Penn st., Florida, Illinois-Urbana, Missouri S & T, Ohio and Michigan. Those are all good programs and with only 3 (Missouri, Florida and Ohio) being below the top 10. Don't worry, you did better on the quant than I did and I am applying. Just keep your head up and use the shotgun effect when applying.

Thermalne

Florida isn't on the top 10 anymore.

nukapprentice

Thanks and changed my original response.

vish22

shotgun effect??Please explain?

And damn,you must have really good acads and other stuffs if you're applying to those sort of universities.
Also,any idea as to how many students apply in NE masters programs across USA?(In terms of percentage of students applying for a more famous-lets say mechanical or comp. sci.-branch?)

nukapprentice

Sure,

The shotgun effect just means that you apply to a bunch of schools in order to increase your chances to get into a program. As for myself, I went to a highly ranked school for my master's so I think that when I apply for a PhD program, that fact will outweigh my mediocre GPA and sub par GRE. Unfortunately, I cannot help you with regards to how many students apply to NE masters programs across USA.

Thermalne

I've talked to my professors in my NE department about how many applications and it's usually around 50-70 students apply every year. Don't let this hold you back from applying.

Sorry didn't mean to sound rude. They are rebuilding their program quite nicely and I would expect to see them in the top 10 again in the next few years.

Honestly, I doubt your school's rank will be weighed that much. I feel your masters thesis/projects/coursework will outweigh your GRE scores.

nukapprentice

Thermalne,

Oh, don't worry, I didn't think it sounded rude. About the ranking, I've been told by a few people that ranking does help somewhat in the admission process, but who knows. I do agree with you however about the weight of thesis/projects/coursework and hope that will be the deciding factor for me getting in.