Anxiety about ME grad school from a BS in Physics. Help greatly appreciated

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the anxiety experienced by a participant applying to mechanical engineering (ME) PhD programs with a background in physics. The participant expresses uncertainty about their qualifications and the competitiveness of their application compared to other candidates. The scope includes concerns about GPA, GRE scores, research experience, and selecting appropriate schools for application.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster (OP) has a 3.72 GPA and 1300 GRE scores, with significant research experience but feels inadequate compared to peers with higher scores and publications.
  • Some participants suggest that many successful graduate students do not have perfect scores and that the OP's qualifications may still be competitive.
  • The OP expresses difficulty in identifying which schools to categorize as "safe" or "probable" for applications.
  • Another participant, who transitioned from mechanical engineering to aerospace, shares their experience of having similar stats and being accepted into a top program, indicating that the OP's stats may be sufficient.
  • The OP considers applying to additional schools to increase their chances, noting the unexpected costs associated with the application process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the OP's qualifications may still allow for acceptance into the desired programs, but there remains uncertainty about the competitiveness of their application compared to others. The discussion does not reach a consensus on specific schools or strategies for application.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects varying levels of experience and perspectives on graduate school admissions, with some participants sharing personal anecdotes while others focus on the OP's concerns. There is no resolution on the best approach for selecting schools or the adequacy of the OP's qualifications.

pablo4429
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Anxiety about ME grad school from a BS in Physics. Help greatly appreciated!

Hey all, so it is that time of the year to apply to grad schools and I am having some serious anxiety about it. I am applying to Phd programs in ME from a BS in physics and am very unsure about where to apply. I have a 3.72 overall GPA and 1300 combined GRE scores. 3.5 years experience at a national lab and 2 at school with my senior research as well as 5 good letters, at least I believe they are. On paper I feel ok, but I just can't get over feeling like I am competing with people who all got 4.0's, 1500's, multiple paper etc and I won't get in anywhere. I am applying to Stanford(long shot), UCSB, UCSD, UC Davis, CU Boulder and maybe University of Washington do I have a decent shot at any of these places?? I want to study materials in renewable energy, energy generation, or energy optimization, something along those lines, not 100% sure yet.
Thanks!
 
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pablo4429 said:
Hey all, so it is that time of the year to apply to grad schools and I am having some serious anxiety about it. I am applying to Phd programs in ME from a BS in physics and am very unsure about where to apply. I have a 3.72 overall GPA and 1300 combined GRE scores. 3.5 years experience at a national lab and 2 at school with my senior research as well as 5 good letters, at least I believe they are. On paper I feel ok, but I just can't get over feeling like I am competing with people who all got 4.0's, 1500's, multiple paper etc and I won't get in anywhere. I am applying to Stanford(long shot), UCSB, UCSD, UC Davis, CU Boulder and maybe University of Washington do I have a decent shot at any of these places?? I want to study materials in renewable energy, energy generation, or energy optimization, something along those lines, not 100% sure yet.
Thanks!

I don't think you need to worry. Most grad students did not get 4.0s, 1500s and get multiple papers published. Obviously you will be competing with people who are very bright and some of them will have those stats but certainly not all of them. I went from MechE undergrad to Aero grad and my stats were similar to yours and I am in a top 10 aero program. Most of the people I know here had similar stats to me. So don't worry about it, just be sure to apply to plenty of programs and you will be fine.
 


ok great thanks! the hardest part I am finding is how to choose safe schools and probable schools. The longshot of Stanford was obvious, but it really hard to gauge where I have good enough stats and who is doing interesting work that would be a good fit for me
 


Although I am not an ME grad. I have talked to and worked under ME graduate students before. You have a good chance to get into those schools.
 


great, I think I may try to apply to a few more places just to hedge my bets, this crap is way more expensive than I originally thought though!
 

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