Type of Grad School I Can Get Into?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential graduate schools for a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) that a participant may qualify for, based on their academic background, GPA, and experiences. The scope includes personal qualifications, application competitiveness, and specific school recommendations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster provides a detailed overview of their academic performance, including GPA, coursework, internships, and extracurricular activities, seeking advice on suitable graduate schools.
  • Some participants suggest specific schools, such as Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, and express that the poster has already applied there.
  • One participant emphasizes that graduate school admissions are subjective and depend on the applicant pool, arguing that it is impossible to provide a definitive list of schools based solely on statistics.
  • The original poster clarifies that they are looking for a range of schools, including those that may be a reach or within their qualifications, and requests more nuanced responses regarding specific schools.
  • Another participant suggests that the University of Texas might be a viable option, while Rice University may not be suitable due to the poster's GPA and lack of research experience.
  • Further suggestions for schools include the University of Michigan, Penn State, USC, Georgia Tech, and UIUC, indicating a variety of opinions on potential fits.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on how to assess the suitability of graduate schools based on the original poster's qualifications. There is no consensus on a definitive list of schools, and the discussion reflects a range of opinions on the admissions process.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of subjective evaluation in graduate admissions, highlighting the variability in applicant pools and the significance of personal history in decision-making. The discussion also reflects uncertainty regarding the impact of GPA and research experience on admissions outcomes.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering graduate school in engineering or related fields, particularly those evaluating their qualifications and seeking peer insights on potential schools.

HD555
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Hi all, I'm curious to see what graduate schools you think I may be able get into for a MSEE. Brief overview of myself:

  • Electrical Engineering major, 20 years old, male
  • College Senior at a State School (Public) - Ranked around 60th in traditional college rankings... graduation date: May 09
  • Current Overall GPA: 3.32, Major GPA: 3.8... I expect my overall to be a 3.4 or 3.5 when I graduate.
  • In my EE and CompE courses, I have done really well... it was the freshman chemistry and economics courses which brought my grade down initially. I have mostly A-'s, then A's, then two Bs in 2 EE courses.
  • Lowest grades on transcript: D in Microeconomics, C in Chemistry, C in Calculus I (however I got an A in Calc II), no Fs or Withdrawals W.
  • Clear improvement from freshman year onwards... didn't start out that great, but as soon as sophomore year, my grades went up drastically to As and A-'s.
  • Many leadership positions within campus groups... VP, board positions, etc.
  • Will have 2 summer internships with big-name companies and 1 co-op experience with another big name company
  • No research experience
  • Maybe 5 semesters of Dean's List Recognitions by the time I graduate. I have 3 right now.
  • 2 TA positions at the undergraduate level
  • Good recommendations from a few professors
  • Fluent in English, no TOEFL required. GRE - I'm expecting average to good scores... never been that great of a standardized test taker

I know there are a lot of schools, but would anyone mind giving me a brief list of colleges that are within my range? Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
 
will.c said:
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

Thanks... I've already applied and visited the campus, it was beautiful.

Any others?
 
I think you miss my point.

When you apply to grad school, they don't put your stats into a wee little calculator that spits out a smile or a frown. You compete against the current applicant pool, and your application is evaluated by humans who do human things like accept a less qualified applicant with a unique personal history. Thus, there is absolutely no way whatsoever for anyone on here to give you a list of schools that you are qualified to attend.
 
First off, I realize that there isn't a program where they enter my stats and tell me if I'm in or not. I'm asking for a list of schools that are within my range. There are definitely some schools where I can almost get in, many schools that are of reach, and a few that can go either way... Perhaps someone else knows someone with similar stats that I have and can at least say that he or she got admitted to that school.

So... a response like this might help: "MIT is probably not a choice, since your GPA is low and no research experience. They require a very high GPA into their programs and having no research experience, when most students do, is not going to help."

Thats the type of response I'm looking for, rather than:

"
You can get into:
College 1
College 2
College 3

You cannot get into:
College 4
College 5
College 6
"

Got it?
 
I say a school like University of Texas you would be able to get in, but a school like Rice, probably not.
 
How about UMich? Penn State? USC? GTech? UIUC?
 

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