<p>I am planning to apply for a PhD in EE to some of the top 10 schools like Michigan , CMU etc.
Does anyone know what are my chances ....</p>
<p>I have a Bachelors in a non EE Major from one of the IITs in India (GPA 8.2/10) , I have done two masters from USC one in Materials Science (3.45/4.0)and the other in Computer Engineering (3.5/4.0). I have around 15 years work-experience in areas such as Processing , DFT Synthesis at companies like Intel , TI etc. I am currently a manager handling a team.</p>
<p>My GRE scores are right now around 750 750 ( In Verbal and Quant) . </p>
<p>Please advise if anyone has any idea given my back-ground and profile ....</p>
<p>Well, your grades are okay for a top-10 program but not great - they usually look for at least a 3.5 and you are at least pretty close to that. With your experience your GPA from India will matter less than your USC GPA’s.</p>
<p>GRE quant is a little low - most people applying at top-10 EE programs have 780+. By itself this should not be a problem at most schools, but it does not shine either. Your GRE verbal is fantastic, but will get little credit at an EE department.</p>
<p>You mention nothing of research experience, nor anything specific of your technical work experience. You need to be able to show talent and experience in a research environment, and you may be able to do this, depending on your career path.</p>
<p>The big question with the field is: what do you want to study, and how does that compare with your preparation? You have no EE degree’s under your belt, what field of EE are you qualified to study?</p>
<p>Thank you for your reply , specifically I have spent time in the following areas in my career:
Process Characterization
Custom Circuit Design
Front-End Digital Design including long spells in Synthesis and DFT</p>
<p>I guess with my back-ground I would fit into a Devices/Process research group or a DFT/Timing/Synthesis group or a Circuit specific group , but all the same I need to ping a professor with similar interests</p>
<p>Have you presented at conferences, or been published in a technical journal? Those are big application boosters for PhD programs.</p>
<p>You will definitely need to identify individual professors who would serve as prospective advisors. The strongest application will fail if it does not catch the eye of a particular professor. You need to figure out which areas you want to study, which professors are currently doing research in those areas, and what they are looking for in a prospective student. It is generally a good idea to focus each app on a single focused area - do not try to apply to both signal processing and IC design groups at the same school.</p>
<p>Do you require funding, or do external support (from your current company, perhaps)? Why do you want the PhD, and what do you intend to do afterwards?</p>
<p>Unfortunately I do not have any papers or conferences under my belt. However I have done very detailed technical work primarily by myself. This I think will carry some weight. </p>
<p>That was a useful suggestion in trying to be specific about one area per application. I was about to make that mistake. </p>
<p>I would require funding as my current company would not sponsor me. Ironic as it may seem , I plan to do my PhD to pursue a career in academia ( Teaching and research) I would probably be in my mid 40s when I finish , I figured I had at least another 20 to 25 years of work left in me after that</p>
<p>Your technical work will carry some weight - be sure to reference it in your SOP in terms of the innovations and challenges. If there is a reason it would not or could not be published or presented (i.e. trade secrets), make sure you state this. If nothing else, your experience provides you with discipline, maturity, and professionalism often lacking in graduate students.</p>
<p>If you require school funding just be aware of the lifestyle change you will be facing. It is not usually too bad for a never-employed undergrad to subsist on $18k, but it is much harder to someone used to many times that. Academia is a perfectly valid path, but you should bear in mind that most schools are primarily looking to train and hire researchers - on professor I spoke to mentioned that teaching was no more than 10% of what professors do at his school, usually as an after thought. Otherwise this seems a well defensible case.</p>
<p>As you search through departments, make sure you look beyond the top-10. While you definitely have a shot at those schools, admissions is capricious. You should consider some top-25 schools as well to improve your chances. In no case should you apply to a school you would be unhappy to attend - better to wait a year and try again.</p>
<p>You will most likely be in competition for EE PhD spots with top students who have completed a recent BS/MS in EE with research and stellar LORs from top universities. Since you’ve been out working for many years, who will write your LORs? How are they notable to possible advisors? You have no published research and have varied work experience, none in EE. You must research extensively to find which professors at specific universities that would take on a student as yourself. It is easier to train a researcher than to try to fit you in their lab. Good Luck.</p>
<p>Gem, I was in a very similar position last year…with a very similar gpa…I did get into an EE Phd program in your top 5 list. It certainly can be done. I had been working for years, so I would not let your years in industry and out of doing research bother you. There are a few things to keep in mind…</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You MUST MUST have at least one solid letter of recommendation from a professor where you got your Masters degree. One should do. I got in with one letter from a professor and the rest from industry, but you must have at least one. I applied to a number of schools. Some without the letter from a professor and just industry references and some with the letter. I got rejected at all places where I used just industry references, and got an interview or acceptance at most of the universities where I used the one letter from a professor. This is critical.</p></li>
<li><p>For many schools it is very common to take students with loads of industry experience. Some schools it is not. If they aren’t asking for a resume, that is a big sign they don’t care about your industry experience. The industry experience should help, and I would emphasize it in your SOP.</p></li>
<li><p>Like others have said, clearly identify a a research interest. I would highly recommend you e-mail professors you would like to work for stressing your work experience. This can make sure your application gets read. Be sure to contact all relavant professors with individualized short notes…don’t worry about whether or not they are assistant or full professors if your goal is admission.</p></li>
<li><p>This may be a little later the road…Once you get, funding can be a hassle. Some funding offers can come really late. It is something to think about</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Also, have you taken the GRE or are those you practice test scores. If you really got a 750 in math, retake the GRE. 750 would be a yellow flag. You need 770 or higher for there to be no yellow flag in my opinion. Others would claim you need 790 or 800 for the schools you are looking at. The 750 in verbel is amazing…I think that’s like 99.5% percentile. You only really need over 600 in verbel.</p>
<p>Actually I am taking GRE in September , these are my practice scores , you are right the Quant scores are a little low , I was somewhat taken in by the time it took to solve some of the questions , any idea what I should use to practice for the Quant Section ( Anything that you may suggest ? )</p>
<p>Gem, I’d try the Princeton review book. Also, I’d get the official GRE guide, and go thru the practice math tests. I’d understand what I did wrong on each math test and learn from it. I did this and it helped. Also, if you are taking the computerized GRE, make sure to practice that. I think you can download it from the GRE web site. There are some useful things that the Princeton review book will tell you to memorize too. For example, triangle formulas for common triangles. Stuff you may not have worked with for twenty years. </p>
<p>I will send you a message with my school choice.</p>