Applying to an engineering grad school with a very low GPA....do I stand a chance?

Graduate School
1

<p>I graduated in electrical engineering from a good university in Canada with a very low GPA of ~2.5. Yeah, such a low GPA IS possible! I am not a dumb person (although some would argue that I am if I let my GPA go so low). My terrible GPA is more a result of extreme procrastination and the illusion that I would get a job easily if I just graduate and make it out of undergrad. Sadly, I realized it too late to do anything about it.</p>

<p>I can whine about it all day and how much trouble I've been through because of it but I will spare you all of this agony. Despite the fact that no one gives a crap about someone with this low of a GPA and despite the fact that every step of the way in my grad-school-research process I'm tempted to just forget about graduate studies because I don't stand a chance, I've decided to apply for graduate studies anyway mainly because at this point in time, I have no other career prospects. </p>

<p>I will take the GRE in about a week's time and hope to do very well in it. I've taken sample exams and have done very well so far.</p>

<p>Now of course I'm not applying to any of the top-tier schools because that's just foolish and a waste of money but at the same time I know that grad studies from a crappy school is just as dumb. So after some effort, I've come up with a list consisting of the following schools which all have a decent electrical engineering graduate program. I don't want to waste any more time than I already have. That's why I've picked these schools because they take students for Winter/Spring programs. I plan to apply to most of them for a spot in the electrical engineering masters program. I included Columbia, Wisconsin and Southern California just to try my luck.</p>

<p>Arizona State University
Iowa State University
Michigan State University
*Columbia University
*University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Colorado - Boulder
*University of Southern California
Case Western Reserve University
University of Delaware
University of Florida
Ohio State University</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Is it a pure waste of money applying to Columbia and Wisconsin @ Madison? I really need some honest advice here.</p>

<p>Do I stand a chance at any of these universities? I know that University of Southern California has the most international graduate students of any graduate school in the U.S. That's the only reason I'm applying there and also because the acceptance rate there is higher than other universities.</p>

<p>Assuming I get decent GRE scores and decent letters of recommendation, what do you guys think about my chances?</p>

<p>Any grad schools you think should be on the list but aren't where I stand a chance?</p>

<p>Yeah I know that beggars can't be choosers but I'm trying to get a fresh start all over again and desperately looking for an opportunity.</p>

<p>Flame me all you want, my self-esteem has taken quite a thrashing over the last few years. This entire process of applying to grad school is a huge undertaking and I'd really appreciate some feedback.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>I'm just wondering if there is a reason you didn't apply to any Canadian grad schools. If you really wanted to get in, and since you're assuming good rec letters, am I right to think that you know a few professors who know you well enough to give you a good letter despite your GPA? Then maybe you can try your luck with those professors, maybe in your own university?</p>

<p>It sounds like you're pretty motivated to get into a grad school, maybe you should put that in your SOP. I really wish you luck, and I hope you get into the schools you want!</p>

3

<p>You may want to consider taking a coupel classes part time, if possible...that way you can show that you at least have the academic potential despite past performance.</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
but at the same time I know that grad studies from a crappy school is just as dumb.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Why is that such the case?</p>

5

<p>I'm not in engineering this time around, but you have a severe deficit to overcome with that GPA in any field. At this point you will be wasting your money applying to almost ANY graduate school.</p>

<p>Even a perfect GRE will not be much help - most schools will see your GPA and stop there.</p>

<p>So... what you want to do is:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Eliminate all schools from your list where they state on the website that they require a 3.0 or higher GPA. Note that a few schools like Delaware for example, use your last 2 years rather than the full 4. When you've found some possibilities, call them (not email, CALL) and ask to talk with someone in grad school admissions. Explain your situation and ask bluntly - do I have a shot? If the answer is no, cross them off your list and move on.</p></li>
<li><p>Look at schools on the "flyover" states west of the Mississippi River and east of California/Oregon/Washington, and in the deep south. Many of these have state sponsored universities that are not as competitive as the schools you listed.</p></li>
<li><p>Have a "Plan B" - get a job in the field reasonably near a university with a grad. program. Many employers will pay for relevant courses. Develop a superior GPA in those courses and try again in a few years.</p></li>
</ol>

6

<p>the problem with asking for a shot is that the school will always say you might or it all depends ... and tell you to go ahead and apply (because they want more applications).</p>

7

<p>I doubt that the school will tell them to apply when he/she have no chance of admission.</p>

8

<p>"I included Columbia, Wisconsin and Southern California just to try my luck"</p>

<p>Yeah, your luck might be limited to the colleges you mentioned other than Columbia, UW, and USC. Even Mich. State, Florida, Case, Ohio... and couple others...</p>

9

<p>Wrote the GRE last Friday. Scored 590 on Verbal, 790 Quantitative and have a good feeling about the Analytical section. Are these decent enough?</p>

10

<p>well the school will of course tell EVERYONE to apply because the more applications, the more money they'll have. Plus, it will make the school look good to have a smaller percentage of acceptance rate. </p>

<p>You will hear your friends or counselors saying don't apply to this school, don't apply to that school because you're not good enough, they don't want you to waste time & money. But for the school you're applying to, they don't care. </p>

<p>790 should be more than enough for any school, 590 verbal is good too. Your test score is solid. Schools don't explicitly say 2.5 will not get you in. I know people with lower than 3.0 who got in grad school. So keep hope up. Plus ur gpa is from canada, who knows what's going on there. It's a different system.</p>

11

<p>It is very, very difficult to get into a decent grad program with less than a 3.0. Those that do usually have either 1) extensive applicable work experience at high levels, 2) amazing research experience, or 3) radioactively-glowing recs from superstar profs.</p>

<p>There are grad schools that have lower standards. These are usually mediocre programs. That may not matter, depending on what you want to do with your degree.</p>

<p>I'm not sure how engineering looks at the GRE. I know they want high Q scores, so everyone accepted pretty much has 790-800. I'm not sure how they look at the verbal - I've heard most programs want at least a 600, and I've heard they don't care really if they're in a non-humanities field.</p>