Applying to PhD in Materials Science/Engineering --- What are my chances?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello guys! This seems like a great, friendly group of people--I'm glad I found these forums.</p>

<p>I know Materials Science isn't the most common major, but I was hoping some of you more knowledgeable people might have an idea about my prospects anyway.</p>

<p>Right now in my life I'm making a lot of decisions about what to do. I guess I'm trying to gauge how likely it is that I get into my top 3 graduate school programs so I might be able to plan ahead a little more (read: how many jobs to apply for in case I am not admitted.)</p>

<p>I'm a Materials Science & Engineering major at MIT looking to go to grad school at Stanford, UC Berkeley, or MIT (there isn't really a special transition program--I have to apply again). The other UCs are great too, and I also plan to apply there, but the aforementioned 3 are my top choices.</p>

<p>Here I go:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8/4.0</p>

<p>GRE: My practice exams, not including the essay, fall in the 1400 range right now. Essays will probably need work--currently on it.</p>

<p>Work experience: (Estimated total of about 8 semesters worth)
- Freshman year: 1 semester, lab research asst, metallurgy
- Freshman summer: lab research asst again, electrochemistry
- Soph year: continued electrochemistry research position for 1 semester
- Soph summer: Industrial internship at a well known but not stunningly impressive company
- Junior year: 1 semester in biomaterials lab
- Junior summer (right now): Industrial internship again.
- Senior fall: I'm planning to hold 2 lab positions -- 12 hours each, and take only 3 classes. (One of the research jobs will count for 1 class's worth of credit)</p>

<p>Publications, Patents:
-I GOT NOTHING. :( </p>

<p>Awards:
- National Society of Collegiate Scholars somethingorother</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Some participation and leadership positions in activities that have nothing to do with materials science</p>

<p>My main concern is that I'm applying to really competitive schools and although it looks like i've worked a lot a couple of the jobs have been a bust--either the data ended up being not good or I quit/switched too quickly, etc. I learned a LOT, but I don't really feel like I contributed that much.</p>

<p>I dunno. Do I hold a candle to those guys who are drowning in patents and publications and awards? I'd love your honest answers, as in the end it's going to help me make a better decision.</p>

<p>Thanks guys!</p>

2

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<p>I don’t really see that as negative. You could look at it as you can now legitimately claim “relevant experience” in many different areas of MSE.</p>

<p>I think publications are a bit overrated. From my jaded viewpoint, if you push hard enough you could get complete crap published in SOME journal, and I can’t imagine that a prospective advisor doesn’t know this when they read the applications of people who have several first author papers before graduating.</p>

3

<p>publication is not a requirement, but it gives you huge advantage if you have one (since most people will not have the luxury/luck to get one out before graduation)</p>

4

<p>I think you’ve got a decent shot at any of the schools, though MIT in MSE has a reputation for being completely based on numbers. One of my good friend in undergrad got in there for grad school and most people she met there were 4.0 students with no lab experience. Since you’re an undergrad you might have a let up if there’s some professor you can get there that would push for your acceptance.</p>

<p>Since you’ve had a lot of experience in different research fields (actually very similar ones to myself as an undergrad) you should widen your search out to more schools. It seems like you might not know completely what you want to do at the moment, so it might be worth casting a wider net to ensure there’s a school with a professor you really want to work with. Back when I was doing my visits I met a few professors who I thought I wanted to work with, but I felt we would have had personality conflicts, so I didn’t want to work in their labs.</p>

5

<p>I’m in a similar situation, also applying to MSE PhD programs this fall. I’ve got good stats, but I’m also worried my lack of publications and patents could hurt me.</p>

<p>How much have you narrowed down what you want to research in grad school? Have you looked at any particular labs at MIT, Stanford, Berkeley?</p>

<p>Also, what makes MIT, Stanford, Berkeley your top 3 choices? Which other schools are you looking at?</p>

6

<p>I don’t know how much I’d worry about not having any publications. I feel a lot of undergrad publications come through luck or generous people writing the paper. I was middle author for a paper published in the Iron and Steel Institute of Japan, which I’m sure has a pretty massive impact factor.</p>