I am an aerospace engineering major at Purdue University. Applying to grad school with 3.21 GPA. What are my chances at top-ranked aerospace engineering schools (USC, Caltech, MIT, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Cornell, Princeton, Johns Hopkins)? What schools do you think I can make it into given I have solid essays and extracurriculars?
I can’t chance you, but I’m surprised to see you name USC and JHU as top aerospace engineering schools. There are far stronger names, and I don’t think JHU even has a Master’s program for aerospace.
Aren’t you applying to Purdue? It has a very strong aerospace program.
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Wouldn’t Purdue be able to guide you on previous students outcomes ? Each school grad school page will post requirements - usually a 3.0 but sometimes not listed.
Did you have internships, etc? It’s not just grades.
There’s a lot of great aero schools so I wouldn’t apply only to high end or bust. UAH, ERAU, Arizona etc.
I can’t chance you but I’d imagine Purdue will have info based on grads.
Good luck.
What does your Purdue advisor say in terms of target schools for graduate programs?
What year are you at Purdue? If you have enough time to raise your GPA to a 3.4, Purdue has a combined BS/MS in aero.
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Graduate admissions are unlike undergraduate admissions. Unrelated ECs and essays (other than your Statement of Purpose) play no role in admission decisions. Your 3.21 GPA may or may not be a problem, depending on how well you did in the courses relevant to your major, and whether the school screens applicants using a GPA filter. Also for admissions to top graduate programs, your research experiences/publications in the field are even more important than your grades.
Our oldest daughter will be attending a top engineering school to pursue her phd. During the process besides grades, the most important factor is fit for the research program. The professors in the engineering department made the decisions about grad students. Look at your classes and find programs/projects that complement areas you are passionate about… then reach out to professors doing research in your areas of interest. Unless you plan on pursuing a more generic master of science degree within engineering…Stanford offers that option… where research is not required. Have you taken the GRE?
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