<p>I'm currently a new Junior Year EEE student at a good University in Bangladesh. I have a weird story. I have been a fairly good student all my life, with a passion for Physics and Mathematics. I got accepted into two of the best Universities in Bangladesh. The problem is I wanted to go into one, while my super-concerned family forced me into the other. I was not happy and did quite bad in the first semester (3.51). This is bad because there were four students who got perfect 4s and about 10 or 12 above 3.9 in a pool of 80 students and numerous below that and my grade.I was below the average GPA. So I think our Uni definately has inflated GPA.</p>
<p>The next semester I decided to apply to USA for undergrad. I took SAT with a a month or so preparation in the middle of the semester and got 2160 and 8.5 in IELTS without any prep. I got accepted at Richmond but they wouldn't give me any funding or scholarships. I did horrendous this semester by our Uni standards as I tried to balance coursework and the application process and ended up with a 3.38. </p>
<p>The next two semesters I realised I have to study in this Uni and do my best and got a Gpa of 3.8 and 3.91 in my sophomore year. Now I'm in vacation and I feel pretty confident that I'll be able to keep a CGPA of atleast 3.9 for the final four semester. The thing is if I do do good in my later semester will it be regarded in a good light for my application. Will my initial bad results have a negative impact If I want to go for a Top/Elite grad program in the US?? I will also get involved in some research from next semester. I still have two years of Undergrad education left. Any suggestion would be hugely helpful. Thank you everybody.</p>
<p>GPA is not the only factor in graduate admissions. You have not said whether it is a M.S. or a Ph.D. that you are interested in but for most programs (excepting a professional engineering masters), research experience and letters of reference are an important factor in gaining admissions. From what you say, financial aid is a must so you have to shoot for a Ph.D. with financial aid or a Masters in a Masters-only university since it is often hard to get funding for a Masters in engineering at a research university.</p>
<p>You also need to look at more than just what you term “Top/Elite” universities. As far as graduate programs are concerned, there are many good programs and research advisors in lesser universities.</p>
<p>I haven’t decided yet whether I’d go for PhD or MS but if I do go for MS i’d like to do the thesis option–so definately research oriented. I am pondering over whether I would do a Phd or not. I still have two years to decide I guess. Right now I feel I just might go ahead and do it.</p>
<p>I understand as you say, that I have to look beyond just top/elite programs. I think I’ll apply to some fit and safety schools. But I just want to know what I could do for the next two years to bolster my chances at a really good/top graduate program in my field of interest regardless of the prestige of the University that host that program.</p>
<p>The most important things are doing well in your academics and getting research experience. Take whatever classes you are permitted to take which can prepare you for your graduate program and show improvement in your grades (graduate programs like to see continual improvement even if the first year is not great). Get as much research experience as possible and then make sure that your professors write a meaningful letter of reference. All too often, I see perfunctory or very generic letters and that tells me nothing about the applicant. Get letters which speak to your potential as a graduate student from professor who know you well and can write specifics about you.</p>
You won’t be penalized for your not-so-great GPA. I myself graduated from an international college, and I was obsessed with “numbers” i.e. GRE/GPA/TOEFL etc etc, but turned out, the people who had lower numbers but more research experience than me got into the top tier programs in engineering upon graduation. Instead of worrying about your past GPAs, focus on building rapport with your current professors who may vouch for you or even offer research opportunities during the semester. Fingers crossed!