Chances of Getting into Masters/PHd for Mech Eng - Fluid Dynamics

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>Hello All,</p>

<p>This is an excellent forum that all of you have set up here. I was hoping if you guys could possibly evauluate my profile and tell me what my chances are of getting into Top 10 or Top 20. If you guys think I cannot get into top 10-20 please advise some universities where I might have a chance. </p>

<p>I will be starting my PhD in Materials Engineering at University of Wisconsin- Madison but would like to switch out and get a Masters/PhD in CFD because I have lost my funding for Materials Engineering 4 days before starting. I want to stat Masters or Phd in Mech Eng - fluid dynamics area for January 2010 or Fall 2010. </p>

<p>Education: Mechanical Engineering, Univeristy of Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Post-Graduate studies - Phd in Computational Materials University of Wisconsin, Madison (Starting next month) (leaving possibly at the end of first semester). My advisors already know I will only be going for 2 semesters to do research with them and take 3 courses and the n leave. Taking a loan while I am there.</p>

<p>GPA: We are on a 13 grade scale in Canada..for my last TWO years of study I will have between 2.75-3.0 GPA on a 4 grade scale... B to B-. My cumulative is lower due to a bad second year. Differential Calculus= A-, Integral Calculus= A-, Linear Algebra=B, Differential Equations=B (took it again, had a D the first time). Computational Fluid Dynamics (Extensive PDE) = A- . A projected 3.0/4.0 for my first semester at Madison. </p>

<p>GRE : Quant = 710, Verbal = 420, ANALYTICAL=5/6</p>

<p>Work Experience: Production Manager = General Motors, Research Intern = Exxon Mobil, Research Intern= Ford, Research Intern = Siemens VDO Automotive. (2 years of total experience)</p>

<p>Research Experience : A) J Pathak, A Sobiesiak, "An Aerodynamic study and Design Methodology for Supermileage 2009 Vehicle" , 2009 International ASME Congress and Expo, TOP 5 FINALIST in the WORLD – Young Engineer Paper award 2009. (Forthcoming Publication & Presentation November 15th, 2009 in Orlando, Florida for the #1 Rank.)</p>

<p>B) J Pathak, "Design Methodology for creating a Numerical model of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine", 21st Parallel CFD Conference @ NASA AMES Research Centre 2009 Proceedings</p>

<p>C) J Pathak ,"A comparative study of energy absorption characteristics of foam filled and multi squared columns.", Technical Publication & Presentation, 2010 SAE World Congress, Detroit (Forthcoming) </p>

<p>D) J Pathak,”Design Methodology of the Development of Data Acquisition system to record displacement data of Hp Alloy Furnace Tubes”, Syncrude Internal Journal,Vol 18,2008</p>

<p>E) J Pathak, “The Role of Aerodynamics and Advance Mathematics in the Design of Super mileage Car.”, 2010 SAE World Congress – Presentation only. (Forthcoming), Paper Offer Number: 10B-0003-Session: B100 , Body Engineering and Design </p>

<p>All the research was done as independant research as an UNDER-GRADUATE which is why I am sole/lead author everywhere. </p>

<p>What are my chances? </p>

<p>Rice? U Mich? Case Western? Carnegie? MIT??? Berkeley? Illinois? Madison? I am from Canada. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance. </p>

<p>I am 21 years old.</p>

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<p>what about staying in Canada? </p>

<p>did you get NSERC?</p>

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<p>naw. I did not apply for NSERC. I want to goto the states.</p>

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<p>Go talk to Dr. Lightfoot and see what he would do. He may be a separations guy, but a top mind in transport phenomena… every ChemE I know uses his book, and you have him right on your campus.</p>

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<p>He is into more biologically related fields though. I have no biology courses after Grade 10.</p>

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<p>He is more biological in his applications. There’s a lot of opportunities to study fluid systems in that area. However, if you want to go more the car route have fun.</p>

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<p>is there a particular reason why you want to go to the states?</p>

<p>In your opinion, is University of Wisconsin, Madison better than Toronto, Waterloo, McGill or UBC?</p>

<p>How long did you study for your GREs?</p>

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<p>I would love to be able to get into the biological stream of fluid dynamics but I think I have no shot since I have no biology background? </p>

<p>lol I donot want to go the car route at all. I will take anything to be honest.</p>

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<p>Yes…I think Wisconsin-Madison is better than all those schools. Toronto is comparable in some programs but the research done at Madison or major Universities in america is at a whole different magnitude than schools in Canada. </p>

<p>I want to work in USA after graduation(phd after masters) and I think having a US degree will aid alot. </p>

<p>Do you think I have a better shot at Canadian schools with my credentials? I wouldnt mind Waterloo or Toronto, since they are close to where I love.</p>

<p>And I studied EXACTLY 2 weeks -14 days for my GRE’s. It was an in the moment kind of thing where I wanted to do graduate school and the applications were due within 2.5 weeks. I studied on minimum 10-12 hours a day.</p>

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<p>Bump</p>

<p>advice plz</p>

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<p>Pathak,</p>

<p>Your GPA is very low and won’t really be competitive MIT/Berk/U. Michigan or some of the other schools you mentioned. Also, your GRE score is low as well. While the verbal component isn’t super important most schools want a minimum 500. Usually if you get <500 you’ll have to take a writing course or so.</p>

<p>I know funding is a nightmare right now BUT I don’t think leaving Madison right now is a good idea. I would seek out any TA slot possible or start peppering professors within the department/other fields for GRA positions. Contact the ASE guys since they do a lot of CFD modelings. I don’t think your stats are competitive enough to get into the aforementioned schools and get funding.</p>

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<p>Your GRE quantitative score is low. I don’t think verbal matters much; besides you are Canadian. You might want to retake your GRE and get at least 750 for the quantitative part. You might want to stick with UW - it is a good school. Incidentally, were you posting at quantnet.org too?</p>

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<p>Where do I have a shot? Michigan State? Penn State? </p>

<p>Do I have a shot 15-25 rank? </p>

<p>I might as well stay at Wisconsin Madison then. It’s ranked high.</p>

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<p>Depends on whether the professor finds your background suitable. The only way to know is to submit your application. Like I said, you better retake your GRE and improve your quantitative (>= 750). There are many applicants with similar profile to yours at whatever school you are applying to.</p>

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<p>Alright so I figured I would apply to schools where prof wud be interested in my background and taking me in their team.</p>

<p>so after talking to profs…</p>

<p>I am down to…</p>

<p>Carnegie…
duke.
…cornell.</p>

<p>Cornell i prolly wont get in after admissions committee looks at my grades/gre…but i think i have a shot at carnegie and duke since i am self funded.</p>

<p>I am going to apply to MIT and Michigan ann arbor…just cuz…</p>

<p>and safety schools are Illinois instiute of tech…and MSU</p>

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<p>Self-funded for a phD?! That’ll cost way too much to ever get out of debt…unless you’re from a wealthy family.</p>

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<p>oh nonono… Maybe I didn’t mention it. I am applying for Masters. Self-Funded for Masters.</p>

<p>I am pretty sure they don’t give you admission for PhD if there is no funding available.</p>

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<p>Actually there are phD programs that do accept you but wont fund you. One of my former graduate student I was working for got accepted to Stanford’s phD program in physics had no tuition cover. I guess that’s one way of rejecting someone…</p>

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<p>That is brutal. I would just spend day and night, every minute trying to finish my Phd as soon as possible if that was the case. </p>

<p>But yeah, I wouldn’t do Phd somewhere if there was no funding. It’s just not worth it. Maybe if it was MIT though I would ponder it.</p>

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<p>All the best.</p>