<p>This is my first post on this forum, but I've been reading around a bit and realize I have some stiff competition. I was hoping you guys could let me know how hopeless or not my application will be. My GRE scores are much lower than I was hoping for, but I didn't prepare at all and I deserved what I got.</p>
<h1>Qualifications</h1>
<p>MAJOR: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
CUM GPA: 3.91
MAJ GPA: 3.83
GRE: 750Q/460V/5W</p>
<p>Goldwater Scholar
ACS-RISE Scholar
NASA Space Grant Recipient</p>
<p>3+ Years research experience
- Geochemistry research at home university
- liquid-liquid extraction at German university</p>
<p>1 major publication (second author), 2 national poster sessions, funded to attend 2 additional conferences</p>
<p>I'd be happy with any of these schools, but MIT and Caltech are really what I'm after. Grad school is actually my alternative to something else that I consider .... more fulfilling (and more unrealistic), but I am nonetheless all for going to grad school. </p>
<p>Nrets, is there any chance you could retake the GRE? It sounds like you could improve your score with just a few hours (10) of practice. If you had gotten a 770-790, then I wouldn't bother, but at 750, it may be worth a shot.</p>
<p>The 3+ years of research experience sounds very impressive -- if you're just finishing up your B.S. then that's definitely noteworthy and will help your chances.</p>
<p>Thought about taking the GRE again, but I would have had to wait until Dec 22nd, and being around Christmas, plus the fact that scores would definitely NOT arrive by the application deadlines, I opted to stick with the current scores.</p>
<p>I figured the Goldwater Scholarship, along with my many years of research experience and major paper would all help make up for the 750 and 460. </p>
<p>Nerves? Low GRE scores? I mean, any engineer applying to graduate school should get an 800 on the math. Time management... or a silly mistake or two... probably brought down that score. </p>
<p>I know that these schools are extremely competitive. A lot of people applying to these schools have stellar grades, research experience, and other great scholarships/fellowships. If it comes down to GRE scores, I'm screwed.</p>
<p>On a side note
Do these schools even care about GRE scores? Everyone knows the general GRE is a joke. So what if my vocab isn't as expansive as it could be, it doesn't affect my technical writing or communication skills in the slightest. And the quantitative is all math you learn in your first year of high school. The fact that they require us to pay $140 and take 4 hours out of our schedule to take the test is humiliating.</p>
<p>I'm not just bitter either. If I had scored 800Q, 700V, 5.5W, I would feel the same way.</p>
<p>If it's any help I too will get my B.S. in ChemE from a top ranked university.</p>
<p>Your GPA is far superior to mine, and my GRE scores are 780Q/760V. I have had many research experiences, 4 great LORs. </p>
<p>I have already been admitted into UTexas Austin for their BME program, but it should give you an idea that you have little to worry about. I too applied to MIT, Stanford, and Berkeley...</p>
<p>If I had to bet just based on these stats, you'll get into UCSB.</p>
<p>Nrets, you GPA is indeed stellar. I could not think of any other better word to describe it.
And i believe 3+ yrs research experience will bring in for your good recommendation letters. i have personally known a friend who got 430(V) + 4 (Writing) and was still admitted to Chem engr at MIT, as well as a few other top programs. </p>
<p>some ppl say that graduate school admission offices in schools like MIT and Caltech dont even bother using GRE as a cutoff. this may be very true .</p>
<p>Hey I am attending Texas A&M University. I applied to U Wisconsin, U Illinois, U Texas, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Rice, Ga-Tech, Northwestern, U Delaware, Purdue and U Colorado. I had 3.8 GPA, 780Q, 620 V, 3.5 AW and two semesters of research with one AIChE Poster Presentation (3rd place). I am an international student. I have been accepted by Colorado and Illinois. However I am still waiting on other schools. Has anyone heard from any other schools I have mentioned. This would really help me deciding what my chances are with these other schools.</p>
<p>HMM!!!!!! Sounds like I have no chance in any of them because all of them have send out offers already. Oh well, Illinois is one of my top choices. Go Fighting Illini!!!</p>
<p>I am still waiting on 4 schools, all of which have started accepting people.</p>
<p>My friend last year was applying to grad school for chem e, and she didn't hear back from most of her schools until end of February/early March, and she got into MIT, CMU, Princeton, and some others.</p>
<p>I have been denied by Wisconsin already!!! One of my friend has been rejected by Texas but not me yet. So I have a slight hope on Texas. I got accepted by Purdue though but I don't think I will be going to either Colorado or Purdue.</p>
<p>Not me, but others have said they have. I was hoping to hear from one of them, at least, today. This waiting is killing me. If I don't have something in my inbox by the the end of the day I'm going to go nuts.</p>
<p>I was applying for ChE Ph.D. from a southern public school (not very good at engineering). I applied to 12 schools, all in USNews top 20. I was accepted into 8 of them, but didn't hear from MIT, Stanford, Minnesota (sadly), and GT. Glad to find out someone applying for ChE Ph.D. here. A lot of you guys have much stronger background than I do, and hopefully all of you all can get into your dream school(s). My dream school is Minnesota, I saw the offers from Minnesota were already everywhere, and had no clue if I was good enough for them.</p>
<p>I applied to both Stanford and MIT, but didn't hear from either of them yet. I figured that my chance was not good (In fact, my chance to these 2 schools were never good to start with). When I called Stanford back in January, one lady told me that "most decisions will be made by the end of this month (January)." I am wondering too, why didn't I see anyone say anything about Stanford?</p>
<p>There's another thread about Engineering Acceptances and Rejections, you should post there. 8 schools is a lot. I only applied to 6 and have only heard from 2. </p>
<p>If it makes you feel any better, I haven't heard from MIT either... or Stanford... or Caltech... or Berkeley...</p>
<p>Would you say your application was stronger than mine? Because that might help me understand my chances...</p>
<p>I really was expecting hear SOMETHING this week. Gosh, I can't believe it's Friday and still nothing.</p>
<p>Engineering rank: USNews 70 - 90, depends on which year you are talking about.
ChE rank: not in USNews top 50
GPA: 3.95
GRE: Q780/V640/W4.5</p>
<p>2+ years documented research experience (all research advisors provided LOR)
No publication (very very bad).
4 good LORs, 2 from well known professors in the country (at least not very far behind the applicants from good programs)</p>
<p>Didn't apply for any external fellowship
No major award/scholarship as an undergrad</p>
<p>By the way, I never shared this information with people in my school, since no one could even imagine going to graduate school. I am glad that I can finally share this with people here, and good luck with everyone's applications.</p>
<p>Ok, it seems like we're on pretty equal footing give or take here and there. So if you don't get into MIT, I'm probably not getting into MIT. So get into MIT!</p>