<p>I'm wondering my chances on getting into grad school (MS, not PhD). All things considered, grad school is something I really want to do but I might lack the credentials. I'm technically a senior right now but I'm on the 4.5-year plan so I will not be applying until next year (if I apply at all). So here is a summary of what I want:</p>
<p>Desired Grad Program: Structural Engineering
Desired Grad Degree: MS or M.Eng (NOT PhD)
Desired Length: 1 to 3 yrs (but would rather not do 3)</p>
<p>My Credentials:</p>
<p>GRE: 780Q
GPA: 3.6
Internships: None
Research: None
Relevent Courses: My undergrad is in Civil Engineering and I've also taken many grad level structures courses
Extra Stuff: Engineering Honors Societies, top-fifth of class, Deans list</p>
<p>Universities I'd like to apply to:</p>
<p>Rice University
rensselaer polytechnic institute
University of Washington (Seattle)
Colorado University (Boulder)
Colorado School of Mines
Notre Dame
UC-Davis
UCLA</p>
<p>I know the above universities seem random but I have reasons for each one. Anyways, let me know if I can get into any of these and it would be greatly appreciated. </p>
<p>I would say that your GPA and GRE Qualitative score alone will get you ACCEPTED to most of the schools you listed fairly easily, assuming your statement of purpose and letters of recommendation are on the same level. </p>
<p>Funding on the other hand is a different beast. For MEng structural engineering programs, funding is very rare. Normally there are only a few fellowships per program, if any, that are given to not M.S. students. That being said, your GPA may be a bit too low to qualify you for funding if you are not pursuing a M.S. For M.S. structural engineering programs, you are going to likely be at a disadvantage to applicants with GPA and GRE worse than yours that have research experience or internship experience really.</p>
<p>My recommendation: If you are set on going to graduate school but not pursuing a PhD, go with the MEng degree (The M.S. degree is really only worth it if you are VERY ENTHUSIASTIC about research - my guess is if you were very enthusiastic, you would be intent on pursuing a PhD). Your chance at funding will be low, but you will get accepted into the programs you listed fairly easily, as I mentioned before. Most firms require a student to have a masters degree to work there as a structural engineer nowadays anyway. </p>
<p>Source: I’m a Civil Engineering undergrad who will be starting a MS/PhD in Structural Engineering in Fall 2011</p>
<p>Thanks for the helpful reply. That is great news. I am very worried that the fact that I have no internship or research experience will keep me out of grad school. And yes, I’m not interested in doing research or pursuing a PhD. I wasn’t planning on getting funding in the first place so that’s no big deal either.</p>
<p>I’ll have to agree with Joeshy. You should be able to get into most of the programs you listed for an M.Eng. I got into an M.S. program with funding with a lower GPA and GRE qualitative score than you have, although I had several summers worth of internship experience (I am also a Civil Engineering major focusing in structural engineering). Just get great letters of rec. and write up an outstanding statement of purpose and you should be fine.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help! This is very encouraging. I’m now happy I decided to keep my GPA up throughout my undergrad. I’m surprised - both of you sound pretty confident that I’ll get into at least some of these schools. I’ll definitely figure out how to write an great statement of purpose. How do I go about getting great letters of recommendation?</p>