<p>I am thinking about applying for CS MS programs ranked within top 40.</p>
<p>I am currently attending UIUC for CS, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.4 (technical hovers around 3.3).</p>
<p>I was wondering if extensive research were necessary for admissions?</p>
<p>I do have a summer internship experience, and not so good undergrad research experience (did very poorly, party due to me not being interested in grad school during the time).</p>
<p>What can I do to improve my chances? I am going to start applying during the fall.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>find a professor to work with over summer</p>
<p>I am currently doing a summer internship, so research over the summer is not possible.</p>
<p>I only have a year left of school.</p>
<p>Any more opinions on this regard?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I am from CS UIUC as well…I recommend doing a senior thesis in your senior year or take undergraduate research course (CS 498la <– great great class)… I know one guy who just graduated who has below 3.5 gpa and only 1 semester of research experience when he applied…and got into CMU… because the professor that wrote his recommendation letter is one of the most famous professor in the world for his field…and his research won the best undergraduate research award… I heard if you have great recommendation from very well known professor… admission commitee dont really care about your gpa…so yah… target some well known professor do some great research… atleast I think you should have some chance for MEng at Cornell… or the program at U Penn… and even UIUC if you do great research and the professor want you to stay :)</p>