<p>I am graduating UIUC with a BSME next semester. I am hoping to get a master's. My GPA is low (2.93), but I don't think this is very uncommon at UIUC. I have extracurriculars, and an extensive undergraduate research background at a top tier school. I also have some very impressive letters of recommendation (one of which being a dean of the engineering college). The schools I am applying to are:</p>
<p>Also, if you are going to waste your time telling me how dumb I am for having a low GPA (like everyone does on this website), don't do it because people tell me that until they are blue in the face.</p>
<p>Not sure about engineering, but for biomedical sciences a GPA less than 3.0 will get you screened right out by the computer before it has a chance to reach the grad department.</p>
<p>Your GPA is low, but an exceptionally strong research background (e.g. - first author publication in Nature, Science, etc.) or exceptionally strong recommendation letters can often override a low GPA. </p>
<p>The "magic words" in a recommendation letter are "...and I would be willing to fund him." So if you are confident that your rec-writers would put a statement like that in your application, then you are a shoe-in for at least UIUC and probably a strong candidate for other schools as well.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that a single wishy-washy letter will really hurt your application so make sure they're all really strong, and not just 2/3.</p>
<p>I think you have a good chance of staying at UIUC since you have a good working relationship with your professors and you're only going for an MS and not a PhD. If you're not looking for funding, your chances are even better.</p>
<p>First of all, I am not going for biomedical, so I don't care. Second of all, I forgot to add that I specifically stated that I am in no way looking for money and I would be willing to pay may way through a MS program.</p>
<p>In response to Nova10, the OP is from UIUC (Urbana-Champaign, not UIC in Chicago), which is generally considered one of the top engineering schools in the nation.</p>
<p>Not going to lie, your GPA will hurt you but your recommendations, research, and undergraduate institution should at least get you seriously considered whereas others would not.</p>
<p>He was talking about admissions into UIC Graduate College of Engineering. He thought he could get into that school, but the minimum requirements are what they are. UIC does not make exceptions for its minimum requirements. It doesn't matter what school you did your undergrad. The school is a stickler in that way. If you don't meet the minimum requirements, your application will automatically land in the reject pile.</p>
<p>Grad admissions is never a given. I understand UIUC is a great engineering school, but a 2.93 is still a 2.93. I don't mean to be harsh about it, but most of those schools you are applying to accept people with 3.5+ from MIT, UIUC, Harvard, Stanford, etc. </p>
<p>thats for your advice sbu, i was thinking along the same lines. we need more people like you unlike the smug *******s on this website who are gods gift to earth because they have 3.8 gpas.... its frustrating!</p>
<p>What about admissions to UIUC? You can really gauge your admissions profile by asking your professors at UIUC as it is a top ranked program. Maybe they can talk to professor at UIC or some other school.</p>
<p>Just another question, what is your Engineering/related courses GPA? I think this is more important than your overall GPA.</p>
<p>Again, I suggest talking to the professors at your school UIUC. See what they say, these guys know the game and make admissions decisions for a top engineering program.</p>
<p>I don't think you should give up, but, it's definitely a tough road, for anybody. You seem to have nice letters, if you have a decent ( ~ 3.3+) engineering GPA, you might have a good chance at a school in the 15-30 ranking as you went to a top flight program with strong letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, how did you, or would you, explain the GPA? Because UIUC is a plus, nice letters is a plus, research is a huge plus, I don't know your GRE scores, so GPA is the only real red flag I see.</p>
<p>Regardless, you should always always apply to safeties.</p>
<p>I just applied at UIUC a couple months back. Here is some info you may find helpful, Minimum required GPA for admittance to MechSE grad school at UIUC is 3.25. Average GPA of students admitted for fall 2008 grad school was 3.63. If you have a good reason to explain your GPA, you may want to go talk to the graduate admission office to see if they will still accept your application.</p>
<p>I have talked to several people in the department and I get a wide range of answers. I have become very good friends with a tenured professor who says the 3.25 does not matter. I have also talked to another professor who says I don't stand a chance at any top 30 school. I have a friend in the department working on his phd who had the same ugrad gpa as me. Basically it sounds like gpa, while being an important factor, is obviously not the total package. As dumb as it sounds, I am pretty confident in being admitted to UIUC due to my professor friend, as he is writing one of my letters. He also said if he has a position open next year, he will be willing to let me work for him (I have already worked for him in the past).</p>
<p>My reason for writing on this website is I have no idea about the other schools I applied to. If I get into UIUC, I will most likely go there, as it has become my home. However, it has been my life long dream to attend school in California, and I really don't know my chance out there. I know I don't stand a chance at Berkeley, so I am not really pursuing it seriously, but is it right for me to not feel totally out of luck at UCLA or UCSD?</p>
<p>Also, I am thinking of applying to Northwestern. I have been told that it is an easier school to get into for engineering, and a second one of my letter writers is a business professor there who is a personal friend, and who used to be a very high ranking government official. Does anyone know my chances there?</p>
<p>I noticed that you are applying to California Schools. You're right UC Berkeley is a tough school to get into.
You didn't list USC which is also in California and would be a good school to look at, although it is very expensive. The deadline for the application is fairly late and you would have time to include this semester's grades.<br>
I definitely would not be too discouraged many schools offer conditional admissions to students with low gpa's but you probably want to call and talk to the admissions office for each program.</p>