<p>I was looking at what (if any graduate schools) I could get into. I have a lower undergraduate GPA (3.3) from a Tier 1 state school ranked #30 overall in computer engineering (my major). I haven't taken the GRE, but I've been studying, and I scored very high on the SAT (2300+) so I'm hoping that goes well. I had some extenuating circumstances that dropped my GPA down. I don't want to go into the details of that, but it was significant enough that the school changed a grade of an F to a grade of a W (and hence off my transcript), however I have a lot of C's for that one year (freshman second semester to sophomore first semester). My transcript has a lot of A,s Bs, and Cs (nothing lower). I don't know if it would help, but I think I could get a letter from a school counselor/psychologist who helped me deal with the extenuating circumstances. </p>
<p>My resume is strong however. I worked on aerospace research projects at my University for 3-4 years (and have risen to positions of leadership in code design and engineering there). I received strong evaluations here, like Team MVP, and I have a ton of experience designing software and electronics. I presented at two professional conferences on my work here. I gave a presentation on my own at a conference where most presenters were either PHD candidates, or university professors from top schools. I was part of a presenting team (I spoke) at a conference where we won the best presentation award at the conference. The caliber of speakers at this conference was high, with most speakers having doctorates, 20 years of work experience, and included professors from top ranked universities like Stanford and Berkeley. </p>
<p>I had an internship at an upper middle class tech company, and I was offered work on aerospace graduate research projects and things like that. The summer internship I had was extended out through the school year because the company liked me. Overall my resume is strong enough for me to get recruiting calls from top tech companies (I'm a senior, so I'm just starting that process). </p>
<p>I can get one or two very strong letters of recommendation and one or two above average letter of recommendation.</p>
<p>What would my chances look like at the following universities (ranked in order of preference):</p>
<p>1) Stanford University
2) University of California Berkeley
3) University of Illinois Urbana Champagne
4) Purdue University
5) University of Michigan
6) University of Minnesota Twin Cities
7) University of Colorado Boulder</p>
<p>I would be going for an M.S. or an M.E. degree with a preference for aid in computer engineering or computer science. From what I understand with my GPA I could get into the University of Colorado Boulder's M.E. program and probably M.S. without any real trouble (their ranked about #30), so I probably wouldn't want to apply to lower ranked schools in my field. Please correct me if I'm wrong. </p>
<p>I know my GPA is much lower then what the average candidate would have at a top school, but I feel like I have some very good accomplishments (specifically presenting at conferences, and winning the best presentation award for my undergraduate engineering research). I also have some extenuating circumstances, but I do have to admit the total effect now to my GPA is probably like 0.1 or 0.2. The reason I made this thread is I want to understand if I should even try to apply to the top graduate schools. If I wasn't going to go to a top graduate school, I would probably prioritize finding a job and then try and do my masters while working. </p>
<p>(I accidentally made my first edition of this thread in the what are my chances area, but that seems to be all undergraduate).</p>