GPA for a top 5 or top 10 CS masters or PhD program

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I'm at the University of Missouri and I got a 4.0 my first semester but slacked off this semester, so my cumulative GPA at the end of freshman year will be ~3.7 because of a C+/B- in Calculus 2 (As in everything else). I think it's safe to say I can get it back to a 3.8 midway through next year and keep it somewhere between 3.8-low 3.9 for the rest of the time in college.</p>

<p>If I graduate with a 3.8 or 3.9, some research experience, and half a dozen internships (I've done 3 already, one more next summer, and I'll shoot for some big-name ones after soph or junior year), assuming I can get good recs and GREs, do I stand a shot at the big leagues for grad school? </p>

<p>I'm hoping for Stanford, MIT, or Carnegie Mellon. Would a 3.8 and what I said get me into these? A 3.9? If not, what are some good CS grad schools that I have a good shot at?</p>

<p>Also, I'm hoping to study abroad at Cambridge or Oxford to experience their self-study style of learning. Would having a term or two at one of these make a difference?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>I’ll shoot for some big-name ones after soph or junior year</p>

<p>does it mean, you are applying after either sophomore year or junior year?
itsnt that too early?
but i am also in the same condition, any suggestions would be helpful?
thanks for creating this post</p>

<p>IF you could graduate with 3.8-3.9, then GPA wise that’s enough,
but you didn’t ace calculus,… so I don’t how likely is that going to happen, it’s not so easy to “predict” your future GPA like this</p>

<p>also like mentioned many times here before: get research experience, working experience does not help grad school admission much.</p>

<p>I wonder… would it help me get a TA position if I’ve done a lot of tutoring / teaching during undergrad?</p>

<p>Also, I hope that 3.9 is good enough for any graduate CS program. Sheesh. I’m almost done and I hope I can hold onto my ~3.96… I got one B in “Music Appreciation”, so I hope that when they see that we can have a hearty belly laugh and move on with life.</p>

<p>What happened with calculus, though? Math’s supposed to be your bread and butter, dude.</p>

<p>I doubt they’ll care if you do well in future math classes. Lets say you get an A in Calc 3, combinatorics, and other math classes you may take. I doubt that grade will be a big deal. I don’t know anything about CS grad school though, but I would be surprised if this wasn’t the case.</p>

<p>@Mr. Zoo: yeah, but I can decide what I’ll get. It’s a matter of how much work I want to put in.</p>

<p>@ Auburn: As for what happened… I just didn’t do like any work whatsoever for the first half or 2/3 of the semester. Bad, bad decision… </p>

<p>I’ve been kind of depressed at all the opportunities this will cost me but it’s good to know that you guys think I can still recover from this.</p>

<p>Any more input or advice is greatly, greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>A whole lot of confidence you have there for someone who’s just 2/3 through freshmen year! Then i hope you realized your mistake and do well in future. if you do well in other math classes then i am sure they will look past that B or even C you got. They would realize that it’s just some mishap, no big. hell even with a few Bs you can still end up with a 3.9+. I got a B here and there in my GE’s but i end up getting a overall 3.9 in the end. i didn’t kill myself for those B’s. but hey even better, a lot of school also look at your major/upper division GPA, so if you ace all classes in your last 2 years then that calc is of little importance to adcom. goodluck man keep your head up</p>

<p>If you want a fellowship try to keep it at 3.75 and above. You can get admission with a 3.5 somewhere, but not high level places. Some local MA programs only require a 3.0</p>

<p>You need to work on letters of rec. Make good relations with your professors (letter writers) and try to take grad level courses if you can.</p>