GPA for Top Grad Schools?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>I just finished up my first semester at Cal, and I really think I want to pursue a PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science (hence why I am in EECS). However, I want to put as much effort as possible into getting into a top grad school (MIT, Berkeley, Stanford). I got an A+ in CS61A, an A in Math 53 and a B+ in Physics 7A (which upset me...I got a high A (curved) on my final, and my GPA ended up being a 3.77 instead of a 3.9 if I had earned an A-). I'm planning on working about as hard as I did this semester (if not a tad bit harder). </p>

<p>However, I'm a little worried about my chances at grad school. I've heard that as you go deeper in the EE curriculum, it gets much, much more difficult (and thus my GPA could sink even lower). I'm planning on starting research at Berkeley this summer (I'll start looking for a position in late January) and to also conduct research every summer of college afterwards (and even during my Junior year alongside my classes). I will put a very large amount of effort into this, and hopefully be able to really get in touch with some professors that could write good recommendations.</p>

<p>Thus, I was wondering what kind of goals should I set for myself for the future in order to get to top-tier graduate schools? Is there anything you could recommend me changing in my plan for future semesters and summers? Am I right in my assumption about upper-division engineering classes? I've heard that an application with a 3.7+ won't get thrown away immediately but I was wondering what kind of a GPA I would need to be seriously considered? I feel like I did work quite hard this semester and I felt like I was fairly responsible (I feel like getting a month and a half illness with constant fever was part of my poor performance this semester rather than laziness), and maybe instead of focusing on improving my motivation or time management (which I honestly felt like I managed well), I might focus on utilizing more resources so that I am not as alone in pursuing a high GPA.</p>

<p>Thanks for any advice you can provide!</p>

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<p>It’s pretty straightforward. Get as high a GPA as you can and apply. And even if it’s not high, but it’s what you want to do, then STILL apply. Work as hard as you can and get as high of a GPA as you can. I personally don’t believe in a min or max GPA attitude. Why? Because, I’ve seen many times even if your GPA sucks, it won’t stop you from going where you want if its what you want to do, and you show that. (Doesn’t mean to slack, it means to work hard, and leave the rest up to providence.)</p>

<p>Research is great, try and get your name on a paper or two, form relationships with your Research supervisor, it will help out on the Letters of Rec. You might have to take the GRE, so try and get a good score on that. And don’t forget to have a life man, it matters more than you think. Be a good human being, interact with other people. You’ll have interviews too I suspect, so you might want to get started on some basic human interaction. Best of luck… hope that helps.</p>

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<p>hahaha holy crap dude, you’re like my twin, I’m also an eecs freshman, with a 3.77 GPA, A+ in cs61a, A- in phys, and A- in 53 AND i was just about to post a thread just like this, help would be much appreciated</p>

<p>I must say, A-s are devastating :frowning: so close, but NO you can’t have an A. Although i’ll take the A- in multivar because my math skills at the beginning of this semester after basically not doing any math senior year were pretty bad :p</p>

<p>Also does anyone know the rough GPA to get into HKN? I’ve heard about the top 25% and top 33% thing but where does that fall?</p>

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<p>I don’t think you need to worry at all about a 3.77 GPA- it is still exceptional. These average GPAs of admitted students are listed at college websites usually under ‘Common Data’ or ‘Facts’. Marks must be above a cut-off but often for top tier schools it is 3.6 not 4.0. </p>

<p>The average GPA of admitted students for PhDs at Stanford this year was 3.7. Among my friends and I who are seniors waiting to hear from grad school admissions, so far we have seen acceptances come from MIT, UCSB, Princeton, Yale, U Washington, Cornell, and Princeton. Cal Tech does not admit directly but invites their top applcants to their Visitor’s Day and we are seeing these invitatons come too.</p>

<p>In general to be accepted to these top tier schools, we have
-GPAs that are 3.60-4.0.
-Profs that know us (and generously write our letters of reference)
-Near perfect standardized test scores. (800 in Math is easy, Physics 760 seems doable, too, but 800 seems near-impossible)
-Extensive research usually in the specific area we have applied to do research in
-A clean and well thought out Personal Statement (Use friends, an advisor or college career centre to proof read for you- everyone needs a second set of eyes)
-Maturity - this comes across in many ways such as having a clear understanding of the field you are applying to, study abroad work, internships, a sense of what you want to do in your life
We have all TAed a lot
-We have all taken graduate level courses, often more than half a dozen- we think these probably show that we can pass your comprehensive exams, push ourselves and enjoy academic rigour
-Leadership roles in groups- perhaps this shows maturity, too. Schools say co-currics don’t matter on grad application, but perhaps because there are so many top-notch applications, this tips the scale.
-Conference presentations, publications
-RESEARCH< RESEARCH< RESEARCH
-Conddier applying early in your senior year. Some schools accept applicants in November even if their deadline for applications isn’t until Dec or Jan. </p>

<p>All of us are passionate about what we do just like you sound to be (Don’t say "I am passionate about ‘X, Y’ in a Personal Statement, but do demonstrate it. Do a lot of work for your Personal Statemet so you are proud of it and believe it shines. ) </p>

<p>In school, just take each year as it comes, all the things just naturally fall into place when you love what you are doing. Then prepare to be mega-stressed for application time because sometimes decisions seem very random- my friend got into MIT but not UCSD.</p>

<p>Good luck everyone. You sound dedicated, focussed and brilliant which is what grad schools appear to want.</p>