<p>Hi, I was just wondering what would be a better use of my time if I'm an engineering major, planning on going straight from getting my bachelor's degree to getting my PhD. I currently am working in a lab, but it's impacting my GPA (about a 3.2 right now). I feel like if I left the lab, I could raise it to between a 3.3 and a 3.5, with the time I'd have available. However, I worry this would put me at a disadvantage as far as going straight to getting my PhD, since I wouldn't have the research experience that people with a master's would have. Thanks for any advice!</p>
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<p>For such a small boost in GPA, I would stick with the research. Unless you’re applying somewhere that requires >3.2 GPA, in which case your fate is pretty much sealed.</p>
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<p>I think your case is better than mine. I have around 3.4, one semester of extremely mediocre research experience, and an internship.</p>
<p>I rather be in your shoes. I practically stand no chance against PhD, but hoping that there is some masters program that will take me. :(</p>
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<p>I had a 3.2 as an undergrad when I applied to grad school, and had about a year and a half of research experience, plus two internships and good GRE scores and got into several top 20 Ph.D. programs in Mechanical Engineering. If you still have a 3.2 when you apply, you MIGHT get limited to going into an M.S. program and then continuing on to a Ph.D. program when that is finished from the top schools (which is the better idea for most people anyway), but it won’t be anything that keeps you from reaching your goal of Ph.D. in the long run. I got into several top 20 Ph.D. programs, and several top 5 M.S. programs with the intent of going straight into Ph.D. as soon as I got my Masters.</p>
<p>Also, where you did your undergrad can help if it is well known.</p>
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<p>“and several top 5 M.S. programs with the intent of going straight into Ph.D. as soon as I got my Masters.”</p>
<p>Did these schools guarantee you they would accept you into their Ph D. program if you did well in the MS program?</p>
<p>In general, if you get into a M.S. program, if you have good grades and research, you get accepted into the Ph.D. program. Given that my grades later in my career were all in the 3.7 to 4.0 range, i just assumed that wouldn’t be a problem.</p>
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<p>i think gpa is more important, if you are a 4.0 you can get into phd programs without research experience. the lower your gpa, the more/meaningful research experience you would need to get into a good program. I’d stick with the research as well. a good recommendation letter can mean a lot.</p>
<p>I HIGHLY doubt that GPA alone will get you into a good program. First of all, keeping a GPA near 4.0 is very very difficult, and the sad part is that it really doesn’t say much other than that you are a good student, that you do your work, and that you are too single-minded to additionally pursue something of real value. This might seem like a paradoxical statement, and I’m not saying that a good GPA is not an indicator that you will do well in grad school, but the thing is that in the end its just grades and it doesn’t say ANYTHING about how well you will do in a research oriented environment.</p>
<p>Several of my professors (I go to a strong engineering school) have been very vocal about how undergraduate studies are far from what research is all about. They have also expressed a carelessness where grades are concerned, and value research very very highly. In fact, one of them flat out told us that he would take a 3.0-3.4 GPA student in his lab over a 3.8+ candidate if the first candidate has demonstrated stronger research aptitude. A high GPA is always good, but if you want something to focus on then focus on research (without putting your grades in any significant peril, like below 3.0)</p>
<p>Read this if you’re further interested…
<a href=“http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~harchol/gradschooltalk.pdf[/url]”>www.cs.cmu.edu/~harchol/gradschooltalk.pdf</a></p>
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<p>Ideally, you should have a good GPA and good research experience.</p>