<p>What is the usual timeline for applying to grad school for engineering, including taking the GRE, sending in apps, getting recommendation letters, interviewing, getting offers, etc. ----Where does one begin?</p>
<p>Here's my personal experience:</p>
<p>Summer before senior year - took GRE
September/October - asked for recommendations / began drafting SOP
November/December - submitted applications
February - heard from almost all the schools I was admitted to
March/April - heard from schools I was rejected by</p>
<p>Engineering programs typically don't interview.</p>
<p>Thanks Addwit! Did you research potential programs in junior year then?</p>
<p>I began seriously researching specific graduate programs during the summer before senior year.</p>
<p>Pretty much the same as addwit.</p>
<p>Summer before senior year - GRE, SOP
September - Recommendations
Dec/Jan - Submitted applications
February - Heard from some schools
Mar/Apr - Open houses for accepted students
Late April - Heard from the last school</p>
<p>I've never heard of a grad school engineering applicant going for an interview. I'm guessing the reason they don't is that grad students are admitted by individual departments rather than an adcom like in undergrad. Professors decide on who to accept and who to reject based on qualifications, and fit for the program. If you're the best applicant, yet your interests aren't in line with those of the department, it's going to be tough, especially if you're a PhD applicant.</p>
<p>Thanks to you too, Ken! </p>
<p>How do you go about researching potential programs and which professors' work meshes with your interests? It seems like searching for a needle in a haystack! Also, say you eventually find a place you want to study, how is the application process different than it is for undergrad?</p>
<p>I was applying to mostly non-thesis master's programs, so the work of individual professors wasn't as important to me. The major factor was whether or not the department offered courses in the specialty area which I wanted to pursue. As for how I got started, I more or less went down the US News rankings and picked 6 schools that was in a location that I liked and offered courses that I liked. </p>
<p>I found the application process to be a lot easier and a lot less stressful than the undergrad admission process. None of this taking 4 different SAT's and getting numerous documents from your high school. Just take the GRE, which by the way does not have as much of an effect as the SAT did for undergrad. A great score won't get you in, but a poor score will keep you out. Ask for recs, get copies of transcripts, write your SOP and you're pretty much done. And you usually mail everything in one package, except for the transcripts, which I found to be a lot easier. </p>
<p>If you're planning on doing research, I guess you should take a look at the webpages of schools known for being good in your major. Then look at the individual webpages/bios of the professors there and see what areas they're researching. For one of my applications, I had to choose two professors who I'd want to work with if I was accepted, and you almost definitely would have to do that as a phd applicant. Or at least you would have to make sure your SOP is compatible with the interests of at least one prof there.</p>
<p>Are admissions less "random" than undergrad? Son is a junior with 4.0 from our state university, summer internships, and an undergrad research assistantship. If he does pretty well on the GRE (whatever "well" is!) do you think he is pretty sure to get in somewhere? What do they want to hear in the SOP (other than to get a MS or PhD)?</p>
<p>And, if you can stand one more question, how important is the reputation of the grad school? Should you go to the best one you can get into that has your area of interest? Will going to a program up in the USNWR rankings be better for your career?</p>
<p>I used the USNWR rankings just to get an idea of what schools to apply to and not which one to attend. I picked schools ranked somewhere between 1 and 60 and chose one that's ranked in maybe in the low 20s even though I was accepted to one that was in the top 3. Personally, I don't think even that much of a difference in rankings will affect my career opportunities significantly. However, if you're planning on teaching for a career, you'd be better off going to a better more well-known school. Rarely do you see someone get a PhD at a so-so school to become a professor at a top-notch school. It's usually the reverse.</p>
<p>Your son will most likely get in somewhere, but just like for undergrad, be sure to apply to one or two safety schools. I know someone with a very high GPA and a great MCAT score who didn't get into a single med school because he applied to only the best ones. Of course med school admissions is tougher, but my point remains the same. The difference between applying to 4 grad schools and 6 grad schools is insignificant usually. Fill out a few more forms, maybe tweak your SOP slightly if you have to, give out a few more forms to professors for recs and you're more or less done. It's definitely worth the extra time, so don't be lazy and overconfident.</p>
<p>Is grad school admission less random? Hmm... I got into all the schools I expected to get in, and the school that I wasn't so sure about got back to me last so that means I was last on their list. The problem is I can't compare it with my undergrad experience since i applied ED. </p>
<p>I would think it's less random because grad depts are really looking for one thing and one thing only... people that can be successful in this particular field. They don't care about extracurriculars (unless it pertains to your major), they don't care about your volunteer experiences, and they don't care about what makes you unique. More admissions factors make it more difficult to accurately assess your chances.</p>
<p>And about the GRE, I believe the college board publishes statistics on the scores broken down by major, so you can look at that to get an idea. If I remember correctly, as an engineer, a high 700s on the math section should be expected while a 600 on the verbal section would be good.</p>
<p>Thanks again, Ken. You are so helpful! :)</p>
<p>Son wanted a fairly specialized thesis masters in a program that is limited to a few universities. </p>
<p>The school he attends (MS) asked him to interview and flew him up, 2 nites, along with 15-25 other candidates. Major prof was ecstatic to see him and literally told him that he was 1 ME among hundreds of CS; And he needed an ME. </p>
<p>Another school recommended an interview but there was a mix up and the opportunity was lost. This school later did call back and a phone interview took place. Son was asked to apply again and a excellent chance for acceptance in the following year. </p>
<p>Son accepted the first school. Worked out fine, got to go to a big industry conference in Calif and will probably go the next one in Europe</p>