<p>I have a long and arduous road ahead of me, so I'll need all the help I can get. But first, here's my story:</p>
<p>I recently transferred from another CSU to CSUEB, where I'll be pursuing an Engineering Degree with a Computer Engineering Option. I plan on going to Grad school at either UC Berkeley or Stanford for a M.S in their Electrical Engineering department (or another Engineering field if I felt so compelled to change, but that would make acceptance more difficult.)</p>
<p>My horrible chances stem from the fact that this will be my fourth year in college. While at the other CSU, I was pursuing an English degree with no heart in my efforts. But after a big realization, which involves near-death experiences of my family and relatives, I knew a B.A wasn't for me. Now, I'm incredibly focused and ready to pull off a comeback.</p>
<p>My GPA is horrible. Although I plan on being perfect in all my classes, the highest come application time will be a 3.7.</p>
<p>I do plan on excelling at the GRE, as well as take any subject GRE (still to be determined) to help compensate for my GPA. In fact, I'm studying right now, although I won't take it until a year or two.</p>
<p>I also will become heavily involved with my professors to participate in research projects and publish a few papers when and if I can, as well as acquiring excellent LORs.</p>
<p>While I do want to intern in my field, I am currently working a retail job to pay for college. And, for the most part, money will come before interning because of my situation. I will be taking loans when I go to graduate school.</p>
<p>I plan on finishing my undergrad studies in two and a half to three years, which would mean it would've taken six years to complete in total. It's horrible, but the application committees will know of my stellar performance after switching to Engineering.</p>
<p>As you can see, my chances are very low, but this is why I created this thread. Aside from what I posted, what else should I be doing to increase my chances?</p>
<p>Extra info</p>
<p>Since I took English classes, I was wondering if there was anyway to drop those grades, as it will be plain to see that my credits will go way over the necessary requirements to graduate. Of course, it might not be that big of a deal since they would consider my situation and weigh my major GPA more heavily.</p>
<p>I will be what you consider a big fish in a little pond. I was at my other college and I will be here, though I wish my GPA would reflect that better!</p>
<p>I will play the numbers game as best as I can, but I also understand that efforts in research projects and my LORs will be very important and most likely be the deciding factor of my acceptance.</p>
<p>The program I'm in is actually the newest one in the bay area, which I assume hurts my chances if we're talking about prestige. But CSUEB's industrial Engineering is ABET and valued. I will be learning from these same professors, as well as a PH.D from Stanford and another from Georgia Institute for my computer science courses. Their LORs would be highly valuable.</p>
<p>I chose UC Berkeley and Stanford based on location and the merits of their programs. I know there are other great schools but I have already researched them. If I cannot get in either, I will work for a year and come back to re-apply. In a way, failure is not an option to get into one of these schools. I'm quite stubborn, which I hope will help.</p>
<p>The turning point in my life that I mentioned above involved a few family members, all within the same month, near-missing having to go through surgery and one of them actually having brain surgery. I am happy to say he is recovering perfectly fine. This turning point forced me to get my act together, making me become very less selfish and more loving towards my family, since I now understand that life is short.</p>
<p>My father migrated here after a war and received an electrical engineering certificate, which is why I have become passionate about the field. It is the love for my family which is pushing me to go to grad school, where I have great interest in researching theories related to Biomedical Engineering, where I can help in extending the longevity of human beings. I will be the first child to go to grad school. Mentioning that should help my chances by a little.</p>
<p>In many ways this goal is redemption, proving to myself that I can do something I set my mind to. I also want to make my parents proud, letting them know that they raised a good child.</p>
<p>Thank you for taking the time to read my situation. Any help is greatly appreciated, but hearing that I have a very slim chance isn't helpful, since I already know!</p>
<p>Two and a half to three years seems both short and long. I'll be dedicated the whole way, so be assured your tips and suggestions will be taken seriously.</p>