Hello All,
I am planning to apply for a MS in Chemical Engineering and I just came back from yet another disappointing GRE test. In my first attempt I scored a 157Q/161V/4.5W. During my second attempt, I scored even worse.
For the first time, I am experiencing severe test anxiety partly due to it being 5 years since I have taken an exam of any kind and also partly due to the high quantitative score needed for this program. I just panic during the quantitative section and am not able to finish it. I am not able to afford taking a course or retaking the test, so I will have to submit the scores that I have.
Will any programs even consider me with these scores and my background? Initially I was planning to apply to universities here, in the USA I am wondering if I should even apply at all.
A little about myself:
I am a hispanic-American female with a B.A. in business administration from a top 100 university. I have a 3.3 GPA (a little higher for my major, maybe a 3.5) and I worked full-time while attending college full-time. I currently work in finance for a company in the engineering industry. I received As in calculus, statistics, chemistry, and astrophysics during college, and have worked with statistical software, so I know that I am not completely stupid when it comes to math. However, I feel that because my prior degree is not in STEM and my Q GRE score is not that great, that I will not be admitted to any chemical engineering programs.
Please let me know what your thoughts and suggestions are on how I should proceed.
Since I haven’t received any responses, I am going to assume that my chances are nil and I should instead attempt to receive a second bachelor’s. I am just surprised that with the supposed need for more STEM grads, specially women, that they wouldn’t have more solutions for career switchers.
I don’t really know this area so I can’t be much help. But since you’re not getting responses here, have you checked out thegradcafe? You might have some luck on that forum.
Can you gather yourself for half an hour (or is it 35 minutes) for the first math section? If you ace that, then you should probably get 162+ even if you get half the 2nd section wrong I bet.
I took quite a few practice tests before hand and managed to get every question right in the first section consistently. However, once I get into the testing site, my test anxiety kicks in and I can no longer concentrate. It’s the first time in my life that I have experienced test anxiety so I have yet to learn how to cope with it. I just keep staring at the clock winding down and can’t finish answering all of the questions. I really can’t explain it. I tried taking the test a second time and it only got worse. I would rather find another alternative than retaking a test that makes me feel miserable and that I feel does not truly reflect a person’s capacity to excel in the field.
In the meantime, I just applied to my local university as a post-bac transfer student into their undergrad program. If accepted, I am curious to see how many more credits they will require me to take. I will know before the deadline for grad school.
If anyone has ever been in my situation before, it would be great to hear your feedback.
I tried gradcafe as well, but no responses.
My DD will be applying for a grad program in mechanical engineering in the fall so is also in GRE test mode. Your quantitative score is very good considering you are not an engineering major, 70+ percentile. What do the programs’ you would like to apply to require?
I think the larger hurdle will be your lack of a STEM degree, so taking classes at your local university is a good idea. I looked up requirements for admission to a MS-Chem Engineering program at a local state university and for non-engineering students they are: Two chemistry courses, advanced level calculus, computer programming and eight core chemical/mechanical/electrical engineering undergraduate courses. Trust me, you do not want to be admitted to a program without doing the core work; the engineering courses build upon a base of theoretical concepts.
Also, ABET-accredited programs typically require undergraduate students to pass the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam that will allow them to work as a professional engineer in the United States. At my DD’s school if she does not pass this exam, even though she has completed all degree requirements with a 3.8 GPA, the school will not confer a bachelor’s degree on her. Many, if not all, graduate programs will require this certification for admission.
My advice is either to get a second bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or a master’s in business administration or finance. If you do go the engineering route, be sure join the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). This group is a terrific resource for female engineering students in terms of networking, conference opportunities and scholarship money.
Your career prospects are fantastic with either option.
Sorry, but 157Q is really not good for engineering. Doesn’t matter what your major was. Tons of schools will probably toss your application aside if they see anything under 160 (or 162, or 165, or whatever number is convenient for them). Especially with a rather mediocre GPA (no offense).
The Q score will give you problems but the main reason you won’t be admitted it that you do not have a ChemE or related degree as an undergraduate. It is a challenge for those who have Physics or Chemistry degrees to move into Chemical Engineering and both those are much closer to it than Business. Typically if a students without a ChemE degree is accepted, they make thenm take a lot of remedial coursework just to get up to speed.
I don’t see much alternative but to take the prerequisite courses or even a second Bachelors degree before applying. It might be possible for you to get into an Engineering Management Masters program though, have you looked into that?
Since a month ago, I have spoken to reps from a number of universities regarding earning a bachelor’s in engineering. However, it seems like most wont even accept an application from individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree. I am getting to the point where I just want to give up on this career change because no one is willing to even give me a chance. Maybe we wouldn’t have such a tech shortage in this country if they would give people a chance to get their foot in the door.
Then your best option is to take prerequisite undergraduate courses. You should speak to the department at a potential university about the kinds of courses that you need to take to qualify.