Hi all,
I’m a recent graduate from UCLA this December, and I just starting to apply to graduate school. I have recently decided that I want to get a Master’s and eventually work as a systems engineer in medical device design.
Many schools seem to have various application dates, so I don’t have a particular month in mind when to apply.
Below are my stats:
University: UCLA
Major: Systems Engineering
Prospective graduate program: M.S. Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
Cumulative GPA: 3.01
GRE scores: 163Q, 165V 4.5W
Research Experience: I did not do any real project. I rotated between various labs for a few months and gained exposure to common protocols and practices.
Work Experience: None
Am I a competitive applicant?
Do you think it’s better to work for a year to improve my chances? Would that help at all or should I apply right now?
Thanks again!
Where? Seriously, it’s like asking “can I buy a car”, the difference between Kia and Bugatti is HUGE.
Abstractly, you do not seem very competitive. Your GPA is pretty low for even modest masters programs, your lack of research makes it hard to get good letters of recommendation, your GRE scores are decent (but no one gets in off of GRE scores), and you are trying to change fields which begs the question of whether or not prospective departments will consider you adequately prepared.
Sorry.
Your best bet is a non-thesis masters, there are programs that cater to working professionals that have modest admission standards… but offer no financial support. They expect your employer to pay, and your employer expects you to stick around after getting the degree.
I think working can’t hurt. Work for a few years and take some grad classes as a non-degree student, it can help a lot. But don’t think that one year of just work is going to change anything.
The only thing you lack is confidence…nowadays only studies are not enough you have to spend time researching and understanding new techniques that will take you ahead of others
Good Luck
Hi OP,
I graduated a couple of years ago with slightly lower GRE scores and a slightly higher GPA, and I was recently accepted into the environmental engineering master’s program at UC Davis and UC Berkeley.
However, I did have 2 years of work experience in a related field going into the application process. Personally, I found that working gave me some perspective on what I could do with my degree, and what I wanted job-wise in the future. I don’t think I’d be nearly as prepared for grad school, or have gotten in for that matter, if I had applied to grad school right after graduating. Getting job experience definitely made me a more competitive applicant and it’s something you could consider (the money doesn’t hurt either!)