<p>Hi, I graduated from UCSD this June with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Im currently working as an engineer/researcher at a big utility company in Southern California and I am contemplating returning to graduate school. I currently have a strong interest to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and figured I should receive some input from a knowledgeable forum of people before I continue my application process.</p>
<p>My main concern is my extremely low GPA of 3.26. The problem was that I was never truly interested in graduate school until the latter half of my education. My grades reflect this since I received an A grade in most of my latter engineering classes and As in my desired area of concentration (thermodynamics). However, I still managed to get Bs in my minor (psychologygo figure). How would this affect me overall? Should I base my personal statement on this or should I write about something else?</p>
<p>I am mostly hoping on the fact that I can rely on the fact that I was a TA for three different classes while I was an undergrad (a senior lab class, a senior heat transfer class, and a freshman design class). I was a TA for the freshman design class for approximately two years (sophomore and junior year). I also did thermal research under a professor for my senior year (while being a TA for two other classes). Would my history along with the fact that Im still currently working on thermal research help?</p>
<p>Also, I was told that an applicant for a masters is much more readily accepted into the program than a PhD prospect. Is this true?</p>
<p>I can't speak on what you should write your personal statement on. However, I received my BSE in EE at U-M and I am currently in the BME MS program at U-M so I know something about their admissions process.</p>
<p>Your GPA is of great concern, you will need an outstanding GRE score to go along with good LOR to make up for this. Addressing it in your personal statement is probably wise, but I would assume that you shouldn't spend the entire personal statement addressing it.</p>
<p>As far as entering the PHD or MS program, you might as well accept the fact that you will not be accepted into the PHD program right away, UM rarely admits people into that program directly. You'll have to enter the MS program and take the quals and move onto the PHD program after you finish your MS. I know people with 4.00 GPAs that were rejected from the PHD program right out of undergrad.</p>
<p>Thanks for the straight forward answer, it was very insightful and helped a lot.</p>
<p>I understand what you mean when you say its impossible to get into the PhD program directly, but when I was referring to PhD program I intended to say MS/PhD. I'm still confused as to whether program has a more lenient selection process. I have heard that the MS/PhD program is easier due to the fact that they are able to use you for research (slave labor). Also, quick research behind the subject matters finds that 2 MS international students are admitted yearly while 5 MS/PhD international students are admitted for the Mechanical Engineering program. Although this does not account for the number of applicants and the overall percentage, it makes you wonder. On the other hand, I have heard it is much easier to apply for the MS program due to the fact that they basically take your tuition money and give you your degree (i.e. nothing more than a business transaction). Which of these is actually true and which is based on folklore?</p>
<p>Another question I have is whether to ask two professors for recommendations or one professor and a supervisor which I worked under during my undergrad. Does the fact that one is a professor and another is not make much of a difference? I have a strong feeling I can get a very strong letter of recommendation from the technical staff member than the professor due to the fact that we were much closer.</p>
<p>Im seriously concerned about my chances due to my GPA, Im just hoping #5 of this is true: <a href="http://me.engin.umich.edu/prospective/graduate/faqs.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://me.engin.umich.edu/prospective/graduate/faqs.shtml</a> . </p>
<hr>
<ol>
<li> Does the Mechanical Engineering Department have minimum GRE and GPA requirements?
There are no specific minimums, however, the successful applicants are those students who are strong in at least 3 out of the 4 areas below:
o Average GPA in the 3.2 - 3.5 range on a 4.0 scale
o GRE scores in the 80th-90th percentile
o Strong letters of recommendation
o Strong Statement of Purpose
-----------------------------------------</li>
</ol>
<p>Do you know how truthful that statement is?</p>
<p>My point in the first post was that U-M rarely admits students for a MS/PhD program directly. I know people who have applied (for the EE department, assuming the same holds true for ME) with 4.00 GPAs and got turned down for the MS/PhD program and admitted to the MS program. What happens here is that you will still do research (slave labor as you put it), work with a professor that you would like to do your PhD with, then when you complete your MS work, you take the quals and if you pass, you will be in the PhD program.</p>
<p>See the link below, it is for the EE department but this is the college of Engineering so I assume the same holds true for ME. See the section on advisors, it'll explain your first year of a MS student and how you will look for an advisor to work under.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/graduate/ee/AEEGSguide2006.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.eecs.umich.edu/eecs/graduate/ee/AEEGSguide2006.pdf</a></p>
<p>As far as LOR, you will need 3. I used 2 from professors and 1 from my boss from my internship. They recommend that at least 2 of the 3 letters are from professors.</p>
<p>Were the people that were denied for the MS/PhD program immediately remanded to the MS program or did they reapply?</p>
<p>No, they were admitted immediately to the MS program. No reapplication is necessary.</p>