<p>Hi, currently I have a 2.5 gpa at UC Berkeley electrical engineering and I want to go to grad school, but I know I have no chance at any of the UCs so I'm thinking about the cal states like SJSU. But even then, do I have a chance with my gpa? I know some of them don't require GRE, but would it help if I took it and did well?</p>
<p>Most schools that do not require the GRE will not accept it. With a 2.5 gpa you have little to no shot at grad school, certainly not with department funding. If you (or an employer) can pay out of pocket, you might be able to get into a part-time program but even that is a stretch - the one I am familiar with requires a 3.0.</p>
<p>A bigger question is, why do you want to go to grad school? With a 2.5 gpa it seems very likely you would be buried by the academic demands. As an engineer you do not need a grad degree to work(although it helps!), and academia would seem an unlikely course. I think you are barking up the wrong tree.</p>
<p>I think the previous comment is unnecessarily harsh. If you want to go to graduate school at a Cal State I think your best bet would be to call up the department and ask them what the min. requirements are. Also taking some time off an working can help your chances of admission as well. Many people go back after working a while without having stellar undergrad GPAs.</p>
<p>Work experience or taking graduate-level courses without being in a degree program may be a way to show you can handle the work in lieu of your low undergraduate GPA. UC Berkeley is one of the top universities in the world and for as long as you are willing to wait a bit, I think you may be able to get into a graduate program somewhere.</p>