<p>Hey guys. I go to Cal Poly Pomona. Major: Construction Engineering. Long story short. My first 2.5yrs at school I was young and careless just trying to get through school as fast as possible but just as of recent I decided on going to GRADSCHOOL but im fighting an uphill battle cause of a poor start. I really want to go to grad school. My gpa isnt the greatest.
2.37 ~2.4 I have 2more quarters for this year and another full school year next year. Im sure theres some CAL states out there that will take me BUT i dont want to go to a CAL state. I really have my heart set on UC BERKELEY or UCLA. Now i no its a stretch! but my work experience is where i hope to compensate for a low gpa. Ive had Cal OSHA internships, LA PUBLIC WORKS internship, Masonry Internship, and I might land another one this school year...hopefully. (never had trouble finding internships ha). So that being said, I want to ask what would i have to do in order to have a fighting chance of getting admitted to either schools engineering program. overall this is how i see myself. </p>
<p>+good work experience
+i can get good recommendation letters
+GRE's im already prep-ing so hopefully do good.
+i payed my own way thru college 0 help...hopefully this can help out in my admission letter.</p>
<p>-low gpa
-low gpa
-applying to difficult school(im not sure if the programs are difficult or in high demand)</p>
<p>any input would be appreciated.
thanks.</p>
<p>Nothing you can do except get As the rest of the way, destroy the GRE, and then apply and see what happens. </p>
<p>You don’t say whether you’re looking for a master’s or a doctorate. If the latter you need to apply to a master’s program first and get a good GPA in that program to offset your ug gpa.</p>
<p>Oh im sorry, Im trying to peruse a Masters.
or M.Eng
but I shouldnt take extra courses to boost my gpa? or take grad level courses?</p>
<p>Make an appointment with your advisor, and ask about this. The people in your own department are the ones who can best evaluate your options.</p>
<p>Thats where im having problems. long story short my advisor isnt the greatest (always busy, never at his office hours, hes from the industry so he always say “why u wna goto grad school” ). and to get help from our other advisor is impossible because i have to fill out tons! of paper work just so he can see me.</p>
<p>Well then fill out that paperwork. When you apply to grad school, you are going to need someone from your department to write at least one of your letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>well like i said rec letters arnt my troubles just this dam gpa. but thanks for the advise
does any one else have an opinion?
or are those basically my only options?</p>
<p>The first thing your advisor should be asking you is…“why do you want to go to grad school?” So…
Why do you want to go to grad school? Do you really need an MS in Construction Engineering (right after undergrad)?</p>
<p>Construction Engineering and grad school, there are programs in both schools that are extremely good. But i am interested in the civil aspect for grad school possibly project management. i am also currently taking the first steps to be a P.E which is ultimately every civil engineer major goal. </p>
<p>the reason why i want to go to grad school is honestly for personal growth, being able to achieve it, overall experience. And of course it will help out professionally and monetarily in the long run.</p>
<p>I wasnt planning on going right after undergrad. I want to save up so i can pay for the program first but i would want to know that i would have a chance in going to those two schools. </p>
<p>my plan is to take a year or two (tops) off save up and apply. but before anything i want to know ill have a chance. If not what will i need to do to have a chance.</p>
<p>unless if i find ways to cover my tution then i wud go right after undergrad</p>
<p>My advice…</p>
<p>Don’t go to grad school in engineering with no work experience.</p>
<p>UCLA offers an online engineering MS degree. You can work and go to school.</p>
<p>[home</a> — UCLA Online Master of Science in Engineering](<a href=“http://msengrol.seas.ucla.edu/]home”>http://msengrol.seas.ucla.edu/)</p>
<p>[Admissions</a> Criteria — UCLA Online Master of Science in Engineering](<a href=“http://msengrol.seas.ucla.edu/application-process/application-and-admissions-information]Admissions”>http://msengrol.seas.ucla.edu/application-process/application-and-admissions-information)</p>
<p>That just it i do have some experience. In the safety field with OSHA, in the public works field with FLOOD MAINTENANCE in LOS ANGELES COUNTY (one of the most advance flood systems in the world), MASONRY company, and im currently in the process of getting a CIVIL ENGINEERING job…hopefully. Basically today i talked to a professor passing by thru classes and he sed the only thing killin me is my gpa. I have project, work experience, rec letter, and i just need to score good in the GRE n MY GPA.
i just think i dont have enough time to raise up my gpa especially since im just left with all upper division classes…which arnt easy butt i am trying my best to get A’s</p>
<p>But…but…but!!!</p>
<p>The reality is that if you want it badly enough you will jump through the necessary hoops to get there. So you don’t feel that your present adviser is working out…then you have the choice…either change or stay. Too much paperwork?!? Too much effort?!? You’ll need strong and outstanding recommendations (not just “good”) for grad school. If you don’t have an adviser who you’ve connected with at this point in your academic career, how are you going to get those recs to help explain your GPA?</p>
<p>“I don’t have enough time to raise up my GPA especially since…” Okay, so what are you going to do about it besides “trying my best” which apparently didn’t work as well as planned in the lower division courses. Your options…take fewer upper division courses per term and graduate a little later (school part-time, work and get more experience part time), find a tutor perhaps a grad student (does the school have a tutoring program), go to every office hour and make appointments with the TA/prof to get help in the course…stop assuming you understand the material. Seeing the prof, in particular, may add another name to your recommendation list if you demonstrate courtesy, respect and a desire to learn. Study like a fiend for the GRE! Work through practice test, after practice test.</p>
<p>Get rid of those negatives! Shift those “good recs” into “outstanding recs”; maximize your GRE, make certain your work experience is directly related to your field, optimize office hours with the faculty by using your time wisely with them in a positive manner (they may have colleagues in the grad programs you are interested in), and optimize your GPA by making certain you get A’s.</p>
<p>I get you but you cant just go out willy-nilly assume everything about me.
-im in the process of changing advisors
-my rec letter are going to come from professional workers along with professors and the advisor im going to get. (hes a professor id had multiple times and are well acquainted )
-dont take my “trying my best” out of context. i SPECIFICALLY said i slacked my first couple of years. CURRENTLY IM TRYING MY BEST.</p>
<p>&& as for the rest its some pretty solid advice. might lower the amount of upper division courses and add in some gpa boosters. Im going to try n set up meeting with grad advisors at UCLA and tele-meeting with grad advisor at UC Berkeley. See exactly what to expect. && whats weighted more heavily.</p>