Mech Engineering Chances

Graduate School
1

<p>I was hoping that some of you could give a rough estimate as to my chances to some schools. My final list is far from set but I was hoping to get an idea if I am looking in the right direction or not</p>

<p>GRE
770 Math, 550 Verbal</p>

<p>Johns Hopkins
Overall GPA: 3.85/4.0
Major GPA: 3.97/4.0 (with 4 A+ in engineering courses that don't help GPA)
Dean's list all semester
Pi Tau Sigma (MechE Honor Society)
Tau Beta Pi (Eng Honor Society)</p>

<p>Research
Sophomore Year:
Worked in a fluids lab, started off well first semester, but an unfortunate event (roomate suicide) at the beginning of 2nd semester caused my efforts to taper off in the lab. I am undecided if I will tell the schools I am applying to about this though.</p>

<p>Summer:
National Science Foundations Research Experience for Undergraduate Program at Georgia Tech in the Aerospace department. Studied fatigue of thin metallic foils for use on resuable launch vehicles. Submitted a final paper and presentation to NSF, although im not sure this counts for much</p>

<p>Junior Year:
Worked in a MEMs materials lab fabricating and testing nanocrystalline thin films properties such as strain rate, etc.</p>

<p>Other Activities:
Heavily involved in a group (chief leader/organizer) at Hopkins that bikes across the country each summer to raise support for the American Cancer Society. The group has raised over $200,000 to date</p>

<p>Kayaking club instructor</p>

<p>Schools I am looking at:
MIT, Stanford, Cal Tech, Ga Tech, Purdue, JHU, Va Tech, Northwestern, UMich, UMinn, UC Boulder, Univ of Utah, Univ of Wyoming</p>

<p>I have a few concerns that I will not be published in a major journal or anything like that before I apply. I am also worried because I am studying abroad next semester (New Zealand) and I Hopkins does not let you get grades from other schools so everything will be pass/fail for me, and at Hopkins your first semester is pass/fail so out of the 6 or 7 semesters that my transcript will show, 2 of them will be pass/fail. Do you think this will hurt my chances in any way?</p>

<p>Let me know what you all think, especially about the pass/fail thing and studying abroad</p>

<p>Thanks in advance</p>

2

<p>I don't predict chances, esp. for graduate school because a lot of factors other than personal statistics go into decisions....</p>

<p>but I can give you advice on some of your questions...</p>

<p>
[quote]
I have a few concerns that I will not be published in a major journal or anything like that before I apply. I am also worried because I am studying abroad next semester (New Zealand) and I Hopkins does not let you get grades from other schools so everything will be pass/fail for me, and at Hopkins your first semester is pass/fail so out of the 6 or 7 semesters that my transcript will show, 2 of them will be pass/fail. Do you think this will hurt my chances in any way?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Don't worry about publication too much...you have the research experience and most people's publications of undergraduate work don't get officially published until graduate school anyway (the review process takes on average a year or more).</p>

<p>As for the classes, I take it you go to Hopkins now? Your wording is confusing to me but I guess you're worried that Hopkins doesn't show grades for classes taken at other universities? Well if this is the case then you must get transcripts from the university you took the class from. Graduate applications ask for transcripts from ALL post-secondary universities attended, regardless if it is reflected on your transcript or not. Just make sure they get the transcripts and they can see/evaluate your grades that way.</p>

<p>Good luck...let me know if I interpreted your issue incorrectly.</p>

3

<p>Yea, you did, I am retarded and can't write, lol!</p>

<p>Anyway, thanks for the advice, I'll have to look into that at the school I am studying at.</p>

4

<p>Hi Nowherefast,</p>

<p>I am a current PhD student in ME at Caltech, although I started off with Aeronautics at Caltech for my Masters. Your GRE scores are comparable with mine. Your research sounds great, at least it is more than I did in my undergrad. I applied to MIT, Stanford, Caltech, UMich and IIT and got accepted at all five schools. I think that studying abroad will gain more than it will hurt you, it shows that you are flexibel and dare to take a chance. </p>

<p>I give you a pretty good chance that you will be accepted in one of your top-choices. If you have any questions about Caltech, just ask. </p>

<p>Good luck with your application! I know that the departments were getting together this week to look over applications, so you will find out soon if it will work out for you and Caltech.</p>