Need a little advice

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello everyone!</p>

<p>I know you must be tired of all the give advice threads around here, but please, bear with me. I'm an international student looking into grad schools in Chemical Engineering (in the field of Systems Engineering and Process Design). So far I've got three options:</p>

<p>MIT - This is my top choice because they offer a joint PhD - MBA program in Chemical Engineering. After the PhD I wish to pursue a job in the Industry in the Process Design field, and lot of Economic choices need to be made there, not only in the planning but also on the selling of the businees (and its evaluation as an economical project). Also, their Systems Design research works on both Solar Energy (my second choice) and Microsystems (my third choice) so it's like a win-win-win.</p>

<p>University of Colorado - Their Solar Energy group is tough (I've worked with them for two summers). I also like the idea that they work really close with NREL, also applying a lot of the Process Design concepts, even though research would not be in the area. </p>

<p>Dartmouth - As well, Process Design coupled with Solar Engineering, even though they aren't really that strong.</p>

<p>I know I should have more options, but I haven't found programs that satisfy me as well as these, and I know that Grad school is more about your research than the name of the school (that's why, for example, I'm not looking at Stanford or Berkeley, or at least, I haven't found research in the area).</p>

<p>About me:
-International Student (Mexico) coming from top three university
-GPA 3.95
-Research experience: Two REU programs (at University of Colorado both of them) of 10 weeks each, one in Catalysts and the other in Solar Biomass Gasification. One year at my university in Micro systems engineering
-Laboral experience: IP program in micro systems engineering
-Awards: AIChE Undergraduate Research Poster 1st place; Student excellence in Mexico Runner-up; Top Five leader students at ITESM (my university). </p>

<p>I ain't got any publications yet, since most of my results where internal to other projects. </p>

<p>I haven't presented the GRE (I took a test at Princeton Review, I got 700 Math and 470 verbal). I have a 114/120 TOEFL. </p>

<p>I wanted to ask you what do you recommend, specially in polishing up my resume. I seriously want to get at one of those schools (obviously more at my top choice, but I understand the competition)</p>

2

<p>I’d talk to the professor you worked with at the University of Colorado. If he really wants you to join his group he can put in a word with the admissions committee and it’ll really help you out. The only red flag I see is your GRE Math score, you should definitely try to raise that a bit. (I got a 720 and comparing my admissions with my friends, I think it’s something that actually held me back a bit.)</p>