PhD in EE for 2011: low GPA, low GRE-AWA, no publications. Very Worried.

Graduate School
1

<p>Dear people,
First off, let me thank you for your time.
I'm planning to apply for PhD in Electrical Engineering (Fall 2011). Research interest : computer architecture.
I did MS-EE in a US university. Focus area: IC Design
I'm worried about the following:
1. I don't have any publications or patents. Is this the most under-rated ascpect of a grad application?
2. My GRE AWA is a low 4.0 (41 pcile). Could this be a show-stopper since writing seems to be important in a doctoral curriculum?
3. My GPA in MS is 3.5 which is a minimum requirement for almost all schools.</p>

<p>The rest of my credentials are not off the charts, but I'm not as worried.
* My GRE: verbal = 640, quant = 800 (both >90 pcile)
* I did related thesis in MS and my thesis adviser's recommendation would be strong.
* I've been working full-time in the US for the last 4 yrs as a chip design engineer in one of world's top 5 chip makers. Contributed in architecture/design/verification of 2 top-selling chips. Instrumental in fixing design bugs of a ubiquitous audio processor based chip (rewarded with performance bonus & a big raise).
* Strong recommendations from my supervisors in industry.</p>

<p>Can you guys please comment on my chances to get into these schools?</p>

<p>Stanford
U Texas-Austin
U Maryland-College Park
North Carolina State U-Raleigh
U California-Irvine
U Colorado-Boulder</p>

<p>I've done a lot of research in selecting the schools. These schools have very strong comp architecuture research programs. I'll be ecstatic if I can get 1 admit out of 6 applications, I'll buy you all beers :)</p>

<p>Thanks again for your time.</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>Most students don’t have any publications or patents. Those things are always great, but they aren’t necessary. (But research experience is still very important.)</p></li>
<li><p>The GRE AWA doesn’t matter. I got a 4.0 but I got into lots of top EE PhD programs. I think the personal statement is better for evaluating writing than the AWA.</p></li>
<li><p>I have no idea. I applied to PhD programs straight from my BS, and I’m not sure how much a 3.5 MS GPA will set you back.</p></li>
</ol>

3

<p>HI ,</p>

<p>How come you are worried dude , you are surpassing most of the expectations.</p>

<p>Gr8 gre score</p>

<p>Super work Ex----especially in the field you want to major.</p>

<p>I bet recos will be damn good</p>

<p>All you have to do is concentrate on SOP.</p>

<p>Regards</p>

4

<p>The 3.5 masters GPA is the only real worrying part - a 3.5 undergrad GPA is pretty good, but they have higher expectations for grad students, since you have no “general education” courses to drag you down and are supposed to be studying something that you love and are good at. I had a 3.6 on my masters, and I got comments about it during admissions. Thankfully, I had a stronger undergrad GPA, and my masters was a part-time program - they understood that my GPA was low in part because my work had to take precedence.</p>