<p>I was wondering if admissions criteria is different at all for non-thesis MS programs versus traditional MS programs. Is GPA a bigger factor while research experience isn't as important? </p>
<p>Do Top 20 Mechanical Engineering schools generally admit around as many non-thesis MS students as they do traditional MS students? </p>
<p>Anyone's experience applying to these programs or even participating in these programs would be greatly appreciated. </p>
<p>Do I have a solid chance for top 20 schools like UCLA or USC? </p>
<p>I am currently a senior at a Top 5 Mechanical Engineering program. </p>
<p>My GPA is ~3.6.
My GRE scores are:
161 V (87 %ile)
165 Q (91 %ile)
5.0 AW (93 %ile)</p>
<p>I have some research experience, but nothing spectacular. </p>
<p>I thought you were one of my friends as you both have the exact same stats numbers-wise. </p>
<p>A non-thesis MS (M.Eng) is MUCH less selective, but you WILL have to pay for the degree. Try getting a company to fund you if you go that route. </p>
<p>Honestly, you’d probably have no problem getting into M.Eng programs at the likes of schools you mentioned unless your rec letters say flat out bad things about you. Even then, I don’t even know if M.Eng programs care about rec letters.</p>
<p>Haha looking at your profile you being 26 probably means I don’t know you. But you never know! </p>
<p>I am finishing off my Bachelor’s with relatively little debt, so I don’t mind taking out a loan to pay for 3-4 quarters of coursework. And I don’t really want to go back to school after entering industry. And in an ideal world I get into UCLA or UCSD and get to pay state tuition. </p>
<p>Also, I want to clarify the degree title is still MS (I know there is a lot of confusion between the non-thesis MS and the M. Eng that is a Professional Degree/basically the MBA of Engineering). </p>
<p>I think I have two solid rec letters, one from a professor and the other from an internship boss. My third, from a prof, probably decent. </p>
<p>I’m actually 21, I just never bothered changing my age after making my account quickly. I wasn’t aware that those schools had a non thesis based MS. Most I’ve seen has the m.eng or ms with thesis.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, lots of schools let you do an engineering MS and instead of a thesis you just more courses, in addition to passing an exam at the end and/or a capstone project. </p>
<p>But it’s still more technical than an M.Eng</p>
<p>Anybody else wanna “chance me?” Or at least give me a vague idea of how much being from a top 5 school helps? Will most of the attention to my application be paid to GPA, letters, and SOP since I don’t intend to do research?</p>