<p>I'm currently a sophomore at Old Dominion University in Southeastern Virginia studying Civil and I have a 3.16 GPA. I've worked it out that if I stick with studying and learn from past mistakes I can realistically graduate with a 3.5. Right now I'm really interested in structural engineering and plan on going to grad school (godwilling) right out of undergrad.</p>
<p>My main question is which schools I can expect to get into with a 3.5 coming from ODU? From what I've heard our engineering program is respectable alongside Tech and UVA INSIDE Virginia, but not so much elsewhere. My guess is it's not going to be an issue.</p>
<p>The three main grad schools I'm interested in are UT Austin, UMD College Park, and UC Davis. Am I aiming too high? Being unrealistic about my GPA? Would extracurriculars make me significantly more attractive to these schools and one's like them? What kind of extracurriculars? Any specific classes not required in major I should try and take if I'm interested in structural? (Our Civil curriculum includes a basic structures class, steel, concrete, and foundations, all separate)</p>
<p>Also, what can I expect from a career in Structural? Will I be designing 100 story sky scrapers in major metropolitan areas? Will I be bridging dinky culverts in podunk suburbs? Will I be plugging numbers into a machine all day?? Or running around to meetings collaborating on 5 different projects all at once?? Also any other recommendations for preparing in undergrad?</p>
<p>I'm mostly just trying to get a grip on what the next decade or so of my life could look like.</p>
<p>thanks,</p>
<p>abenf, I can’t tell you much about your chances. I got my BS and MS from UT Austin with a concentation in structures. What you end up doing in your career is up to you. I met my husband in grad school. We knew that we could design “sexier” buildings if we worked in a big city such as Boston, but we didn’t think we’d care for that lifestyle. So we accepted jobs in Portland, Maine in 1986 and have been here ever since.</p>
<p>We have worked on projects including dams, precast concrete detailing, hospitals, houses, paper mills, schools, fire stations, insurance inspections, 4-story office buildings, government work (for which DH had to get top secret clearance), public markets, large apartment complexes, small condos, etc., etc. The variety of work keeps things interesting. Some days there is a lot of number crunching. Other days include conference calls, site visits, etc. We have learned that a LOT of our job is client education - helping them understand what we do and why we do it. Also answering contractors who say, “I’ve been building for 20 years and I’ve never done that detail the way you’re showing it.”</p>
<p>Take as many design classes as you can in undergrad. Concrete, steel, wood, masonry, pre-stressed, long-span, computer analysis, etc. You never know what you’re going to run into! Study HARD and ask lots of questions. Keep all of your notes and reference books. Develop a good relationship with your profs so that you can call them up in the years to come when you get stumped on a project.</p>
<p>Oh, and be prepared to feel like you know NOTHING for the first couple of years. You will be learning new stuff constantly. Just do the best you can and stay humble.</p>
<p>Thanks. I appreciate the encouragement. What were your reasons for going to austin?</p>