realistic school for mechanical engineering

<p>So, I just started thinking about going to grad school. I am a junior mechanical engineering major at the University of Maryland in College Park. I currently have a 3.53 gpa, I could probably graduate with somewhere around a 3.6, maybe a little higher. By the time I graduate, I will have spent 1 summer at NIST, 1 semester on and off work for Thomas's English Muffins, 2 summers at NASA and 2 winters at NASA (essentially a 20 week co-op, I am working on the James Webb Space Telescope). I am also involved in student led research in building automation systems. Aside from that, I have a whole bunch of leadership activities and clubs I'm involved in. I haven't taken the GREs yet, so no scores.</p>

<p>I'm really just wondering, where's realistic for me to apply to for graduate school? I think I might be interested in robotics, but I'm really not sure... I also don't know if I want a masters or a PhD.</p>

<p>benandjerrys…
I am a business owner in the building automation industry. I recently interviewed a young man with two bachelors, one masters and a PhD. He was way overqualified in terms of academics and had very little hands on work experience.<br>
I would recommend taking a job for a year or two before deciding on going on to grad school particularly if you have to borrow money to go to grad school.<br>
Obviously that is just my take on it…It is hard to see the whole picture in online posts.</p>

<p>Good post ebe^5. It’s surprising how far you can get in academia in engineering without actually, well, engineering much.</p>

<p>Benandjerrys, I think your career goals need to be more precise before you decide. If you want to go into academia and the type of research performed there, then go right away for the PhD; however, if you’d like to go into industry, some work experience and then either a master’s or a PhD will be beneficial.</p>

<p>I am not sure how ebeeeee’s post is relevant. It looks to me like the OP has quite a lot of hands on experience and pretty good grades. </p>

<p>To the OP, I would suggest start by looking at a list of some top grad schools in your field and go to those websites. Then just look at all of the research the professors are doing. You will also need to decide if you want to get a PhD or not. If you are going to graduate school to do research then you have to find a school with research that you find interesting.</p>

<p>I’m sorry if I was unclear… I’m trying to decide if I want to go to grad school at all. I am considering much of what ebeeeee has pointed out. I don’t know if I want to go further into academia or industry. I was really wondering which level schools I should look at given my gpa and past experience. I don’t want to be looking at somewhere too far of a reach if I wouldn’t have a shot at getting in. I just don’t really know where to start looking. From there I might better be able to understand if grad school is even for me or not.</p>

<p>bump . . .</p>