Some general questions

Graduate School
1

<li><p>I’m getting my undergrad degree in Electrical Engineering. If I were to do a double major with something like Computer Engineering or Applied Math, would this improve my chances to be admitted to a good graduate school, significantly?</p></li>
<li><p>Is getting into a PhD program much more difficult than M.S.?
What kind of GPA do I need to get into a top 25 MS program? Top 50 MS Program? And how about PhD? I know there are many factors involved but an approximation would be nice.</p></li>
<li><p>Are there different GPA requirements for different majors? Since i’m in EE, average GPA’s are very low. Is the expectation lower, or do these programs demand just as high a GPA?</p></li>
<li><p>My first 71 credits I did at a CC and got a 3.75 GPA. This transferred to my 4 year school and is on my transcript listed seperately. Will my fairly good grades from the CC contribute to my graduate school chances or will these grades be largely ignored in favor of my grades at the 4 year school? I’m just really worried that I won’t be able to get a GPA above 3.3 at my current school, but I’ll try my best.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>To prepare for graduate school, I plan on doing research throughout the academic year (we are given academic credit for it at my school)…and getting internships during the summer while trying to keep my GPA high…anything else I can do to improve my chances? How much research is enough?</p>

<p>Thanks
FatPig554</p>

2

<p>Hi.</p>

<p>I'm an undergrad and from the numerous talks about grad admissions, here is my understanding:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Not at all. It doesn't prove you're more able to do research so won't help to get into Msc-PhD programs. However if it doesn't lower your GPA...I guess it doesn't harm you as long as its not to the expense of time spent on stuff like research or advanced courses.
Why not just simply take some relevant courses outside your major without doing a whole double-major if you have extra time ?</p></li>
<li><p>MS or MSc ? MSc, usually part of the Msc-PhD track (ie,you are accepted up to PhD or expected to do one) is significantly harder to get in than MS (terminal degree; not research, just courses like undergrad) because MS usually doesn't offer fin aid nor an advisor to do research nor T.A. fellowhips etc. Of course its a general statement, there are some MS that are pretty tough to get in (like the financial ones).</p></li>
<li><p>Your GPA may be low because its tough, but then top grad departments will be receive plenty of applications with perfect GPA from toughest school. You're competing against students from other tough schools usually so...</p></li>
</ol>

<p>That said, for MSc-PhD, your research skills are more important than GPA and the more research you did, the better.</p>

<p>For an MS, GPA would count more since it's less about research...</p>