Specific differences in MS/PhD engineering admissions?

Graduate School
1

<p>For people seeking only MS degrees... Does research experience matter at all? Do recommendations matter more... or less?</p>

<p>I'd also like to know what my chances are at schools like my current one (University of Michigan), Virginia Tech, Penn State etc. I gather that MS admissions are less selective than those of PhD programs, but most discussion seems to be about the latter so I'm not really sure what's in my league.</p>

<p>By the time I graduate I should have a 3.2-3.3 GPA in aerospace engineering. That will include 3 graduate courses taken in my junior year. I also have a fair amount of extracurricular engineering experience (writing a 700-line code to model helicopter aerodynamics for one), but I don't think graduate admissions people care much about that sort of thing unless they're prof-sponsored research activities. GRE: 770Q 610V I know my GPA isn't great... but would it be worthless to apply to Caltech?</p>

2

<p>off topic but.. do you use a dvorak keyboard? couldn't help but ask.</p>

3

<p>haha, yes I do.</p>

4

<p>Recommendations are important. Research experience is not as important for MS programs compared to PhD programs but it does help. There are usually more spots in the MS program than the PhD program so it would be easier to get into.</p>