<p>I don't really know what the point of this message is. I guess I'm just venting/looking for advice. It is long, I know. </p>
<p>I graduated from the University of Arkansas this spring with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Management. I got a competitive job at a well-respected defense contractor, which is where I am currently employed. Up until about a month ago I had no real desire to go to graduate school. However, I have decided that I want to pursue a Masters in Mechanical Engineering followed by an MBA. This was due to several reasons, but the fact that the company will pay for it is a definite plus. Also, since I am not trying to pursue a PhD, I'm hoping that more doors will open in relation to acceptance into said schools.</p>
<p>Due to my having to work while completing a Masters, my choices are limited to a local college or a degree online. I have opted for the second choice and have since been researching various colleges. I was suprised when I discovered that there is actually a pretty large selection of respected schools that offer entirely online Masters programs. I am taking the GRE on August 8th, and if my practice test results are any indication of what my real scores will be, I am aiming from something in the 1300-1400 range.</p>
<p>I have been looking at various schools from each "tier" in relation to their engineering graduate schools, and plan on applying to a couple from each. From the top tier, I am looking at Georgia Tech, Purdue, and USC. From the middle, I am looking at UNC and Auburn. From the lower tier ("safety" schools), I am looking at just going back to Arkansas and a couple other places.</p>
<p>Now the ugly: my graduating GPA was only a 3.29. This was in the top 15-20% of my engineering class, which makes me feel a little bit better but it still kinda sucks. Since I never had any real desire to pursue a graduate degree, I had the habit of slacking and partaking in other aspects of college a little too much. :) I also have basically no research experience beyond being part of the Solar Splash competition, where me and 2 others designed a motor system that ran two motors on one down-prop. We ended up getting 5th in the nation at the competition.</p>
<p>I have tons of extracurriculars (clubs, fraternity, etc.), as well as a lot of community service in college, but from what I understand that stuff means next to nothing unless it directly applies to the major.</p>
<p>The only thing I really have going for me is that I've had a lot of interships/work experience. I've interned at a large aluminum manufacturing company where I designed several machines/processes that are still currently used, and are supposed to be implemented in other plants. I've also interned at a large wood production plant where I redid their piping systems and deteced several flaws and saved them significant amounts of money. I also taught a junior-level engineering class for a semester. Finally, I am currently a Manufacturing Engineer at a large defense contractor where I specialize in guided missiles.</p>
<p>My recommendations should hopefully be good. I am getting one relatively well-known professor, the plant manager from the wood plant, and the head engineer from the aluminum manufacturer to write me recommendation letters.</p>
<p>You made it this far? I'm amazed. Now here is where you come in:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Any advice on how to approach my LOI? Should I explain how I didn't try in college and focus on all of my work experience? Should I even bring up my GPA in it?</p></li>
<li><p>Should I even bother applying to the top schools (GaTech, Purdue, USC, etc.)? I know that they look at a lot more than just your GPA, but will the fact that I have a significantly lower GPA than most applicants as well as little research experience drag me down too much?</p></li>
<li><p>Since this would be entirely online, is it still viable to try to contact some of the professors from the various schools? What do I say? "Hi, I am interested in doing research with you although I'll never be in the lab or meet you face to face"?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time!</p>