I’m looking at mechanical engineering PhD programs with biomedical research. Professors have suggested schools ranked from top 10 to almost 100. I thought some objective opinions would help narrow this down.
My credentials:
-B.S. mechanical engineering this May. Five bio classes including human a&p. Organic chemistry. Cognitive psych.
-3.8 GPA
-GRE: 156 quantitative, 157 verbal (standardized tests… :-w )
-Three internships: molecular oncology research, pharmaceutical company, engineering design company.
-Project manager of medical device design group
-Engineering tutor
Your GPA is good for an engineering major, depending on where you are graduating from (which may help you in the eyes of admissions). GRE might affect you in getting into more exclusive programs. Do you have any schools in mind at all?
The GRE scores are a problem for very selective programs. You might not get past the initial screening. What you need to do is to look for smaller programs which are willing to look at your full application and see that your GPA and experience might outweigh the GRE scores.
Edit: Based on the schools listed below, do I have a good mix of safety, mid-range, reach? I think I still need a safety…
kdallas:
Schools I’m considering:
UConn
Dartmouth
WPI
Tufts
Penn State
Vanderbilt
I’m definitely going to apply to UConn, WPI, and Tufts. Dartmouth, Penn State, and Vanderbilt are on the fence.
AuraObscura:
Research Interests:
Medical device design, bio MEMs/ NEMS, smart materials, bioelectronics, drug delivery, implants.
xraymancs:
What are some examples of smaller programs?
Since your interest is specifically biomedical research in a Mechanical Engineering department you will need to do a bit of research to find program that might be a safety for you. I think your list of programs is pretty good and UConn might be your best bet but they do have a lot of applicants. I think I suggested UMass-Lowell in the other thread but I am not sure they have the kind of research you want.
Do I have any chance being accepted to a school such as MIT? I ask because it is of course a great school and close to some of my family and friends. I assumed MIT wasn’t worth the application cost considering the low probability of my acceptance (and lesser chance of receiving full tuition support, which I need). However, my family insists that it doesn’t hurt to apply. Thoughts?
You can certainly apply but I am afraid that your GRE scores might not get you past the first cuts. Engineering departments generally expect a very high Quantitative score. Nevertheless, if you don’t mind paying the application fee, there is nothing to lose by trying.
