Thank you! I really appreciate your responses, as well as everyone else in the thread.
I have no intention of debating my reasoning, simply trying to get a better understanding of what would be considered “meet” or “reach” schools, to use terms used when applying to undergrad. I’m getting the consensus that those categories are much harder to decide for grad school.
I totally hear what the other poster is saying about Indiana and Virginia. While location was a factor, it was not the only factor. I have a massive modified decision matrix that brought me down to these schools, considering a whole lot of factors. I’d like to get an idea of my acceptance possibilities to add it into the matrix, would help me make a more informed decision.
FWIW, W. Lafayette is very open and accepting. And their aero program rocks ; )
You are competitive for their program. Good luck to you!
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I agree with what @momofboiler1 just said about Purdue and I would add in GT also and your California schools.
So, for graduate school they are all reaches. So now what? Just apply. You have nothing to lose since you already have your back up.
Again, we don’t know what bothers OP about Alabama. The school itself is open and this is supported by the - for example Campus Pride Index. The state, like Indiana and Georgia, are - hmmmm - conservative. It doesn’t mean the schools themselves are an issue.
OP doesn’t want to share the issue and I respect that. I was making an educated guess based on the comment of The political climate here changed quite a bit since I first enrolled, and this also plays a role in the locations of the schools I picked.
So one wouldn’t assume that Indiana, Georgia, or Virginia would be different - although what political means is open to interpretation. And I’m talking the state level…
I wish OP luck. If you want more schooling, indeed move on and you noted this. I would check on campus residency requirements for each school though. You might end up in school longer than expected and for some, that works. I mean, who doesn’t love school? I think we all wish we could be there!!
Good luck.
My daughter just started an engineering masters program. I would say the most important thing in your application is to demonstrate why you want your Masters (what would you do with the degree) and why you want to go to that particular school. Being able to express those things in your essays and interviews is important.
Good luck to you. It’s nice when you have a school already in place. Makes the application process much less stressful!
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Atlanta is open but not Georgia per se. GT is in Atlanta. Purdue is fine also.
Funny because when I say that about Charleston or Tucson or UT OR rice or CWRU - I hear - but they’re in the state. As people say, state laws override local allowances or school cultures.
We don’t know what OP’s concerns are.
I tend to agree with you but many on here do not.
But again we have no idea what OP is referencing.
Again, not too keen on the specifics, but I’ve experienced my share of racism and sexism (I am an Indian Female). Also noticed that such incidents were becoming more common over my years here as opposed to less. Not going to speculate, and definitely do not want to debate politics on here, just that anti-immigrant sentiments do exist.
Not going to say that the places I’m looking into will necessarily be better, but living the deep south is definitely a contributing factor. Perhaps it’s only my major that seriously lacks diversity, in terms of race and sex, but the environment has gotten stifling over time.
A lot of people I’ve met at Bama are lovely but there are also plenty who are not. Looking for a change of scenery with a bit more diversity.
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Sonny - I’m sorry you’ve experienced that. I’m not Indian or female so I can’t even imagine what it must be like.
We all hear of stories from all over - I’m horrified when I see an elderly Asian person beat up in San Francisco (and would be anywhere). Unfortunately, racism, sexism, and other things happen everywhere - we just saw it in Jacksonville this week with deadly consequence.
While I don’t see it from above and haven’t experienced it that I’m aware of to great level, I can appreciate how you feel. I imagine, but don’t, as a female in a male dominate major, must also cause issue. My industry is male dominated and my boss is a black female and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard - N (her first initial) only has her job because she checks two boxes (black and female). But never from above - because I’d have that person fired or punished quickly.
I don’t know why anyone has their jobs - white males included - but I do know she’s paid her dues and is eminently qualified and it’s terrible people think like this. But all you can do is show them they’re the real deal - and do the best you can and deliver top level results.
I can’t tell you where to go for future schooling - and I can’t tell you that you’d escape this anywhere else - at any college or in the workplace but of course, I hope you escape it because it’s unacceptable and no one should have to feel like you do.
Back to your initial post, some schools show minimum GPAs and if they don’t - I would apply because you never know. But I would also add some “secondary” schools to that. I don’t think a 3.44 is bad - although I don’t know your engineering GPA. Let’s face it - it’s a tough gig - and that you have two internships is great.
btw - don’t diminish your internships - I"m sure you did something great at BMW and when you say this as you did - an aerospace subcontractor (not one of the big ones) - take the positive - what did you accomplish? A big name doesn’t give you big skills. Opportunity is what give you big skills. Employers hire skills moreso than name in my experience.
Whatever your future journey holds, I wish you luck. And hopefully a life of fairness. No matter the school you go to, I suspect you’ll have plenty of opportunity. Experience begets experience and you’ve already had two solid internships it sounds like.
Good luck.
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I agree. It’s not the name of the school /internship it’s what you did with the opportunities you had while there.
It depends on the field. In some it’s not common to do a terminal master’s because it doesn’t add much employment value beyond an undergraduate degree so those seeking more education tend to be top students and they will go straight to a PhD. In those fields getting admitted to a master’s program is probably less competitive. There are also master’s programs that are known to be “cash cows” for their institutions and of dubious quality that are less selective for admission, the more important criteria being the willingness and ability to pay the high tuition costs. Many Business and professional master’s programs fall into this criteria and some can be very predatory (I’m looking at you Columbia and USC).
In other fields a terminal master’s can improve employment prospects so they attract more applicants. Engineering and CS are both such fields. The other thing making them more competitive admits is that they currently both attract a significant number of international applicants due to the 3 years of OPT that graduates can qualify for. Anecdotally from what I’ve seen however the biggest draw at the moment is for CS especially for programs in AI/ML/DS. Aerospace Engineering is a little more niche so you may find there to be less competition for those programs specifically.
I have no input as to what programs you may want to consider targeting and I am highly sympathetic to the hostile environment you’ve experienced. I can absolutely understand wanting to escape such toxicity and I would never counsel someone to put up with such an unacceptable situation. My only concern would be that you end up switching programs and still end up in a similar environment. It may be worthwhile to consider programs that may not offer you transfer credit even if it results in extending your time to degree completion if they have a more inclusive culture.
Best of luck.
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This kind of break down was exactly was I was looking for! Thank you!
And thank you to everyone else in this thread. I wasn’t looking for sympathy but I truly appreciate your concern and help.
I think I’m going to consult my grad school advisor at Bama and then just go for it. Hoping for the best, but even the worst case scenario isn’t too bad.
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This is my concern - woman, people of different ethnicities have experienced sexism, racism and others of any ethnicity ageism - everywhere. I’ve heard about it working in CA, Connecticut, and now Tennessee but my HQ is in Atlanta and employees are national.
Just yesterday someone posted an article about female Vassar profs - one of the most liberal schools - suing the school over being underpaid. I don’t know if it’s true or not but they think so.
I’m not sure of what OP experienced specifically but unfortunately, society isn’t nice and it’s always good to get a fresh start but it doesn’t ensure change.
Alabama, likely similar to other schools, has a ton of diversity in its engineering faculty. Calling on car dealers in Alabama and other Southern states, I’ve never seen anything overt - but again, I’m a white male so I could never understand.
I hope OP finds what they are seeking.