<p>Anyone know what it takes to get into UCB's Grad School (Engineering)?</p>
<p>A lot of hard work and impressive credentials. The selectivity of Berkeley's graduate school is on par with that of the other elite engineering schools like MIT, Stanford, and Caltech. Heck, sometimes, depending on the program in question, it may actually be harder to get into Berkeley than into the other ones.</p>
<p>The consensus in EE is that Berkeley is one of the two most selective programs along with MIT. In 2004, they received over 3000 applications and accepted 200 people in EE and CS combined! Of these, 99 applications were Berkeley undergrads and 22 were accepted (14 out of 46 in EE and 8 out of 53 in CS). There are a lot of Berkeley rejects in the Stanford program, which is pretty ironic.</p>
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There are a lot of Berkeley rejects in the Stanford program, which is pretty ironic.
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<p>I don't think we should find this terribly ironic. Berkeley academic graduate (i.e. PHD, master's) programs are as selective as any. The notion of Berkeley being the safety school of Stanford comes mostly from the undergrad program, and to a lesser extent the professional programs. However, the academic graduate programs are tremendously selective. {It is also no coincidence to me that Berkeley's academic graduate programs are the most respected of all of Berkeley's programs. }</p>
<p>so i would need 4.0 thru undergrad and perfect test scores?</p>
<p>Well, no, I wouldn't say that. In fact, I've known a few people to get in with quite mediocre grades and test scores.</p>
<p>I would argue that your #1 criterion necessary to get in is your prof recs. If you can get a bunch of supersterling rec's from respected profs at respected schools, then everything else seems to wash away. For example, I've known Caltech students with quite mediocre grades (because after all, it is Caltech), but nevertheless received strong endorsements by the profs there, and they got into numerous top graduate schools. </p>
<p>The 2nd criteria (which is often times intertwined with the first) is strong research experience. If you can demonstrate that your research skills are strong, then again, that tends to wash away any deficiencies in your grades and test scores. Strong research experience also tends to be a way to pick up strong rec endorsements.</p>
<p>Having sat in on graduate admissions committees, I must agree with sakky...your professor's recommendations are incredibly important. Equally important is your personal statement--you need to demonstrate direction and passion (you don't need to have outlined your thesis...but you need to show you won't spin your wheels for two or three years either). I've seen great recs and well written personal statements overcome mediocre test scores and B average grades at places like Cal and Cornell...</p>
<p>For most of the graduate programs (not including professional schools and engineering) you would need at least a 3.5 to be competitive. There are exception of course, but a 3.5 puts you in the middle range of most applicants.</p>
<p>Berkeley for graduate engineering eh...</p>
<p>All I can say is, good luck! Because it's second behind MIT.</p>
<p>Depending on the field, aren't some considered the best?</p>
<p>Some, absolutely.</p>