<p>I am a current undergraduate student at the University of Florida, majoring in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Computer Engineering and Mathematics. I had a few questions regarding admission to UF engineering grad school:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Does UF engineering grad school favor its undergraduate engineering students?</p></li>
<li><p>I know that the ECE Grad School Department has a significantly larger program and more students than other departments and schools. Does this larger program help my admission chances to grad school because there are more open spots?</p></li>
<li><p>I plan on going to UF engineering grad school to get my masters degree. Does applying for only a masters degree give me a higher chance of admission to the grad school than someone who applied for a phD and needs funding?</p></li>
<li><p>I have a TON of AP credit (approximately 40 credit hours), yet in a way this actually hurts me for grad school admissions, because it means less time for undergrad research and less time to do internships before I have to apply to the grad school. Would you all agree? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I know a UF ECE going through this process right now, and supposedly as long as you meet the minimum GRE score (a 1200 I believe) you’re in. This was according to the grad adviser he asked and has friends who got in no problem. They’re also insanely lax about deadlines… they told him to just get the GRE done before the semester he’s applying for, haha.
You also need 3 letters of rec, but he found out the other day you just pick your 3 professors and it sends out the form for you and they HAVE to fill it out for you. If they don’t then the adviser will email them and basically make them do it…</p>
<p>Really!?! That makes me SO much more relieved!! I hope it will remain that way for the next 3 years when I apply to the grad school! I was so worried that I would have to have a perfect GPA and 1600 GRE with tons of research and internships and perfect letters to even have a SHOT at getting into the program. If what you said is true, that makes me so much more relieved. Thank you for being the bearer of great news :)</p>
<p>Anybody else have any info regarding this topic, and can anybody else confirm hsb’s statement? All input is greatly appreciated (you probably can tell I am a little nervous haha)</p>
<p>Yeah, the whole reason he decided to go for a masters is because he doesn’t have research experience either and hasn’t been able to land an internship. He’s applying for Spring so I’ll let you know if these things turn out to be true for him too haha. I don’t know how it’ll be in 3 years but regardless it definitely seems like they favor their UF undergrads.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick reply, let me know how it works out for him, I am very interested in that. Being an electrical engineering it is really tough getting a research opportunity so early, and i have a feeling that it is going to be hard to get interships. Even with a major in EE with a double minor in Comp. engineering and mathematics, I still am a bit worried about the admissions process.</p>
<p>Anybody else have any opinions on the subject? :)</p>
<p>According to the Office of Institional Research, the average EE grad student had a 3.89 undergrad GPA and a GRE quant of 776. These figures are pretty close to the most elite schools in the country…so I wouldn’t assume that admission is as easy as some of the above posts imply.</p>
<p>@rogracer, I dunno, just stating what I directly know from someone going through the process. Maybe it’s not that easy but they’re definitely making it seem like it so I’ll be interested to see.</p>
<p>Holy crap…anyone who thinks that I am gonna get a 3.89 GPA with a major in EE and a double minor in Comp. E and math is a joke… That seems incredibly unrealistic, aren’t we supposed to have lives while we are in college? Because to get a 3.89 is really asking a lot. That would basically mean if I get 2 B’s I am done for, which doesnt seem right</p>
<p>Also, does the fact that I am going to apply for a Master’s (and not a phD) help my chances of admission into the grad program? I am probably going to do the combined BS/MS route but I am not sure yet…</p>
<p>Yea I am going to shoot for a 3.6, and see if I can get that across the major and both minors… I am thinking that as well as 2 years research experience and maybe 2-3 internships will give me a good shot at getting into their Master’s Program, would you agree?</p>
<p>NKS…dunno why you are attacking the messenger. I’m just reporting UF’s own data and gave you the reference. Take it up with them if you are the definitive source on UF’s engineering graduate admissions.</p>
<p>It just seems like 3.89 is a little high for an electrical engineering major… especially doing a double minor in comp. engineering and mathematics it is going to be incredibly hard to keep that GPA. I want to have a life too ya know, but if i have to keep that GPA I might as well transfer to a college where I have a better chance at getting into the grad program</p>
<p>^ nobody said you “had to have” a 3.89. That is just the reported average of enrolled masters and PhD students. Obviously there is a range below that which will be accepted…the easiest admissions would be for unfunded masters candidates…the hardest for fully funded PhD candidates.</p>
<p>Yea I am going to try for an unfunded masters as my best chance of getting in, if i dont get in i dont know what I am going to do… my parents are moving down to florida to establish residency because they are banking on be getting into UF grad school, so if i dont i will be totally lost…</p>
<p>You seem hyper-focused on UF for cost reasons. You do realize that there are many programs out there that will likely fund you if you do well in your undergraduate studies.</p>
<p>My parents are literally moving to florida to establish residency…that, and I want to live in Florida for the rest of my life so if I didn’t get into the Florida grad program I would be totally crushed…I don’t want to go anywhere else, even though Florida is only ranked #30 in grad school engineering that is better than what my entire family went to…</p>
<p>Not sure I am really following your logic about needing to attend UF just because you want to live in Florida and your family is moving here. But you seem very intent on attending, so I hope it all works out for you. UF has some great engineering programs. You might also consider UCF if you need to go to grad school in Florida. USF also has a decent EE progam especially in your interest happens to be in power.</p>
:)</p>