UK Undergraduate applying for a US MEng.

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hello Everyone.

I am currently reading Engineering at Warwick University, going into my penultimate year. Quick background on me, I got all A’s in my A Levels, all A*s/A’s in my GCSEs and have received a 2.1 in my first year of study. That might not be relevant, as it may all depend on my GRE and final degree score, but I thought I’d throw it in anyway.

I want to apply for (as well as other related american courses) the Cornell MEng in Biological and Environmental Engineering as, for me, it seems to be the perfect fit for my academic interests especially when I studied Biological/ BME in my first year. I’ve decided that I want to study in the states which is why I’ve come off the MEng at Warwick and turned to the BEng, so I can save and do the MEng in the states.

Now, I’ve heard that for international medical applicants, you must live in the US for a year prior to completing the application for med school. Is this the same for all postgraduate degrees, grad schools?

I am predicted a 2.1/1st in my degree, so was wondering, when do I apply to the MEng? Do I do so during my 3rd year of university? So if an offer comes, it is a condition based on my year 3 result? Or do I complete my BEng first and then apply with everything achieved.

I finish by July 2018. If I apply straight away, when would the start date be?

I know many students that have headed off to the Ivy league (and the UCs/ Stanford), who did their UG studies at Warwick, but I don’t talk to them enough to ask for help so I thought I’d turn to this.

In order to summarise, I am basically asking for advice on when to apply and for what start date.

Also, is there an interview system too for the masters?

Thank you for reading, hoping to hear back from someone soon!

Yours, ESBP.

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@EngSysBioProg

  1. Your GCSE/A-levels don't matter.
  2. GRE & Final undergrad score matters, yes. Not as much as you think though - you basically just need to not screw up the GRE and/or grades. As far as I know, there's no benefit to scoring super high on the GRE (at least for PhD programs). My adviser said he didn't even look at my GRE scores (I'm in a PhD program, and the adviser decides if you get in or not).
  3. If you want to do MEng, apply for that in whichever universities you want to go to. If you really want to study in the states, then apply to more than just one place.
  4. Med school apps - no idea.
  5. I don't know what 2.1 is, but honestly - grades also don't matter that much (at least in PhD). You need to do well, but the most important criteria is your research background. You have to show that you are motivated, and you're interested in research. You do that by working on research projects with professors while you're doing your bachelors.
  6. The offer will be partly based on your 3rd year grades, yes. You just need to not screw up. Simple.
  7. If you graduate around July 2018, you should plan to take the GREs around Oct/Nov 2017, send in the applications December 2017. You hear back around March 2018, and start the program August/Sept 2018.
  8. Interviews - usually there are accepted students' days/open houses. You talk to potential advisers, check out the program, etc. Not usually mandatory. I had phone interviews, but that was it. It was casual, I just got a call one day and it turned out to be an interview. It was chill.

Just a quick note - I’m assuming you’re not paying tuition and stuff in the UK, or not a high amount. Masters programs rarely give out funding. It can be crazy expensive. Watch out for that.