<p>Hi everyone, so I am going to be a freshman at Purdue in the fall for engineering, likely biomedical. I know my plan is bound to change, but right now it's my dream to go on and get a master's degree in bioengineering at Berkeley after taking a gap year near San Fran or something. So what kind of credentials do I need to be sure to uphold in my next 4 years to have a good chance of getting admitted to Berkeley? ie, GPA, activities, etc. I plan on doing lots of clubs and some research and taking a variety of classes. I really have no idea how competitive a school like Berkeley would be for a master's degree. If it affects anything, I am female...and some people are convinced my being hispanic helps me out in admissions, haha. Thanks for any help :)</p>
<p>Clubs and other extracurriculars don’t really matter if they aren’t directly related to the field you want to go to grad school for. Keep a high GPA and do lots of research and get good LOR from the professors you do research with. Do you want to do a coursework master’s or a thesis master’s? My advice is more relevant to the latter since you’d be doing research for your degree.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’m not sure yet which kind of masters I would go for. First I want to investigate if I enjoy research during my undergrad…also, is a gap year or two advisable to intern/volunteer/travel etc?</p>
<p>There are pros and cons to taking a gap between schooling. If you take a gap, you might find it hard to get back into a school mindset, especially if you get a good paying job in the interim. On the other hand, there’s no better time to go see the world and experience some personal growth.</p>
<p>As for getting a master’s, you should know that some companies are sometimes willing to pay for their employees to get one. Most master’s programs are unfunded (coursework even more so than thesis), and you’ll be taking on tons more student loans. That’s another avenue for you to look into. Policy will vary by company and your choice of school may be limited. I know that GE, for example, will only pay if you attend certain schools in Ohio where they’re HQ is. Other companies may have a deal with Berkeley specifically or may be more liberal in allowing you choices.</p>
<p>There is no “con” for a gap year before graduate school. Tons and tons and tons of people take a break from schooling in that period, and all the better if that year is used to pursue internships, research experience, etc. in the field. That will significantly <em>strengthen</em> one’s application.</p>