<p>I want to get into the best grad school I can for a masters degree. The only requirement for me is that the grad school is in California. I would prefer that it's not in the middle of nowhere (ehm, UC Davis) and it's not too expensive (a UC would be nice), but these are only secondary.</p>
<p>I haven't taken GRE's yet, but I got 1480 on my SAT Is (800 math, 680 verbal). My GPA currently isn't too hot.. I have a 3.2 in civil engineering at a small private school, but the highest GPA in our graduating class is around 3.6. I just started my senior year and my GPA, at best, could be a 3.4 by the time I graduate.</p>
<p>In terms of job experience.. I have plenty of non-related job experience. I was one of my professor's lab assistant for a surveying class for a quarter and I'm currently working at an internship that started over the summer (that is civil engineering related). I am a pretty active member of ASCE... I help out with almost all of their events.</p>
<p>I am thinking of applying to the UCs (Davis, SD, LA, Irvine, Berkeley) but I have no idea what my chances are.</p>
<p>Hmm.. I thought UC Davis is right next to Sacramento, the capital of California. If you're into the environmental engineering/policy/government aspect of civil eng, I'd think that would be an ok place for graduate school. Especially since California is one of the leading states on the green policy movement in the US.</p>
<p>I think all of the UC's you mentioned are fairly competitive with Cal obviously at the top.</p>
<p>haha ok UC Davis isn't really in the middle of nowhere.. but it is for me because I'm from the bay.</p>
<p>Do I actually have a good chance at any of the UC programs or should I be seriously looking into other schools?</p>
<p>I want to go into either construction management or maybe structural.. and my internship (which I'm continuing through the school year) is structural related. It's actually can be everything related, because there are a bunch of teams (including structural teams, general civil teams, etc.)</p>
<p>Applications for fall 2008 is usually due by the end of December 2007/early January 2008, so I think the cumulative GPA probably will not move that much. Depending on whether your target degree is masters or phd, the ball game might be different. Assuming you have the normal GRE scores >750Q >500 V 4-5A, I'd say you have a chance. But the weakness in GPA should be compensated by good SOP and research experience. Don't be bummed out though if you don't get in, there is always the option of working a few years to revamp your CV and apply again.</p>
<p>Sorry to be a total noob, what are SOP? Are those the recs? And how does it change your chances depending on whether you're going for a masters or PhD? I want to get a masters.</p>
<p>SOP = statement of purpose/ letter of intent I forgot to mention letter of recs which are equally if not more important.</p>
<p>Well, don't just take advice from this forum. I'd research the requirements for all the schools you listed.</p>
<p>But basically master level gives you more breadth and can oftentimes be completed with coursework and maybe a project/short thesis. Requirements for research are not as heavy as the doctorate level and can weigh in against you if you have less undergrad research experience. Also, at the PhD level, you are basically guaranteed funding. At the masters level, when you apply and demonstrate no financial aid, it "may" also hurt you. A few of my friends applied for PhD (engineering) even though they "knew" they probably will stop at the masters because spots for terminal master students are so few.</p>
<p>All the UC schools you mentioned range from (highly) competitive to hypercompetitive at the graduate level. Did you consider out of state?</p>
<p>If you are considering UCs for a civil engineering MS, then you might also want to consider the two Cal Poly schools (in San Luis Obispo and Pomona). They are in-state public schools, and may be even less expensive than UCs. </p>
<p>Most CSU programs are less prestigious than those at UCs, but the two Cal Polys are very well regarded for engineering. The engineering programs at Cal Poly SLO, in particular, are widely perceived as comparable to those at most UC schools (in fact, the architecture program at Cal Poly SLO may be better than that at any UC). And applying for a master's won't hurt you, because the the Cal Polys don't offer PhD programs.</p>
<p>But if you think Davis is the "middle of nowhere", then you probably won't appreciate SLO. SLO is smaller than Davis, and much further from large cities.</p>