<p>I'm having a hard time judging my chances at various schools, so I was hoping you guys could give me advice on my choices.</p>
<p>I have 640V/780Q 4.5 GRE scores. I graduate with a BSME with a 3.5 GPA and 3.75 Major GPA. The school I went to isn't well-known outside of the region, but it's a good school. </p>
<p>I have a few years of work experience and two semesters of research experience. Nothing published though. I also have 3 good LORs.</p>
<p>I'm shooting for a MS, but would apply for a Phd at the schools with very low MS enrollment. I'm a white US male by the way, if that matters.</p>
<p>The schools I'd like to apply to, based mainly on the research they're doing are:
Stanford, Berkeley, Princeton, UTexas-Austin, UColorado-Boulder, and UMinnesota-Twin Cities.</p>
<p>Am I way off base here with those schools? I think my stats are somewhat competive, but I didn't go to a well-known school for undergrad, nor do I have great research experience.</p>
<p>Let me know if you think I should shoot for lower ranked schools.</p>
<p>By the way, how many schools should I be applying to?</p>
<p>I'd say Berkeley and Stanford look like a bit of reaches, but the others should be reasonable.</p>
<p>Your best resource would be talking to professors from your undergrad school and finding out where students with similar stats got in to grad school.</p>
<p>The thing is, my school is pretty small and very few people go to graduate school. I only know of two people that went from my class. One guy, who I think graduated with a 4.0, went to Stanford, and another guy with similar stats to me went to Notre Dame.</p>
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The thing is, my school is pretty small and very few people go to graduate school. I only know of two people that went from my class. One guy, who I think graduated with a 4.0, went to Stanford, and another guy with similar stats to me went to Notre Dame.
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<p>Yeah, but I imagine there are at least a few that have been around 10+ years, so they'd have a bit of background as to what's been going on since they've been there. Like, I didn't know anyone that went to Caltech from my undergrad department, but one professor knew a guy four years ahead of me that chose to attend (incidentally, three of us applied my year and all three of us got in).</p>
<p>I thought Stanford and Berkeley wouldn't be too much of a reach since they admit 28% and 20%, respectively. Stanford has a huge Master's class with average GRE scores 581V 780Q. Berkeley has a smaller class but average GRE scores of 528V and 764Q.</p>
<p>Is it my GPA or lack of research that makes them reaches?</p>
<p>Yes, and MIT admits 23.5% of applicants. Piece of cake, right? </p>
<p>First of all, these numbers are likely inflated due to undergrads at these schools continuing on for their MS. Secondly, this is the percentage admitted of the TOP students around the world. There is a lot of self-selectivity going on. This piece of admissions data means absolutely nothing.</p>
<p>I guess you're right. I just read on Berkeley's site that the ME department actually only admits around 10%. I wish I would have tried harder in UG...</p>
<p>I could always shoot for those schools if I decide to get a PhD... until then, I think my other choices will be just fine.</p>
<p>I think I'm gonna trade Princeton for Texas A&M though, and maybe add UMich or UIllinois.</p>