Will I get into any grad school with a 3.3 GPA in Engineering from BU?

Graduate School
1

<p>I know this has been brought up too many times. I just want to ask again. If my chance of getting into a good grad school is low, I will just give up and start to look for a job now. </p>

<p>So I'm majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Boston University, maybe will have a minor in computer science, haven't turn in the application yet. One semester back sophomore year was really rough, got a 2.+ GPI, pulled everything down. I haven't taken the GRE yet, but l am studying really hard for it, will take it in Aug. Also, I did some research back sophomore year, about one semester, but then the prof passed away :'( , so I haven't done any academic research after that. Just random jobs related to the industry but not "academic research". Since English is not my first language, I don't know how well I will write my Personal statement...>.<</p>

<p>Is it too late to join any research project now (second semester junior)? Well, I know it's def too late to raise my GPA up...maybe research will help? I found this project at our school I'm really interested in, thinking of joining it. </p>

<p>I'm not even going to think about getting into MIT, Stanford school like that. Schools on my list are: Texas, Columbia, UPenn, Harvard, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Yale ,Rensselaer (RPI) & BU.</p>

<p>I am from Thailand, so there is a chance I have to go back look for a job after I graduate (if I can't find a job here). And people back home don't know about U.S schools that much (ie, they won't know Ohio State U has a better Engineering program than Yale) , "big names" or "Ivy" means a lot to them. That's why I will apply to schools like Yale, Harvard, don't laugh at me :)</p>

2

<p>It is not too late to get involved in research. if you are determined to go on to graduate school then you need to go looking right away.</p>

<p>As for the schools you mention, I think those will be tough to get into given your GPA at this point. If you are set on graduate school, look at schools with a bit lower ranking. The professor you end up doing research with can give you suggestions for your field. If employers in your home country are stuck on “big name” graduate programs, then you will need to educate them.</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much for replying! I will definitely talk to my professor about the research. I’m expecting to have a 3.5 by the time when I turn in my application. As I mentioned, I had a really really bad semester sophomore year, I’ve been raising my GPA up. Except that bad semester, my GPI for every other semester is at least 3.48 or up. </p>

<p>Also I’m taking non-engineering classes for senior year since I’m done with all engineering requirement. I will take easy class like freshman-level humanity/social science/general requirement.
I really don’t know and really worried, I wish time can go back and let me change everything happened. I even considered to stay one more year at BU to get a double major or just taking random easy classes and average out my GPA.</p>

<p>I know for BU, the GPA required to get into our Engineering BS/MS program is 3.3, I talked to the RPI admission people, their average GPA entering MS program is 3.3 (for engineering), GRE is 582 + (780+) + 4.1. Do you think I will at least have a chance getting into these two schools?
RPI’s tuition is way cheaper than BU, that’s why I’m considering it. Also the research I involved back freshman year was led by RPI. They are the lead for this area. I want to give a shot to Yale, Johns Hopkins, UPenn and Texas, their average GPA (for entering engineering major) was around 3.5-3.6 -ish. As for Havard, I will just try and don’t want to regret about not applying. Any advice on this grad school plan?</p>

<p>What is some safety schools for me then?</p>

4

<p>GPA seems about right for Eng. majors. What kind of eng. are you trying to do?</p>

5

<p>Thanks for relying! I’m thinking about doing Mechanical, or Computer/Electricall, I just checked our school program, I can easily get a double major in computer engineering and mechanical engineering, graduate in 4 years. I’m really ahead of schedule. And I’m actually really into programming/electronics stuff. Any suggestions?</p>

6

<p>I finished BU computer engineering with a 3.39 GPA. I’m applying for Northwestern, USC, Brown and Cornell and I actually think I have a very good chance. BU’s grade scaling is pretty strict – I ended up with magna cum laude at BU which is the top 15% of the class. I finished my grad school applications so I’m just waiting to hear back from the schools.</p>

7

<p>I thought magna is around 3.6 ? and cum laude is 3.3-ish. Anyways, your words definitely encouraged me a lot. Thanks!</p>