Worried about GPA... applying to CS graduate programs

Graduate School
1

<p>Well, this kind of question has been posted on forums a million times,
but, what GPA at least should I have when applying to top CS
graduate programs? My understanding is that the most important
things are research experience and recommendations. But I just saw
a post that says I need straight A's after all, which is discouraging me
because my GPA will be around 3.75/4.0 at the time of graduation.</p>

<p>An applicant with one year of undergraduate research experience and
3.75 GPA is less competitive among those applying to the top CS programs
like MIT, Stanford, and Berkeley?</p>

<p>Also, are the situations different between MS programs and Ph.D programs?</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for your help.</p>

2

<p>Which school are you from? If you're from a top school then I think your GPA is quite competitive among applicants to MIT, Stanford, etc.</p>

3

<p>Sorry, I forgot to mention I'm an international student from Asia.
The undergraduate CS program I'm attending now is one of
top 3 in my country.</p>

4

<p>I heard that for international students GPA is slightly downweighted because admission officers are probably not very knowledgeable of the academic levels of schools outside the US. The GRE scores then becomes a more important criterion than it is to domestic applicants. So I think if you do well in your GREs, get good recommendations and have research experience, you still have a good chance.</p>

5

<p>Thank you for the helpful information.
It is something that I had no idea about.</p>

<p>I appreciate your replies!</p>

6

<p>You might want to mention the average GPA at your school if it puts your statistics in a better light.</p>

<p>Many American university departments hand out straight A's, while other departments maintain a C average. If the average GPA at your school is 2.5, then your 3.75 is not just okay but fantastic.</p>

7

<p>You said one of the "top 3." What country are you from?! BTW, I'm a CS major, too. Sorry if I don't have a say on your question right now...</p>

8

<p>MaryCeleste:
Thank you for the suggestion. I don't know the exact average GPA at my
university but I understand my GPA is a little bit better than a "good GPA."
(not fantastic though.) Still, I think giving the average GPA to admissions
offices would work in a positive way.</p>

<p>molotov:
I'm from Japan, which means that "one of the top 3" is not particularly
impressive, I guess :o</p>