<p>Hi. I currently am an undergrad at University of Illinois-Chicago doing electrical engineering and have a poor overall gpa due to not being focused my freshman year and because I was in the wrong major (won't be higher than 3.0). I am now doing extremely well (4.0's in my last two semesters) and my major gpa is a 3.5 right now and I still have a good 34 hours of ECE left to do and plan on two more 4.0 semesters. I also currently am the EE captain of my school's robotics team. My question is if I do pull off two more 4.0 semesters and do well on my GREs (not too good with English stuff though), what are the chances of me getting into the masters programs of:</p>
<p>University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
Purdue
Northwestern
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
?</p>
<p>From what I know, your chances are good. Those 4.0’s will show that you can handle the rigor of graduate courses. Most faculty members will consider improving grades, and they will look to your personal statement for why your first year GPA is low. Make sure that you discuss this, without just making excuses.</p>
<p>Also, I recommend practicing hard for the GRE, since you will be able to do demonstrate your academic consistency with an above-average score. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>–</p>
<p>Your advice has given me a bit more confidence. Since I plan on entering grad school in Fall 2011, I would have to apply by mid Decemeber so I wouldn’t really have that second theoretical 4.0 in yet. I am not sure how this would look on the admissions board. If it makes any difference, I am a resident of Illinois as well.</p>
<p>As for the GREs, I am ready to take the Kaplan GRE course if I have a chance of getting into UIUC. If I don’t have a chance then I plan on staying at UIC and do a course work only Masters and that does not require the GREs.</p>
<p>Work on getting that GPA over the 3.0 level because your biggest risk is getting tossed out in the first screen (most programs at the level you are looking at have a 3.0 minimum). If they look at your app in depth they will see what you have done since the bad first year and you have a better chance. Also, study hard for the GREs.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice JRabas. I have also been accepted to be a research assistant with one of the professors here and it’s all right up my alley. I’m assuming that would help as well.</p>
<p>Bump, more advice would greatly help :)</p>
<p>If your overall GPA is not yet over 3.0, you might want to wait a year, both to raise the GPA above the threshold for most programs and to have some solid research experience, which you suggest that you’re only about to begin. Still, since you are talking about master’s and not PhD programs, you might want to give it a shot, understanding that you might not make the cut with your current profile. </p>
<p>If your overall GPA is already over 3.0, then you might be able to do it given at least one stellar recommendations.</p>
<p>Programs often overlook freshman year because they know that students are adjusting to being away from home for the first time. Some students get depressed, and others party too hard. An upward trend will definitely work in your favor, especially since the high grades will be in upper level courses.</p>
<p>That is exactly what happened with me, my freshman year I was not adjusted to the college life and fell into some serious depression that lasted until my second semester of my sophomore year. </p>
<p>UIUC (as well as UIC) claims to look at last 60 hours, which for the most part is excellent for me. I will still be applying to UIUC for next fall, if I don’t make the cut there, I may consider tacking on an extra semester to boost my overall gpa over 3.0.</p>