VNSBKS
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Hey guys, I was wondering which is more competitive- Chemical engineering PhD admission or Biomedical engineering PhD admission in MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Caltech and Princeton ?
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Hey madbiochemist,
Would you mind to tell your stats: under grad GPA, GRE scores, research experience, publications, and LORs when you applied last year. Thanks..
VNSBKS
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Sure. When I was applying, these were my stats:
I went to a large public state school in the US. I have my B.S. in Biochemistry, not in engineering.
GPA: 3.97/4.0
GRE: I don't really remember but I think it was Q:159, V: 167, and A: 5.0 or 5.5
Research: undergrad research since August of freshman year, 1 REU, 1 international research internship, 1 poster at national conference, several local posters/presentations, several research/academic scholarships
Pubs: 1 in print and 2 in review
LORs: 1 from undergrad PI, 1 from REU (PI is well known in BME), and 1 from professor/mentor/advisor I was a TA'd for over 3 years
I applied to BME or BE PhD programs at UCSD, WashU (in St. Louis), JHU, Havard, MIT, Harvard/MIT HST (or MEMP, I forget which one), UT Austin, and Northwestern. I was rejected from 6/8 (with a few master's offers, which I consider rejection) with acceptances to JHU and UT.
Some things that really hurt me: math GRE really sucked and I'm a biochemistry major who took engineering classes and did engineering research, but doesn't have an engineering degree.
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Hey disasterprone,
Thanks for offer. I was wondering what would be the focus of Stanford PhD admission committee with regard to student's stat. Do they focus more in GPA or undergraduate research experience/publication ? I am a junior in Chem Eng with a GPA of 3.75 in a US News ranked top 5 Chem Eng program, and currently have two years of research experience - one year in lab and one year in University's research plant (field). By the time I will apply it will be nearly three years of research experience. I have published a first authored journal paper and also a single authored publication in a different university's news letter. I am working toward publishing one more journal paper and honors research thesis. Wondering how competitive would be my application for PhD in Stanford.
{By the way, three years ago, Stanford put me in waiting list for undergraduate program. I want to come for a PhD this time
}
Thanks in advance for your reply !
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Hi VNSBKS,
Admissions committees will look at all aspects of a prospective student's application. Everything is important to a degree. Most schools look for a GPA above 3.5, quantitative GRE scores in the top 75th percentile or higher, and good research experience that is supported by recommendation letters. Publications are many people's worry but the truth is that publications are a very poor way of evaluating a student as labs value student contributions to manuscripts differently and award authorship differently. Assuming you keep or raise your GPA, score well on the GRE, continue conducting research, and secure several strong letters of recommendation, I'd say you would be well prepared to apply to Stanford and other top programs (like UC Berkeley/UCSF, UCSD, MIT, and UW)
Best,
DP
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I'm a sophomore at a top 10 college in Chem Eng. Coursework is not of my taste and so have merely a 3.7GPA. I enjoy research. I started working in a research lab part time since the second semester of Freshman, and was in fulltime during the last summer. Apparently, the research project has sufficient funding to keep me employed part time during fall and spring semesters and full time during summer and winter breaks. I have a paper published as a first author, and I plan to publish one or two more. How much credit would I get from my research experience and publications in graduate degree admission applications. Provided I maintain at least the current GPA, have a good GRE score, would I have a chance to get a PhD admission in a college like UT Austin, GATech or UMinnesota ?
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yangshennannan reacted to a post in a topic:
Chemical Engineering Fall 2014
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Hi all, Earlier, I posted that I got 4.0 in my freshman 1st semester. I also started working in research. I naïvely took too heavy course loads in this second semester that now I likely will get a few Bs. I have increased my research hours and I am enjoying it a lot but, I believe, course grades play a larger role. How much research work and publications weigh, or course GPA is prime factor and research experience is just a supplemental in Ph D admissions. I plan to spend a semester in an overseas university which is renowned in the research area I am working. Any opinion?
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To yushis and gus_fring: Many thanks to you both for the great advices, I appreciate it indeed. I will try to discuss with the graduate student and his professor if they can increase the lab hours and also keep in mind in publishing papers and doing summer research in one those listed colleges where my research matches with their interests. To others: While I will welcome further advices, I will not disturb to this thread anymore. Sorry for my jumping into it, but I got good advices though and I appreciate it.
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Hello all ! I am not trying to hijack this thread but to get you guys' advice because in three years I will be on your shoe, Please accept my apology however, if it appears being hijacked. I thought this is an appropriate thread to post my anxiety. I am a freshman Chem Eng, just finished the first semester with a 4.0/4.0 GPA from a top 10 chem eng program in the US. I am being offered a 5 hr/week lab work with a strong potential of obtaining a 20hr/week lab work during the summer. If I do well in the research work and maintain my GPA, I believe I will have continuation of this research work for the remaining semesters and summers because the department apparently has a fund, Additionally, the research project is also in my area of interest. I guess all the above sounds great and that I am in the right track for the graduate studies but I am worried about maintaining 4.0 GPA all the way through the remaining three and half years. Also, I don't know what graduate schools look for in selecting students. I have a great desire of going to one of these colleges - MIT, Caltech, Stanford, UC Berkeley and Princeton. Because, despite my 4.0 HS GPA and close to perfect ACT and SAT including subject test scores, I was waitlisted or rejected. I felt vindicated ! I am wondering what should I focus for the next three years besides maintaining GPA and research work so I could get an admission to at least one of these schools. Would appreciate any advices..
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Finally, the Freshman first semester exam is over. Because of being late in one mid term exam, which snowballed, I got a B in Calulus I In all other: Orgo theory, Orgo lab; first year signature course, into to Chemical egg, and Art History courses, I got A. I am in a big time public university with a top five Chemical Eng program (US News ranking). In the first few weeks, being away from the parents, I was enjoying the new college life, joining clubs and having parties.. Later realized life is not that easy to maintain grade. My question is: Will this B grade in Calc I really hunt me badly for Chemical Engineering graduate application to the Colleges like MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Princeton and Caltech? Would appreciate your comments, advices..
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Hello all, I am going to start BS Chemical Engineering from this fall. I got admission to UT Austin. My interest are in semiconductor, process engineering and nano technology research. (I am strong in physics, chemistry and math but hate biology). Is UT Austin good in these research areas? Also, hypothetically, if I do research in every summer, publish one or two papers and maintain above 3.80 GPA, how would be my chances of getting into the top four: MIT, Caltech, Stanford and UC Berkeley for a PhD? I understand it is too early to say, as things can change in four years and there are many variables that come into play. However, my core question is how do the big four rate graduate applicants from UT Austin Chem Eng. Thanks a lot in advance..