[Chemical Engineering vs. Biomedical Engineering]

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 ?

[Value of undergrad research work in PhD applications]

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 ?

 

[Chemical Engineering Fall 2014]

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?

[Chemical Engineering Fall 2014]

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.

[Chemical Engineering Fall 2014]

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..

[How will a B in calculus I affect in chem eng graduate program admission]

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..

[Selecting UG college for Graduate Study]

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..