celicancer

I know that there are a ton of variables involved, but I was hoping I could get some more input on my chances of getting into a good graduate mechanical engineering program. First off, I am only looking to get my Masters, which should help me get into more schools than if I was going for my PhD. Second, I am working full-time for a well-respected defense contractor. They are paying for me to get my Masters, which means that it would have to be online. I plan on applying this Fall and hopefully begin the Spring 2010. Here are my "stats", if you will: 3.29 GPA from University of Arkansas in Mechanical Engineering w/ a minor in Management. However, the ME curriculum was especially difficult and I was in the top 15-20% of my class. Several internships as well as my current job w/ Lockheed Martin as an engineer. Tons of extracurricular activities, member of one of the best chapters in the nation for the Fraternity I was in, and tons of community service. I still have to take the GRE, but according to my practice test results I am shooting from something in the 1300-1350 range. Hopefully good recc. letters: 1 from a relatively well-known professor who knows me quite well, 1 from the plant manager of a large wood products plant, and the last is a toss-up: I can either go with another professor or an engineer who I worked under at an internship who thought very highly of me. Haven't completely decided how I want to address my SOP. So my weak points are definitely my GPA and the fact that I have basically no research experience. I did implement several processes and designed and built some machines that are used at the plants that I interned at, saving the companies money...but beyond that I really don't have much to show for my undergraduate degree in relation to my major. What I was planning on doing was applying for 1 or 2 schools from each "level", if you will. From the top level I am looking at Purdue, Georgia Tech, and USC. Slightly below that I am looking at NC State, Auburn, ASU, and Wisconsin. Finally, I was planning on applying to the University of Arkansas and maybe 1 other school as a "safety" in case I don't get accepted to any others. What do you think my chances are? Obviously knowing me GRE school would help some, but do you have any ideas on how I can improve my standing between now and when I apply this Fall? Thanks!