CHOCTICK

I want to continue my graduate studies in structural engineering. I currently go to a California State University and am a conditional graduate student. I went to UC Davis as a conditional grad student for a year but my gpa got too low (2.5) and I left; the quarter system was all bad. I took 4 courses at UC Davis that count. I have my undergraduate degree in mathematics. I applied to Iowa State University (civil ranking 31) and the University of Colorado, Boulder (civil ranking 22) for fall 2012 admission. Do you think I can get into one of these schools and should I apply to any more? I am considering applying to Ohio State. GRE: 730Q, 530V, 3.5A Undergraduate gpa: 3.2 (Mathematics) Post Undergrad. gpa: 2.7 (This includes the courses at UC Davis and some foundation courses I took at the local junior college) No research, former teacher, Iraq veteran, black male, pleasant breath

As far as the US News rankings go, what is the cutoff for good schools; are schools ranked 30 and up good schools? Or is it schools 1-23? What do you all think of University of Virginia, University of Florida, Colorado State University, Arizona State, and Ohio State University. If you are going to graduate school, you should go to the best one you can get into. I know personal fit matters but lets ignore that for now.

I've read many post from reputable sources saying the civil engineering profession has a bright future. On these same sites I've read reader comments vehemently rebuking the bright outlook claims. An aspiring civil engineer myself, I am quick to dismiss the gripes as whining from lazy job seekers or those unwilling to relocate to where the jobs are. I fear I may be deluding myself. Enough of that. What do you all think of the University of Colorado, Boulder. I was at the University of California, Davis but my grades got low because of the quarter system and I had to leave. I will be entering another state program this spring (2012) as a civil conditional grad student. I hope to kick tell there and apply for fall 2012 admission to UC Boulder. I'm a veteran and they let veterans pay in-state tuition--I want to get out of California as soon as possible. My gpa for undergrad was 3.2 with 2.85 in last 60 units. I was a conditional grad student at Davis taking courses to build an adequate foundation in engineering; I have my undergrad in mathematics. My performance at Davis was not that great but I attribute that to the quarter system. In short, is UC Boulder a hard grad program to get into and tell me how to get in. Thanks.

I have my undergrad in math and am pursuing a masters in civil engineering--not too big of a leap. You trying to go from the social sciences to a ph d in stats. is a leap without taking alot of foundation coursework. Along with that analysis class, you are going to need a bunch of statistics courses. You are not trying to get a masters in statistics you are jumping right into the doctorate; I would be surprised if a school gave you serious consideration. I would consider open university somewhere then apply to a ph d program after taking a lot of foundation courses. Most programs also would require the math subject test from the gre. Take a look at that and see how you do.

This is the issue. I have only applied to one school thus far and they received the recommendation letter in question. I have another school I will be applying to and I must get into one of these two schools. For this second school I have 2 options: apply and provide them with only the 2 recommendation letters I know are good or send them the 2 good letters and the suspect letter. "Send them the two letters you know are good," you quickly reply. Not so fast. My situation is unique. I was dismissed from one grad program because my gpa fell below 3.0--I had a 2.5. I attribute this mostly to the quarter system at the school I left--please don't comment as to my ability to be successful in grad school. I know I can. Back to the suspect letter. For the school I will be applying to, I want them to have an opinion from an engineering professor. The suspect letter is from an engineering professor and the 2 good ones that I have read--with permission--are from mathematics professors. This suspect letter--assuming it is good--will assuage any concerns prospective grad. programs might have concerning my earlier performance and potential for success as an engineering grad student. If I omit the suspect letter, they will only have the 2 good letters from 4 years ago. My undergraduate degree is in mathematics and I want to get a masters in structural engineering. Hope this makes sense.

I applied to grad. school and have one letter a professor did not want me to see. I want to ensure he said good things about me. What do you think of me asking the school I applied to with this letter if the professor in question represented me in the best light. I would go there in person and ask the office secretary--she seems like a nice lady. I got a B in this professors class and chatted with him during office hours on occasion. I would not ask to read the actual letter--this would be against the professor's wishes and I don't want to go there. I just want some idea of what he is saying before I send this letter to other school. I would cry if he agreed to write the letter only to tell prospective schools I am dumb as a rock. Please advise. Thanks. P.S: I already have the letters. When I asked the professor in question if he would be willing to write the letter, he replied " I would be happy to." I am curious as to whether a professor who said " I would be happy to" would write a letter saying I am not cut out for grad. school. I have 2 of the sealed letters in hand--I could just open 1 and see what he said. But, I will honor his wishes and just keep them sealed. I am paranoid I guess. I really want to be able to rest assured he wrote something good about me.

I really want to go to CSU Long Beach--get out of Sac an reinvent myself I will. The quarter system is a money making tool; not conducive to learning. Why is the top UC (CAL) on the semester system and most of the others on the quarter? Stupid ^ googol.

Hello. Where should I go in CALIFORNIA for a Masters in Structures; cannot be any UC nor Cal Poly Pamona/San Louis Obispo. What do you all know about CSU Long Beach, CSU Sacramento, CSU San Jose, and CSU San Diego. How are their civil engineering programs. I excluded UC's and the Cal Polys because I had a bad experience with the quarter system at UC Davis--it is too fast and you learn nothing IMHO. I am not that worried about prestige anymore--but I might attempt to get into Cal later on. Thanks.

Whats up guys and gals. I was kicked out of UC Davis because my gpa got to low. Must admit, was not happy there because of lack of racial diversity and presence of the quarter system. I plan on applying in August to schools within the California State University system that are on the semester system. My schools of choice right now are San Jose State and CSU Long Beach--I would love to go to one of the Cal Polys but they are quarter schools. Which of these schools are better? Besides UC Berkeley(only UC on the semester system), what are the best structures schools in California that are on the SEMESTER system. Please educate me and Thanks in advance. P.S.: Please do not suggest any schools that are on the quarter system (i.e.: All UCs, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Pamona....)

Hey guys, I have a question. I am a conditional structural engineering graduate student who needs to do very well this quarter to stay a grad student. I am taking "dynamics" and "mechanics of materials". The class texts are "Dynamics" by Meriam(6th ed) and "Mechanics of Materials" by Beer(5th ed). I really could use the solutions manuals for these books to help me with the HW assignments; any suggestions on where to find them. Or better yet, does anyone have a PDF they would be willing to share. I would be eternally grateful. Thanks in advance.

I applied to Davis's master's program in structural engineering and was admitted as a coursework only student; I have my undergrad. in math and have some foundation work to complete. I was surprised to find out that this status does not qualify for federal financial aid because it is characterized as nondegree seeking--I thought is was more of a conditional admittance type of thing. Has anyone out there had experience with this situation? What should I expect as a coursework only student? I fully intend on getting my master's from Davis and hope this is the way to go.

Posted twice by mistake

Hello. I applied to UC Davis' grad. program in civil engineering; I have my undergrad. degree in mathematics. GPA: 3.2 Q: 730 V: 530 A: 3.5 I barely met their application deadline yesterday and did not have a chance to reach out to any professors in the program. I was wondering how do I go about doing this considering I already submitted my application; what do I say so when they see my application there is some name recognition and they want to let me in? P.S. Based off my numbers, will I get in? Thanks

I am applying to the Master's program at the University of California, Davis. I am switching academic fields--B.A. math to M.S. engineering. Their application packet requires two parts: Statement of Purpose(what I have done to prepare for grad school, research interest, career goals, etc...) and the Personal History Statement. The prompt for the Personal History Statement is: In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree. My early academic career was remarkable only in how it was characterized by one grade retention, suspensions, and an expulsion—I graduated high school with a 1.8 GPA. It was from this perspective I went into teaching—who better to teach at risk students than a former at risk student? My actual class room experiences exposed my naiveté and revealed a truth: African American youth do not have many role models. As an African American engineer, I hope to positively influence youth and expose them to career possibilities in the sciences and fields of technology. The acute shortage of minorities within the engineering profession is well known and, considering future shifts within the ethnic make-up of our society, poses a real threat to the integrity of our infrastructure. Eventually I hope to return back to the classroom with more experiences and applications of math that will foster teachable moments. My military service has provided challenges and opportunities. The events of September 11, 2001 necessitated my having to leave college and deploy to Iraq. My immediate response was one of trepidation at the prospect of having to reacquire the work ethic required of a student and the momentum that comes with steady progress; however, this feeling soon abated. Instead of atrophying my resolve to complete my education, my military service renewed my sense of urgency by giving me less time to complete my degree by the ideal age I arbitrarily chose. And, as a result of improved veteran’s educational benefits my service entitles me to, I am now able to pursue graduate studies with minimal extrinsic monetary support. My experiences in the military strongly influence my desire to study structural engineering. Having served in Iraq with soldiers who lost their lives to improvised explosive devices (IEDs), I want to contribute to the design of vehicles and protective gear that can better withstand the forces generated by these devices. Considering present threats and the associated future of counterinsurgency warfare, we will doubtlessly find ourselves in environs where IEDs will be the weapon of choice. The knowledge gained from an advanced degree in structural engineering will allow me to bring sound research and engineering practices to bear on an issue that will be with us for the foreseeable future. Lately, it seems there has been an earthquake somewhere in the world every month. Considering the seismic predictions for the continental United States and abroad, there will be many opportunities to contribute to the design of inexpensive survivable structures in economically disadvantaged areas. I look forward to volunteering my time with organizations such as Engineers without borders or taking assignments to Iraq or Afghanistan with the Army Corp of Engineers. My familiarity with the region coupled with an advanced structural engineering degree would allow me to effect social changes that would be appreciated for generations. MBS7107

Hello. For those with undergraduates degrees in a non-engineering fields with the following numbers, please tell me some of the grad programs in civil engineering you got into. Applicants focusing in structures are especially encouraged to respond. Thanks. 3.2 undergrad gpa (Mathematics) 2.8 last 60 units Q: 730 V: 530 W: 3.5 Seeking Masters

If you view this post and know anything about the University of California at Davis, you must respond in some way. Non-negotiable.

Hello. Is it too late to apply to UC Davis for Masters in Structural Engineering; their deadline is May 31, 2010. I don't want to waste the $70.00 application fee if they have no more slots. Could I get in with a 3.4 overall and Q:730 V:530 W: 3.5. I have a bachelors in mathematics. Please advise. P.S.: I would have applied earlier but just find out that I am waitlisted at my primary school of choice. Thanks

Hello. I Applied to CSUS for Civil Engineering--Structures graduate program; State budget issues put me on their wait list; I have a degree in math and they gave preference to applicants with degrees in engineering. CSUS only school I applied to. Applying to UC DAVIS now. Anyone out there admitted to UC Davis for fall 2010 in engineering? How hard is it to get into UC Davis grad. school for civil engineering? Luckily their application deadline is not until May 31. I am scared that applying late will hurt me; the graduate coordinator said I am at the cut line--I think that is good. My numbers: undergrad gpa: 3.2 last 60 units: 2.8 GRE: Q(730) V(530) W(3.5) Thanks for all replies

I'm just a man whose intentions are good; dear Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood. 1) Ok, what the heck is a Troll? 2) I am not saying I will get admitted. I am saying that if I am admitted, I will be admitted conditionally. 3) Break on "brotha"? What! 4) Is it ok; all I am looking for is an ok. Don't be sarcastic or frustrated. I promise I am considering all advice. Stay focused guys; we have a lot of work to do. I'm not paying you to be funny. P.S.: I sincerely appreciate you all offering your opinion. I love all of you.

The school I plan on attending is not a research based institution; they only offer up to a master's. I really don't have a research focus; I want to learn structural engineering to a degree beyond the bachelors. I want to come out being a jack of all things structural; they have a hands on focus. If my SOP is vague, it's because I have not been acclimated to the field of structural engineering. Once I take some upper division engineering courses, I will be better able to articulate my goals within structural engineering. I think the school realizes this; that's why I will get a conditional admit. Once again, thanks for all of your responses. P.S.: Be honest; with the exception of the first paragraph, the rest of my SOP is ok. I said ok--not great, good, stellar,.... Give a brotha a break.

What about the rest of the SOP glasses; how does the rest read? Plagiarism?

How does this sound; be gentle. This is an edited version of my earlier post. The first paragraph does not flow like I want--I am working on it; I know some will say it shouldn't be there but I think it is funny and succinctly gives the admissions folks a biography. I started a new thread because I feared if I attached it to the old thread viewers would zone out before getting to it. Be happy and stop whining P.S. Is it dangerous for me to post my SOP here-- plagiarism and all. I know, I know; who would want to copy this garbage. MBS7107

Hey Coyabean, this addendum does not replace the SOP that is at the top of this thread. As you examine it, consider it in context of the entire thing--I plan on squeezing it in somewhere. "Flowery Language"???? Thanks for your advice.

How is this? I plan on adding it somewhere in the original SOP;I am still pondering how I will edit the original one. Am I the only one who sees humor in the first paragraph of the original SOP. Deviants and dogs are funny--please no one comment on how a SOP is no place for humor. Two areas of interest to me within structural engineering are smart structures and toughening mechanisms. As the population increases, land management will become more of an issue. As a result, the homes of the future will be under the world’s oceans; but to be able to handle the forces from underwater currents and changing pressure, such structures will need to be able to adapt. I would like to contribute to designing structures that can reduce their own drag and increase their own strength. Having attended XXXX university for my undergraduate degree, I feel confident I can get the foundation I need to tackle these issues from my alma mater. Another area I find intriguing is computational methods and mathematical modeling. My mathematics courses included work in computer programming, number theory, abstract algebra, analysis, and linear algebra. I am interested in how linear algebra along with differential equations and computer programming can be employed to optimize the design process while simultaneously maximizing structural integrity. P.S.: Some of you guys can be rough in your Critiquing

To my credit, I had a feeling it was kind of weak. Thanks for all of the advice. I will work on it some more and post the revised edition. This is the prompt provided for the SOP by the graduate office for anyone who was interested: Write a brief statement (500 words/3500 characters or less including punctuation, but not spaces) describing your reason(s) for pursuing graduate or postbaccalaureate study. Include any additional information concerning your preparation that is pertinent to the objective specified. You may also send a resume and/or letters of reference if required by department. I just can't think of anything good to say. It is a tier 3 school and I am confident I will get in; the SOP is perfunctory and a box I am having trouble checking. P.S. The intro paragraph of my SOP is my way of giving the graduate school an intro. to who I am--my life experiences. I feel this is important. It is purposefully vague.