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bleuOranges

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  1. Tech job is the way to go. You’ll gain valuable experience in both strengthening your resume, your research focus, and still enjoy the same level of responsibility and work of a grad student. Think of it as a PhD test run, without the commitment. It’ll definitely improve your profile in one cycle or two.
  2. I feel as if I'm a fringe candidate between a top-tier/mid-tier graduate program, and it's causing me some stress as to who I should apply too. I have a list of 14, and I would like some opinion to try to trim it to 10. Stats: Undergrad School: Top-10 undergrad program in my major GPA: 3.52/4 (3.42 Major GPA, it started off a bit rough, but my senior level classes have all been A's). This is my biggest point of concern. I feel like this completely eliminates me from top-tier school consideration GRE: 167 Quant (94% Perc), 163 Verbal (92% Perc), 5.0 Analytical (93% Perc). I feel like this helps offset the GPA a little, but again, applicants to the top-tier will have better scores than this. Research Experience: 0 publications. Can't do really much at this point. But I have worked in 3 separate lab groups (all of which were different topics) and conducted different types of work in each one. One research project I'm working on now though (organic semiconductors for FETs) is related to my desired field for graduate school (photovoltaics). I think the big issue here is that I have the variety in research, but I don't have the depth (in terms of publications, conferences, etc.) EC: I had one industry internship as a process engineer (nothing related to what I'm interested in though). And I'm currently serving as a Physics TA (I'm wondering if I should put this in my SoP). Then some other irrelevant EC's. Recommendations: Realistically, I think my recommendations will be good, but not I-will-vouch-for-him-even-if-he-had-a-2.0gpa good. 1) Professor I've known basically my entire undergraduate career. I did 2 semesters of research with her, and basically have consulted with her through this entire process. I expect she will give me a good one 2) Professor who I have recently begun to do research with, so the problem here is that the bonding time hasn't been as long. She's a fairly well-known figure in her field, and her specialty is similar to what I want to do, so I'm hoping the name recognition will be good for this one. I expect a decent recommendation. 3) Professor I've taken a class with and am currently working on a research project with. Not a real strong connection with him, so I'm only expecting a mediocre recommendation here at best. Statement of purpose: I think it points out my research will and gives a good foundation for my interests and motivation for applying. I don't see it being the reason I wouldn't get into any school. I'm interested in materials research: microelectronics and nanotech with applications in PV's and CO2 capture being at the top of my interests. Here's my list so far: Dream Schools (probably not happening but it's nice to dream big right? ): Caltech, Berkeley, MIT, Princeton Mid Stretch (I feel like these will be a crapshoot): UT-Austin, Carnegie Mellon, UMinn, UMichigan, UC-Santa Barbara Fits (relatively "safe" - though who knows what safe really is lol): Cornell, UC-Boulder, Northwestern, UChicago (IME), UPenn Based on this, am I aiming too high? If you guys know any programs that might be more suited to me, please feel free to let me know. Also, please be candid. At this point, I'm looking for honest answers. Sorry for the wall, any advice at all would terrific. Cheers
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