tejaswarke

Hello guys. I am aiming for Fall 2016/17. I'm here because I need some SERIOUS guidance. I am sorry for this (very) long post, but I'd appreciate any help. I intend to do my MS in Comp Arch (mostly Memories) My Profile: ACADS: I am from Mumbai University. Currently in Sem VI. CGPA: 6.65 (with 3 backs in Analog Electronics, Circuit Theory and Integrated Circuits) GRE: 320 (q=170) TOEFL: Not yet given I was the Creative Head of my college. (1st ever second year student to get the post) So, in that pressure to live upto it, I made horrible life decisions. (Reason for the backs) In 5th Sem, I did a course in Front End VLSI under a Prof. who did his MS in VLSI from USC. PROJECTS (till date): Major: Designed a 32 bit Reconfigurable 5 stage Pipelined Processor. Minor: Designs of various 32 bit Fast Adders, Programmable Timers, ALUs, a controller for Vending Machine using Mealy Model. I got selected as the TA for that course. But the Prof had a heart condition recently, and so he cancelled the upcoming module. As a part of the University Curriculum, I did various mini projects. (DTMF based motor control, Water level detector, etc.) I made a Mask Layout of a digital FIR filter using Wallace Tree Multipliers in Microwind in the last semester. INTERNSHIPS/EXPERIENCE: After my Second Year I did a Summer Training with Hewlett Packard Edu Services. (Embedded, made a GreenHouse Controller) This Semester, I got a 2 month Internship under a Prof who did his PhD in VLSI from IITK. The Project I will be working on is, Design of different digital circuits using Quantum-dot Cellular Automata. (An alternative to the current CMOS technology). I'll write a paper or 2 on that. My final year project will be research based. Mostly an extension of my internship project. My ambi list includes: CMU, GaTech, USC, UMCP, UWM and UMNTC. (Please suggest Mod/Safe Unis too.) So, my question is; what should I do after my BE IF I want to get selected in one of my ambi universities? 1. Apply with this profile for Fall 2016 (Other options will need a LOT of convincing to my Mom) 2. I could drop an year, do a major project or two under an experienced faculty. And then apply in 2017. 3. I could start preparing for CCAT. It's the entrance exam for C-DAC (India) PG-Diploma in VLSI and then apply in 2017. 4. Suggest any other option to remedy my CGPA so that I can apply for Fall 2016. Thanks a lot!