Matt Whitehill

Yep, you can definitely go for US schools, research experience is much more valuable than GPA. Plus your masters gpa is very good, it will out weigh your undergrad gpa, especially if you explain that in your statement of purpose. You seem to have an excellent application, i think you have a very good chance at some of the top PhD programs. I'd work on networking as your next step. Here's a blog post I wrote that might provide some guidance - https://www.stemgradadmissions.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-networking-for-stem-grad-applicants/. The site is still pre-launch so some of the links are broken, but I think it should still be of some help. good luck!

Can you do research during the school year? There are likely many more openings and would probably let you continue on in the summer. I would make sure you get some sort of research experience, even if it is not in your first choice field. For example, even if you want to do AI research, if the NLP lab has an opening, then I would take it. You can use that as a credential when you apply for other research opportunities in your own field either the next semester or for the summer. Don't immediately jump to doing an MS, work hard now to get that research experience, and then go for the PhD.

Agreed, 166 is totally sufficient. If you have time and want to give it another try, go for it. But it likely wont' improve your app much. I'd focus on improving other areas if you can (SOP, connections to profs at the schools you want to go to, etc).

You'll have the opportunity to explain any deficiencies in your resume through the SOP. One bad quarter absolutely won't kill you, particularly if you took it as a learning experience and improved the next quarter. It may even be a positive to some professors/adcoms, showing that you were able to adjust from a mistake in the past.

Agreed!

I think you have an excellent chance at getting into MSEE programs in the USA. How are your LORs?