[Low GPA in first Msc, now questions about 2nd Msc and eligibility for Phd.]

Hi,

I would appreciate if someone can guide me here. 

My first Msc was in Computer Science from a university in Hong Kong. Unfortunately i slacked off and became lazy so ended up with a poor 2.5/4 GPA. Thankfully though, I  was still able to get a job as a software engineer and have been working for about two years now.

Now about 2 months back, I started my second Msc in Information Systems Management. However, due to financial difficulties, I might have to withdraw from the course.

So my question is:

With a poor GPA in my first Msc and work experience of (for example) around 7 years will I be able to get into a Phd program..without doing my second Msc? I am working in IT security and my company makes security apps for the HK government..so I am involved in some pretty technical stuff. 

Alternatively, what benefits will completing my second Msc and improving my grade have on my Phd application?

 

Career wise I know the answer, that degrees don't count. Work experience does.

However I just want to see what my options are so I thought I would ask here about the academic perspective. 

 

[GRE retake]

@Krok and DrFaustus666

Thank you for replies. You guys answered pretty much everything I wanted to know.

[GRE retake]

Please be a little more realistic here...I think you need to take a good look at yourself in the mirror and really reassess what you want in life. With your gpa and test scores I have a hard time understanding how you can legitimately believe you have a shot at any phd cs program in the us let alone a top ranked one.

Firstly thank you for your response. Secondly, I have no where stated that I want to immediately do Phd, or I think I can get into any Phd program right away. That is why I wrote I want to eventually do a Phd. Never the less, thank you once again for replying.

[GRE retake]

You won't get into CMU CS with your undergrad background, even with a good GRE score. Right now they have the number 1 ranked PhD in CS. You just won't get in unless you do an MS somewhere else and do extremely well in your MS program including lots of good research, then you might have a shot at the CMU PhD.

Yeah this is what I was asking. I am currently doing Masters from a university in Pakistan...so even with good marks will it be a problem that my university is not well known?

[GRE Math Experiences]

In the last 5 mins of the quantitative section i had 5 questions left and in those 5 mins I could only do one. I was positive i would get <500 but thankfully I ended up with a respectable 690 in qtv. That was my wtf moment

[Mid level US universities for Electrical Engineering]

HI,

Just to rephrase my topic in the GRE section, I am a graduate student from Pakistan. My undergrad degree is from University of Nottingham in Electrical Engineering with a C average over all. I am currently enrolled in a Masters program in Computer Science in a Pakistani university and if all goes well, intend to proceed onto a Phd in CS. However, my second option is to get a MS in Electrical Engineering and with regards to that I have a few questions:

1. I have a GRE score of 1200 ( 690 q/510 v). I applied and got into RIT (rochester institute) for MS electrical engineering, but was unfortunately not able to leave Pakistan, so I had to refuse the offer. I am intending to apply again, so I would be obliged if people could suggest universities similar to RIT where I would be able to get admission?

2. Secondly, and more importantly, can good grades in my Msc in CS help in improving my chances for a MS in EE from a better school for eg. CMU or Northwestern?

Thanks in advance

[GRE retake]

Yeah...

510 is a little low. 600 or above would be a lot better, but it usually won't be a deal breaker in CS programs, but since you have a pretty low undergrad GPA, it probably would be a good idea to study for that to...

If you're REALLY struggling, they're completely changing the test for next admissions cycle if you wait another year.

Thank you once again. I didnt really find the GRE difficult but only problem was that I had 4 days in total too prepare. And in that too, I had timing issues when I gave the exam and left the last 5 questions in quantitative section ...... never the less one last question...how long does it take for ETS to send scores to universities in the US itself? If i recall it says it will take 15 working days, but it took abt 4 weeks for the scores to reach my university in Pakistan. I assume, it will take lesser time for US unis

[GRE retake]

I would definitely retake it. You will be needing to as near as (if not exactly) 800 Quant as you can if you're looking at Computer Science. A perfect score isn't even the 99th percentile so many people ace it, so to be realistic, you should look at really hitting it again.

I recommend this book:

http://www.amazon.co...81996391&sr=1-3

Thank you for your reply. How about the verbal score? should 510 suffice?

[GRE retake]

Hi,

I was hoping someone could help me here. I have an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Nottingham with a C average sadly . I am now pursuing masters in computer science from a local university in Pakistan...where 6 months down the track im on a 3.5/4 gpa thankfully.

Now, I would like to proceed and eventually do Phd in CS from either Northwestern, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Carnegie Mellon or if none of these then Rochester Institute of Technology. My GRE scores are as follows

V: 510

Q: 690

A.W: 4

Now, given that my masters degree will be from a less known university, and I have fairly low grades in undergrad.....should I go ahead and give GRE again? I am confident I can increase by atleast 100-150 points since when i gave it before I was in the midst of submitting my undergrad dissertation and final exams.

Thank You in advance.