Wow, it's embarrassing how outclassed I am here.
But, I haven't got any replies yet and I know a lot of you have been in my situation (or still are). So here goes:
Undergrad Institution: Top 10 Engineering school from India
Major(s): Mechanical Engineering
GPA in Major: 3.1/4.0
Length of Degree: 5 years
Type of Student: International Asian
GRE Scores (old version):
Q:800 (94%)
V:760 (99%)
W:4.5 (72%)
TOEFL (IBT) : 117
Research Experience: 1 Summer (3 months) in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; 2 summers (5 months) research collaboration with a prof from the University of Minnesota (Twin cities); Senior year research project. (Co-authored one paper which has been submitted for review, not yet published)
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: 1 national level scholarship in 10th grade. (A long time ago, I know!)
Recommendations : 2 - from relatively unknown profs in my school, 1 - from the prof at the U of M
Applied to:
Departments of Mech Engg in
Minnesota (Twin cities) for a PhD (I don't think the prof I worked with has funding yet, so he hasn't confirmed my admission. I'm hoping for a Master's at least)
Northwestern [MS/PhD]
CMU [MS]
UPenn [MS]
Illinois Tech [MS/PhD]
Wisconsin [MS]
NCSU [MS]
I don't think I have any safes in there yet, so I'm planning to send out a couple more in before March. I'm looking for safe schools that would be relatively inexpensive in case I don't land any aid. Suggestions?
