My chances of getting into MIT, Stanford

[brahmin]

I'll be applying to these schools this coming winter for M.S. with the intention of completing PHD. I will be done with undergraduate next spring (total of 3 years)

School: Georgia Tech

Major: Mechanical engineering and minor in computer science

GPA 3.90 (most of my curriculum over now) Major GPA also 3.90

By the time applications come:

-2 semesters (and counting) in one lab (on design and modeling)

-2 semesters in another (on fuzzy systems and control, a bit of mathematical modeling)

-1 semester (2 years ago) in another (on material science..hated it lol)

...all labs in georgia tech, under the guidance of a professor

LOR's :

1)Professor of the first lab (Associate prof graduated from CMU) I will be applying to CMU because I want to focus on an area that requires the integration of cs and ME

2) Professor of the second lab (Prof graduated from Berkeley)

3) Professor who taught me fluids..We got to know each other in a more personal level (Prof graduated from Stanford)

The first two were also professors of one of my classes, so they will touch on both aspects

Awards: Presidential Undergrad research award (nothing big, just a stipend for my research, but an award nonetheless)

Pubs and Presentations: Again nothing big, I presented my work to couple of labs in tech. Nothing at a conference or anything. Planning to present during an event in spring but this will be after the application so... (this isn't that big too, its just undergrads presenting their work to whoever attends the event at Georgia tech)

Seeing if I can publish a paper by this winter or at least making a thesis..but unlikely

GRE: haven't taken a real one yet...I took a trial one before I started studying I got 400/700 (V/Q)...

Let's say I get 550/800 (V/Q)

Other: Tutor for core classes and ME classes for 3 years, vice president of ASME chapter in Tech, program coordinator of a club called Student movement (service), Freshman Seminar Class team leader

Calc Class TA.

Your input on my chances of getting into my top choices would be great. I really need it. My worry is that only through LOR's will my research skills be shown, no pubs or cool presentations in a conference. Second is my GRE...I hope 550 for verbal is enough. And another thing, I finished undergrad in 3 yrs..at first I was thinking that this might play to my advantage because it shows my academic strength but I realized I could have strengthened my application even more..Is my research profile strong enough?

Please also fill out the survey. One of my the answers have to do with demographics. Are M.S. admissions dependent on demographics? In other words, does my research interests have to coincides with what the university needs most? My last choice is if , assuming that I get good LOR's, (as I have enjoyed my time researching and have produced fruitful results and expectations), you believe my SOP will make the all the difference. I really need your input. I have only 6 months left and that would tell me what I need to focus on. Thanks a lot

[chemdoc]

I'll be applying to these schools this coming winter for M.S. with the intention of completing PHD. I will be done with undergraduate next spring (total of 3 years)

School: Georgia Tech

Major: Mechanical engineering and minor in computer science

GPA 3.90 (most of my curriculum over now) Major GPA also 3.90

By the time applications come:

-2 semesters (and counting) in one lab (on design and modeling)

-2 semesters in another (on fuzzy systems and control, a bit of mathematical modeling)

-1 semester (2 years ago) in another (on material science..hated it lol)

...all labs in georgia tech, under the guidance of a professor

LOR's :

1)Professor of the first lab (Associate prof graduated from CMU) I will be applying to CMU because I want to focus on an area that requires the integration of cs and ME

2) Professor of the second lab (Prof graduated from Berkeley)

3) Professor who taught me fluids..We got to know each other in a more personal level (Prof graduated from Stanford)

The first two were also professors of one of my classes, so they will touch on both aspects

Awards: Presidential Undergrad research award (nothing big, just a stipend for my research, but an award nonetheless)

Pubs and Presentations: Again nothing big, I presented my work to couple of labs in tech. Nothing at a conference or anything. Planning to present during an event in spring but this will be after the application so... (this isn't that big too, its just undergrads presenting their work to whoever attends the event at Georgia tech)

Seeing if I can publish a paper by this winter or at least making a thesis..but unlikely

GRE: haven't taken a real one yet...I took a trial one before I started studying I got 400/700 (V/Q)...

Let's say I get 550/800 (V/Q)

Other: Tutor for core classes and ME classes for 3 years, vice president of ASME chapter in Tech, program coordinator of a club called Student movement (service), Freshman Seminar Class team leader

Calc Class TA.

Your input on my chances of getting into my top choices would be great. I really need it. My worry is that only through LOR's will my research skills be shown, no pubs or cool presentations in a conference. Second is my GRE...I hope 550 for verbal is enough. And another thing, I finished undergrad in 3 yrs..at first I was thinking that this might play to my advantage because it shows my academic strength but I realized I could have strengthened my application even more..Is my research profile strong enough?

Please also fill out the survey. One of my the answers have to do with demographics. Are M.S. admissions dependent on demographics? In other words, does my research interests have to coincides with what the university needs most? My last choice is if , assuming that I get good LOR's, (as I have enjoyed my time researching and have produced fruitful results and expectations), you believe my SOP will make the all the difference. I really need your input. I have only 6 months left and that would tell me what I need to focus on. Thanks a lot

You have a strong undergraduate record, no doubt, but graduate school admissions just doesn't work like that. You will get past the on-paper portion of the admissions process very easily. However, graduate schools will take into account what your research interests are and how many slots of that subfield are opening up. For example, a student with a couple tenths of a point lower GPA than you might get accepted over you if their research interests match more closely to what they're looking for.

This presents the problem of researching which schools in your field are known for what subfields. This would make them much more likely to have more spots for the subfield in which they are prominent, etc. To conclude, research schools well and cast a wide net.

[brahmin]

You have a strong undergraduate record, no doubt, but graduate school admissions just doesn't work like that. You will get past the on-paper portion of the admissions process very easily. However, graduate schools will take into account what your research interests are and how many slots of that subfield are opening up. For example, a student with a couple tenths of a point lower GPA than you might get accepted over you if their research interests match more closely to what they're looking for.

This presents the problem of researching which schools in your field are known for what subfields. This would make them much more likely to have more spots for the subfield in which they are prominent, etc. To conclude, research schools well and cast a wide net.

Thanks a lot for this advice chemdoc. But won't the subfields that the university is known for have more competition. Won't it be harder to get admitted for that lab or subfield? The more ppl that apply for that subfield, the less money is available for one...right?

And second that raises another question. What you are talking about..isn't it for funding? Does the admission committee really look that deep to see the slots to think about admitting a student?...It's not like you get admitted first?

Lastly, how do you propose I find what the university is famous for? Looking at where most of the research has been done? Or talking to the grad students there?

Thanks, and for others, if you answer my poll and its not high chance, could you please write and tell me where my app needs strength. Thanks

[neocortex]

Your academic/research profile looks great. 550 should be good enough for an Engineering program. To find out what the university is famous for, just talk to your professors.

[brahmin]

I got 450 v/800 q in my GRE. Do you think this will hurt my chances to MIT/Stanford??

Should I take it again?

[Thefish]

You probably should take it again. That score is good, but they are turning down people with nearly perfect scores. For engineering, your verbal section doesn't need to be too much better, but you should aim for a 790-800 for the quantitative part.

The thing that will give you the best leg up at this point is to try and contact professors that you know you want to work with. There are so many perfect applicants, if you can show them who you are and give them something positive to remember, it will set you apart.

good luck!

I got 450 v/800 q in my GRE. Do you think this will hurt my chances to MIT/Stanford??

Should I take it again?