Profile Evaluation - PhD Structural Engineering

[Joesh]

I'll be applying to these schools this coming winter for a PhD and it's been my dream of getting in (and getting funding). I will be done with undergraduate next spring.

 

Current undergrad school: Rose-Hulman (U.S. News #1 undergrad CE school)

Major: Civil Engineering

Minor: Mathematics

Cumulative GPA: 3.77

Major GPA: 3.91

 

Desired Grad Program: Civil (Structural) Engineering

Schools applying to:

6 top-tiers (Cal Berkeley, Texas, Purdue, WashU, MIT, Stanford)

1 fall-back (U. Pittsburgh - applying only to MS @ this school)

 

GRE scores:

Taking the GRE Friday, just took a practice test and these were my scores: 470V/790Q

Assume I can raise my scores to

500V/790-800Q

 

Publications: Primary author of 1 conference proceeding, which came from a summer undergraduate research experience at U. Pitt

 

LORs:

Structures Professor at Pitt (Research Mentor)

Structures Professor at Rose (A in 4 classes w/ him, he was in the lab researching with me all summer and knows me well)

Structures Professor at Rose (A in 4 classes w/ him, grader for him)

 

 

[Joesh]

Anyone? I'm taking the GRE Friday and am nervous that if I get a 400-490 score it will severely impact my application to these schools. Also, how big of a factor is the reputation/difficulty of the undergraduate school you attend with regard to how they look at/weigh your GPA or in the entire evaluation process?

Edited November 11, 2010 by Joesh

[Joesh]

Just took the GRE today, my scores were 520V, 800Q!!!

Edited November 12, 2010 by Joesh

[rs_nucl]

I feel you have a good shot at all the schools. Just need to make sure you write a SOP where can project yourself as a good fit at the program. I would suggest applying to just a M.S program at a few schools on that list. Getting into the M.S program is a bit easier, you might need to support yourself for a semester or so.

Just took the GRE today, my scores were 520V, 800Q!!!