Cornell BME M.Eng Transfer to Ph.D

[Collegebum]

Can anyone shed any light on whether it is possible to transfer into the BME PhD program from the M.Eng program?

I know that other M.Eng departments in Cornell have stated that it does happen. But is the application informal like it is at MIT?

Also, since the M.Eng is non-research based, will taking out extra research, doing well academically and developing great relationships with faculty perhaps significantly increase the chances of being accepted to the PhD program at Cornell?

My undergraduate grades were subpar (3.2 GPA), but my senior year i had a 3.60....if I spend this one year significantly doing well in the M.Eng would it be possible to enter the PhD program the following year?

[HassE]

Can anyone shed any light on whether it is possible to transfer into the BME PhD program from the M.Eng program?

I know that other M.Eng departments in Cornell have stated that it does happen. But is the application informal like it is at MIT?

Also, since the M.Eng is non-research based, will taking out extra research, doing well academically and developing great relationships with faculty perhaps significantly increase the chances of being accepted to the PhD program at Cornell?

My undergraduate grades were subpar (3.2 GPA), but my senior year i had a 3.60....if I spend this one year significantly doing well in the M.Eng would it be possible to enter the PhD program the following year?

I'm not sure if you specifically mean "transfer" out of the M.Eng into the PhD by not graduating with the M.Eng or by completing the degree. If you mean transferring out of the M.Eng degree, I wouldn't specifically advise it. It would definitely be possible, but my best advice for the greatest chance of admission would be to do exceptionally well at the M.Eng and then apply for the PhD. Your recommendations would be from Cornell Professors, your courses are from Cornell, if Cornell wouldn't accept their own kind into their program, then it doesn't speak to much of their masters program.

I know an M.Eng is normally a professional masters. I'm not sure how long or how many semesters/courses you've done on the M.Eng, but i'd suggest switching over to the Master of Science degree with Thesis option. If you complete the MS degree you'll have research experience which MOST IMPORTANTLY you can have research under your belt and actually meet your potential PhD Advisor.

When I spoke with the dean of engineering at the University of Michigan, I asked him about entering into the PhD program after the Masters and he told me it honestly doesn't matter about your GRE scores or about your actual GPA. If a professor goes to him and says he's willing to fund this student, not many people are going to disagree and reject you. Take that into consideration especially since your already at the school and can meet and perform research for these professors from now.