PhD in Structural Engineering

[mrhr0bin]

Greetings,

I am an international MS student at the University of Akron, OH. I will be done with my MS by next Spring. So I am planning to apply to PhD programs for Fall 2012. My areas of interest are Structural Dynamics, Earthquake Engineering. My current research topic is about Self Centering Seismic Resistant Steel Structures.

The universities I am considering:

Lehigh

SUNY Buffalo

UCSD

UIUC

Georgia Tech

Purdue

UT Austin

Stanford (Long Shot)

UC Berkeley (Long Shot)

My credentials are:

BS in Civil Engineering (Bangladesh University of Engg & Tech)

GPA: 3.18 out of 4.00

MS in Civil Engineering (The University of Akron)

Expected GPA: 4.00 out of 4.00

GRE: V:580 + Q: 800 + AW: 3.0

TOEFL iBT: 113

Research Experience:

-Working as Graduate Research Assistant at UAkron since January 2011.

-I will have a conference proceeding at 2012 ASCE Structures Congress (Abstract Submitted, main Paper is almost done, will have to submit it by December)

-I am working on a Journal Paper as well.

-I also had a thesis written on Building Codes for my undergrad degree.

Reference:

I think my research adviser at UAkron is pretty impressed with me. He is from Lehigh. I am expecting a strong recommendation from him.

I will get another recommendation letter from my thesis supervisor at my Undergrad University.

The other recommendation would be from one of my course teacher at UAkron. He is from UIUC.

I know my undergrad GPA and GRE AW score are big drawbacks. But will my other credentials be enough to cover those?

What are my chances of getting into the schools I mentioned with Assistantship/ Fellowship? Is there any other school you suggest that would be fit based on my interest and credentials?

Any suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Transpo-nerd]

I believe U R good, your GRE score and current GPA

good luck,

I have the same situation, MS student heading Fall 2012 admission

BS GPA: 2.5 (horrible, I know)

first M.S in Urban and regional Planning : Tehran, Iran, GPA (3.9, ranked first)

second M.S. in Transportation : USC, GPA (3.95, ranked first)

GRE (I am working on that)

wish me luck

[mrhr0bin]

I think your MS GPAs are great too. And you have a couple of them..

All the best for your endeavor. At least someone posted a reply.