Low 3.0 Applying For MEng/MS Engineering Programs

[uprobot]

I keep hearing that research is more essential for prospective doctoral students. However, that should not discount its value in master's programs right? I will be doing research related to my discipline full-time for 2 years. Does research experience have any value for those applying to programs such as MEng or MS? I'm assuming that it would just be looked upon positively as work experience? Or would I need to accumulate experience in industry?

Also, if one were to have a low 3.0 GPA, how could one go about improving his/her application for competitive (top 10, 20) MEng/MS programs? Assuming a stellar statement of purpose, quantitative GRE's & recommendations, would it be more beneficial to take graduate level courses as a non-degree special student and excel in them or build work experience? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Edited August 9, 2011 by uprobot

[We regret to inform you]

Firstly, you need to have a broader range of schools. Given your low-ish GPA and the fact that the state of the economy is certainly making things more difficult for everyone (more people wanting to go back to school, and less funding available across the board at most schools) you need to have some mid-range schools to apply to. And you'll need to be ok with going to one of these.

As to whether or not some graduate level coursework is more valuable than work experience, i suppose that depends on what exactly your work experience will be and how long you've been out of school for. Perhaps you should just contact the schools you are interested in and ask the graduate program coordinators what would be more beneficial?