Ruined chances for MS in EE at top school?

[MR_JR]

Basically I’m a student at Cambridge University (UK citizen), graduating with a MEng in EE in June 2012. I got awarded first’s for my first and second year exams (also being awarded a prize/scholarship in each case). I’m not sure what this is in terms of GPA. I then studied at MIT for my third year as part of a selective exchange programme. First semester went fine, got a gpa close to 5/5. However, in the second semester I took 2 lab classes and some other classes that I didn’t really have appropriate prerequisites for (but they were interesting). Worried about the impact this would have on my gpa, I considered dropping some classes, but I figured I would only be at MIT once and I should take advantage of the available classes/labs. I also spoke to an advisor at Cambridge, who said that the MIT grades would not appear on my Cambridge transcript, it would just say ‘Third Year – Studied at MIT as part of exchange programme – No marks recorded’.

So, I continued with everything and predictably got a bunch of Bs (I really could have got a lot more As, but after finding out that this year wouldn’t appear on my transcript, I kind of stopped caring and slacked off a lot)..I ended up with an overall gpa of around 4.5/5 for the year.

However, I now really want to apply for and MS in EE at a top US school like Stanford/Berkeley/Caltech. Although my poor MIT gpa won’t appear on my Cambridge transcript, it seems it’s going to be exposed anyway – this is what Stanford has to say on the matter (everyone else says something similar): ‘Concerning course work completed in a study abroad program: If the course work and grades are reflected on the transcript of your home institution, you do not need to submit original transcripts from the study abroad institution.”

How much is this poor gpa going to hurt me? Bearing in mind that I have excellent first and second year results and only one poor semester (excuse being that I thought no one would find out – of course this is a terrible excuse). I also haven’t got any significant research experience – how important is this for terminal MS? I have had high-tech r&d internships but nothing published. I should also be able to get good recs from Cambridge/mit profs or industry but no one will really be able to comment greatly on my ability to do ‘independent research’. Is it worth taking a year out and getting some research experience? I haven’t taken the GRE yet so can’t say anything about that, but I’m hoping I should be in top 10%.

Thanks in advance – any advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Edited August 29, 2011 by MR_JR

[ktel]

I think you're really putting way too much emphasis on a few Bs. Your other grades are good, your first semester at MIT was good, so I wouldn't worry about it.

If you're going for an MS I think you should be OK without a ton of significant research experience as long as you have some.

What kind of letters would your profs if they're not commenting on your ability to do research? A "did well in class" letter is never good, and I could see this hurting your application more than the Bs you got in one semester at MIT.

[HassE]

a 4.5/5 at MIT and your worrying about that? You have nothing to worry about my friend. What you should be worried about is your lack of publications. When I spoke to a Professor from Caltech he told me Master's students applying to Ph.D programs are placed heavily more emphasis on their application if they have no publications. Undergrads applying direct to Ph.D are given more slack because of being in an undergrad program, but if your in a Masters program planning to go to a Ph.D you better show some significant research potential and skills.

MIT specifically says if you have a Masters but did not do a thesis, then you will need to perform a master's level thesis before you can continue onto the PhD.