Low undergrad GPA in Chemical Engg, haunting me like a ghoul

[nuvan]

Dear all,

This is Masum Jujuly from Bangladesh. I have done my B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from BUET (Bangladesh) holding GPA 2.88/4 and M.Sc. in Process systems design & control in Yeungnam Univ (South Korea) holding 4.22/4.5 GPA. I have a local journal publication and three international conference proceedings regarding on my research (Process Control). I want to continue my PhD in US and I'm preparing for GRE and I'm confident to get 315-320 and I wanna apply for Fall 2013.

Although I've a good GPA and research experience in MS but but undergrad GPA is too low. Most of the universities I've seen has a cut-off GPA 3 in undergrad. I am totally confused, since I want to apply for PhD then my undergrad GPA stands for my 'undergrad + Masters' GPA or just only undergrad GPA?

I am searching some mid level (tier ii or even tier iii) universities where I can apply for PhD in chemical engineering (e.g. University of Nevada Reno: their minimum admission req is 2.75), but unfortunately I can not find more universities to apply. It's like my undergrad GPA is haunting me like a ghost. I'm totally got frustrated. Is there any list of the universities who accept student's undergrad GPA below 3? Could you please suggest me what I can do right now? Thanks in advance.

Best Regards,

Jujuly

[cynder]

As far as I know the GPA is less important for international students, since it doesnt translate well between different countries. Focus on your research experience and get good recommendations, then just apply where you would like to go.

[starmaker]

This seems like it belongs in the Applications forum, not the Decisions forum.

There's a thread in the Lobby (which, full disclosure, I started) for people with below-3 undergrad GPAs who got accepted to grad programs. You may want to look at it.

Those "minimum requirements" aren't always strict - I've known people to get into programs where they didn't meet the minimum GPA. The key to doing this is having good master's grades or good research experience. You have these, so I'd say, apply to places where you are a good fit and don't worry about the alleged minimum requirements.

Look for programs where the program faculty have more control over the admissions process, and the graduate school itself has less.

Edited March 19, 2012 by starmaker

[nuvan]

This seems like it belongs in the Applications forum, not the Decisions forum.

There's a thread in the Lobby (which, full disclosure, I started) for people with below-3 undergrad GPAs who got accepted to grad programs. You may want to look at it.

Those "minimum requirements" aren't always strict - I've known people to get into programs where they didn't meet the minimum GPA. The key to doing this is having good master's grades or good research experience. You have these, so I'd say, apply to places where you are a good fit and don't worry about the alleged minimum requirements.

Look for programs where the program faculty have more control over the admissions process, and the graduate school itself has less.

Thank you very much for your reply. I'm pasting my thread to yours, hope you don't mind.