Chances of Admission in MS programs

[neutronstar44]

Hi, I am a computer science graduate from the university of illinois at Urbana Champaign. I graduated with a gpa of 3.35 this summer. My major gpa is a 3.45. While my gpa is mediocre at best, the thing is that my junior/senior years have been decent. My cumulative junior/senior year gpa is a 3.75. I had a really torrid sophomore year (my first year at UIUC) and finished with a gpa of a 2.51. Most of my higher level classes were in junior and senior years.

Profile:

Gre Score : 326. 160 Verbal , 166 Quant

Research 6 months

1 paper in an IEEE conference. 3rd author.

1 chapter publication in an Elsevier book. 2nd author.

1 more in the pipeline though that will probably be too late for the december applications.

I have started applications at Georgia Tech, Ann Arbor, UT Austin, Wisconsin Madison, Northwestern and Minnesotta Twin Cities. I have been able to coerce three of my professors into submitting recommendations. All of them are in CS professors( well, counting Assistant and Associate profs) and one of them is very respected in the field i wish to work in.

I am really worried about my gpa and if I have any chance of getting into places like ann arbor, georgia tech and such. If not should I aim lower. Do universities take junior/senior year gpa into consideration. Any opinion would be welcome.

thank you

[Chai_latte]

You're probably fine.

Yes, they look at your upper level classes.

For your own piece of mind, you might want to add 1-2 lower rated places, but always make sure any school you apply to is a good "fit".

Edited December 7, 2012 by Chai_latte

[neutronstar44]

@Chai_latte: thanks. I am interested in Data Mining so I have applied mostly to unis with good data mining programs.

Edited December 7, 2012 by neutronstar44

[victor.s.andrei]

Hi, I am a computer science graduate from the university of illinois at Urbana Champaign. I graduated with a gpa of 3.35 this summer. My major gpa is a 3.45. While my gpa is mediocre at best, the thing is that my junior/senior years have been decent. My cumulative junior/senior year gpa is a 3.75. I had a really torrid sophomore year (my first year at UIUC) and finished with a gpa of a 2.51. Most of my higher level classes were in junior and senior years.

Profile:

Gre Score : 326. 160 Verbal , 166 Quant

Research 6 months

1 paper in an IEEE conference. 3rd author.

1 chapter publication in an Elsevier book. 2nd author.

1 more in the pipeline though that will probably be too late for the december applications.

I have started applications at Georgia Tech, Ann Arbor, UT Austin, Wisconsin Madison, Northwestern and Minnesotta Twin Cities. I have been able to coerce three of my professors into submitting recommendations. All of them are in CS professors( well, counting Assistant and Associate profs) and one of them is very respected in the field i wish to work in.

I am really worried about my gpa and if I have any chance of getting into places like ann arbor, georgia tech and such. If not should I aim lower. Do universities take junior/senior year gpa into consideration. Any opinion would be welcome.

thank you

 

All of your stats are fine. Your GPA is not mediocre.

 

Good luck with your master's applications.

[neutronstar44]

All of your stats are fine. Your GPA is not mediocre.

 

Good luck with your master's applications.

 

Thanks..

[josefchung]

I second what everyone else said. Your GPA's actually in good shape, because while it's not high, your major/last two year-GPA is good enough to offset it not being high. 

 

The only thing that made me worry from your post is that you had to "coerce" your profs into writing your recommendations. A good recommendation (esp from a renowned faculty) can make or break your application, so you want to make sure that the profs are enthusiastic about writing your letters, and that letters are very strong.

 

Also, I would advise applying to more programs and definitely adding a safety or two next time. Best of luck!

[neutronstar44]

I second what everyone else said. Your GPA's actually in good shape, because while it's not high, your major/last two year-GPA is good enough to offset it not being high. 

 

The only thing that made me worry from your post is that you had to "coerce" your profs into writing your recommendations. A good recommendation (esp from a renowned faculty) can make or break your application, so you want to make sure that the profs are enthusiastic about writing your letters, and that letters are very strong.

 

Also, I would advise applying to more programs and definitely adding a safety or two next time. Best of luck!

 

Thank you. The 'coerce' part isn't as bad as it sounds. It just included me asking the profs for recommendations and reminding them a couple of times. All of them did it of their own accord. I wanted to edit it (also 'tt' in minnesota and 'in' CS) but was late.

Edited January 24, 2013 by neutronstar44

[ssw1n]

Why don't you try UIUC for grad school? Since you already have publication level Research Work, I assume you know the Professors, and Professors know you. After all, the grad school admission has always been about if the person can do quality research, and you already have Professors you worked with at UIUC who can vouch you for that. 

 

And to top it off, UIUC has been consistently been at top of almost all the lists and rankings you can find online, better than all the schools you mentioned you already applied to.  

[neutronstar44]

Why don't you try UIUC for grad school? Since you already have publication level Research Work, I assume you know the Professors, and Professors know you. After all, the grad school admission has always been about if the person can do quality research, and you already have Professors you worked with at UIUC who can vouch you for that. 

 

And to top it off, UIUC has been consistently been at top of almost all the lists and rankings you can find online, better than all the schools you mentioned you already applied to.  

sorry I should have mentioned UIUC but I wanted to get some opinion on what my standing would be at other places. I got an admit from the cs dept at the aforementioned ~5 days ago so I am most likely going to end up at urbana.

Edited February 5, 2013 by neutronstar44