Advice Needed for an Industrial Engineering Graduate Applying for a PHD

[book]

Hi all,

 

First of all, I appreciate you are interested in this post.

 

My background is as follows:

 

Undergraduate: Top school in Hong Kong (Major: Information Technology and Networking)

Master: Good school in Los Angeles (Major: ISE, Operations Research)

 

GPA: 3.36 (Undergraduate) / 3.73 (Master)

GRE: 160 (V) / 166 (Q) / 4.0 (Writing)

Career Background: Data analysis + process improvement

Work Ex: Continuous Improvement Intern at a bottling company 

Research Activities: Very weak. Only got directed research exp on simulation. No presentation/paper published. Still got 1 more semester (2013 fall) to finish my master degree - my last shot to get any research experience.

 

I am not aiming at excellent schools so I would like to apply for "relatively" lower ranking schools such as:

 

- Auburn

- University of Tennessee

- Penn State

- Ohio State

- USC

- University of Texas–​Arlington

 

What do you think about my chances? Please give me any comment if any.

 

Thank you so much!

Edited August 30, 2013 by book