Master Degree, Avg GPA, and GRE V, perfect Q

[ChuangJ]

Hi   everyone 

 

I'm just creating this account since I don't know where or who should i get a consult.

 

Here is the case,

 

I'm studying in Engieering science in UVA right now my GPA is about 3.45.

I'm doing Biomed and Material Science as my minor.

Just finished my second attempt on GRE with 150 V and 170 Q.

I did a lot of research, but I don't think any of those will get published by the time I submit the application (this Dec)

 

I want to get into UCSD, nanoengineering program.

 

Anyone has any idea, what's my chance there? I just want to get into Master degree.

I called them a while ago, and they talked about 153V and 155Q for GRE. Do you think my Q part will help boost my low Verbal?

(By the way, I'm international)

 

I also plan to apply to another 8 school for Material Program

p.s. I don't really know at all when people talking about what considered as top 10, top 20 thing. 

 

However, if you have anything to comment about my choices please do so. I really want to do Master degree without a gap year. (Do you think i will 100% get in in one of these?)

* (here is my list)*

1) U wis Madison,

2) UT austin,

3) UIUC

4) U of maryland

5) Cornell

6) JHU

7) North Carolin A&T State U

 

Thanks

 

Any comment or suggestion is appreciated.

Edited September 1, 2013 by ChuangJ

[juilletmercredi]

Your verbal isn't significantly different from the average at that program.  So the 150 V is right around where they want you to be - I don't think it will matter much, especially if English is not your native language.  Your 170 quant is definitely good, but I think it's quite common for engineering students to get perfect quant scores (almost all got 95th percentile and above on the old GRE; the new one's recalibrated so it's more difficult to get a perfect score, but engineering hopefuls still get high scores).

Anyway, this isn't really enough information to predict chances.  Not that we could, even if we had all of the info.  We definitely can't say that you have a 100% chance at any of these schools; we're not on the committee, and although engineering is not my field it's my understanding that these are competitive MS programs in that field.  A lot will depend on your personal statement, your letters of recommendation and other intangible factors (your fit with the department, the strength of other applicants, the size of the program).  You seem like a pretty average applicant.

 

When people say "top 10/20" they are usually referring to general rankings of programs in their field, typically either by the U.S. News rankings or the NRC rankings, or sometimes by some other ranking that may hold weight in their field.  Usually when people speak they're not necessarily referring to any one of the rankings specifically but just the "general notion" of a program in their field.

UIUC, JHU, and UT-Austin are roughly top 10 programs by the NRC rankings (which are based on PhD programs, by the way, but can be useful for MS programs).  Looks like UCSD and UW-Madison are roughly top 20 and Maryland and Cornell are roughly top 30.  The U.S. News rankings have a different methodology; by their rankings, UIUC & Cornell are top 10; UW-Madison, Maryland, UCSD, UT-Austin and JHU are top 25.

[ChuangJ]

Wow thank you for getting back to me.

 

Just one more question,

 

what criteria did the committee looking for in Master candidate?

I know that if you applied for Phd they usually looking for research experience and strong LoRs.

 

And again I am really appreciated you take time to answer my questions.

Your top 10/20 thing is really clear me up.

 

Have a nice day and beautiful weekends.