Computer Engineering, High GPA, Low GRE, What are my options

[gungun1010]

Hi There,

         I am from university of british columbia (UBC), majoring Electrical Engineering.

         I have GPA 87.5% in my 3rd and 4th year, 86.1% in all technical courses (Math, ECE, CS, PHYSICS), and 83% overall ( a couple of my 1st year course are dramatically low, that's why)

         Done 3 internships with Nivida, totalling 12 months; 2 internships with Intel, 8 months

         My GRE score is low, 158 quantitive, 141 verbal, 4 writing. 

         

         What are my options for grad schools? (Master / PhD )

 

Thanks,

Leon. 

Edited October 31, 2013 by gungun1010

[Sizzle]

Have you considered retaking the GRE? As an engineering major, you should be able to at least raise your quantitative score to more competitive levels.

 

More importantly though, are you looking to get a graduate degree in electrical engineering, or are you considering other options too?

[gungun1010]

yes, i am retaking it. expecting better math. I didn't answer all 40 questions back then. answered about 30...... (was really tired + i winged verbal anyway...)

yes, major will be computer engineering. so far a prof from yale has interviewed me. 

[gungun1010]

just retook gre, 148 V and 162 Q now. i didn't study for it, not sure why it gets higher.. The only explanation is that the test sux, it does not reflect anything..

[Loric]

Try not to mention that in your apps.. The academics sort of live by their gold stars, you have to remember that if you want to be part of their world.

[gungun1010]

Try not to mention that in your apps.. The academics sort of live by their gold stars, you have to remember that if you want to be part of their world.

mention i think GRE sux?? not sure why would i do that, but thanks for the tip anyway. 

[Guest Gnome Chomsky]

Your retake of 162 is a pretty good score. Your problem on the first take was you probably never took any practice tests so you weren't used to the timing component of the test (since you only completed 30 out of 40 questions). Same thing happened to me on my first take. I got a 155 because I still had like 5 questions left on each math section. I'm an OCD test taker. I'll know the answer but I'll check over it 10 times because I tend to make careless mistakes on exams. Anyway, that's what happened to me on the GRE. I knew all the answers almost immediately but I double, triple, quadruple-checked every answer. I ended up running out of time and screwing myself. I've been taking practice tests and I'm finishing everything on time now. You should be able to get a 165-170 if you just practice. Not sure about the verbal though. I can't give you any advice on that. I got a 152 when I took it. I never practiced the verbal since I figured I could deduce everything based on context. After the test I realized a lot of the words I saw were on the GRE verbal study guides. 

[gungun1010]

Your retake of 162 is a pretty good score. Your problem on the first take was you probably never took any practice tests so you weren't used to the timing component of the test (since you only completed 30 out of 40 questions). Same thing happened to me on my first take. I got a 155 because I still had like 5 questions left on each math section. I'm an OCD test taker. I'll know the answer but I'll check over it 10 times because I tend to make careless mistakes on exams. Anyway, that's what happened to me on the GRE. I knew all the answers almost immediately but I double, triple, quadruple-checked every answer. I ended up running out of time and screwing myself. I've been taking practice tests and I'm finishing everything on time now. You should be able to get a 165-170 if you just practice. Not sure about the verbal though. I can't give you any advice on that. I got a 152 when I took it. I never practiced the verbal since I figured I could deduce everything based on context. After the test I realized a lot of the words I saw were on the GRE verbal study guides. 

you are right.. i didn't study for math at all the first time. i did study for math the second time.. for 2 hours.. just to get the feeling of the timing. still dont know what are my options on grad school. well im applying to mit since they don't need gre for eecs