Interested in doing an engineering masters - recovering from low GPA

[irongoat]

Ok. So I did a B.A.Sc from a 2nd tier EE school about eight years ago with really mediocre grades
(I think I finished with roughly 2.4). There were mitigating factors, documented issues with severe

anxiety and chronic ongoing illnesses, but these are of no consequences to ad-coms, of course. 

 

I've been going to a better school taking classes in physics (QM, EM, biophysics etc) with roughly

B to B+ in these (though one C, in optics is a blemish). I know this isn't nearly sufficient to undo the damage, but I was hoping it would 

be a start. My plan was originally to gain a solid foundation in pure science then apply to Engineering

again with a better foundation, and re-do lots of core courses (Signals, Random, EM) along with

the subject of interest : photonics. 

 

As it stands, I am too weak of a student at the school I am at (they pretty much only take the top

students for research opportunities, though professors don't say as much). I'm starting to doubt

if this course of continual upgrading will ever yield an admission. I'm losing hope, despite having

made improvements from earlier bad results. I've read of cases where significant improvement

demonstrated can potentially allow a professor to pull for a student, but this seems to be only

in rare an exceptional cases.

 

I'm passionate about my subject, and I really don't want to stop making the effort to succeed

at it. I genuinely believe the mitigating factors threw my performance in UG (the first time around)

and while I've improved, its not good enough.

 

Are my perceptions wrong? I've talked to lots of adcoms/profs/etc and have found that they are often only telling half the story. Some say that proving yourself willing and able is enough, others say meeting the cutoff isn't meeting the "real" cutoff, which is magnitudes higher (B cutoff listed,

demand through the roof, A- is the actual cutoff). 

 

I have an opportunity to continue upgrading at another quite good school my eng credits. But if the odds are really as bad as I think, it may be futile. The degree is from 8 years ago. I've improved. I continue improving. Is it so unlikely that this is enough? Are there options overseas that would give me a chance? Canadian schools are heavy competition.

 

Anyways, I'd appreciate any thoughts on the matter.

 

Irongoat

 

 

 

 

[peachypie]

I can't really speak to a specific program or school.  What I can say it is worth a shot to improve yourself.  Have you been working and achieving good success in your field outside of school while also going back to take classes?  I graduated with not the BEST gpa in the world but I went back and aced a few courses while I worked and though in my field it mattered less over time and more about what you had been doing it was a great plus to be able to say see I know I'm ready and I can do it because I went back and did just fine now.  I'd say take those classes and do well in them, you cant upgrade by doing the same or a bit better, you have to excel to show there is a marked difference.  I'd also try to talk to someone on an adcom in your field maybe even at your current locale and see what they say.  Be completely upfront and say what can I do that will improve my competitiveness as an applicant.  You can explain your ongoing illness or anxiety issues in a SOP if necessary and if you feel that you are now able to better handle or that portion of your life is over.  Like I said, my gpa was not blowing anyone away but the rest of my profile did.  I got an acceptance to a dream school for me that isn't easy to get into at all.  It can happen but you have to be ready to do what it takes if you really want it.  

Best of luck and feel free to PM if you want any specifics answered.

[1535nuke]

Assuming you don't have relevant experience gained since graduation, I think that you're going to need to get some sort of research experience in order to be appealing to an admissions committee. This may mean unpaid research experience, but if you are persistent about asking multiple professors for a project to work on and you have maybe 10 hours a week to work on it then you can find a professor to work with. It will be difficult to get into a grad program without knowing any professors but if you work for a professor and work hard, it is likely that professor would want you to continue working for him or her in grad school. That's the wild card in the admissions process, if a professor wants you you're in- I think that's your best bet- but I also think it's good to ask professors for advice on this.

[Boba felt]

Take a look at nearby professional classes or possibly online certificate programs in EE.  You can enroll in a 1 year certificate program and get good grades there.  This will help you refresh your knowledge, meet professors to be your recommendation writers, show on your resume a better GPA, and that you can apply yourself.  Plus, even if you don't get into grad school, the certificate won't hurt you and could help you get a better job in the future.  If you're working your employer might even help chip in.  I took a certificate program for about $3,000 and it directly helped me get into the Masters program at the school because of my contacts and good grades there, even with lower than preferred undergrad.  

 

Work experience would help you get into a Masters as well, especially in EE.  Join a professional membership group or get more active in events and things around town for you to build your resume.  Work towards becoming licensed.  Apply for or volunteer to help at any events/fundraisers even vaguely related to your area to help build up your credentials.  All that will help round you out as an applicant so that it's not all based on your undergrad GPA or GRE alone.