Undergraduate university ranking consideration for MA applicant?

[ambitiousfolk]

When applying to an MA to let us say the top 100 universities in the  US. Does the reputation of the undergraduate institution will be taken into consideration? Based on some experiences with some friends, as international applicants, I have heard some ideas that says the rank/reputation of the undergrad university will make a huge difference. For instance, an applicant who earned his BA from University of Missouri will be more considered than an applicant who earned from a University like Abu Dhabi University even if they had similar GPA's.

 

Some friends went far, and told me that even If an applicant who had a higher GPA (3.25 for instance from Abu Dhabi University) and a (3.15 from a Missouri alumnus) that alumnus from Missouri inspite of his less GPA will have more weight and consideration.

 

Was that accurate or inaccurate?

 

 

[orangeglacier]

I don't know what the reputation of Abu Dhabi University is, but this is very correct in general.  GPA is entirely meaningless outside of the context of which school is giving the grades.  If I start a college and have all my classes give everyone A's, it wouldn't make sense to consider a 4.0 from my school to be impressive.  The same GPA in different programs could mean very different things, so the reputation is going to be big.  It matters a little less with research though - if you worked on a good number of research projects, that's not going to really matter as much what school you did them at.

[ambitiousfolk]

Unfortunately, generally the Arabian universities dont have much reputation and they're -compared to the top 100 US ranked universities- are significantly lower and not reputable, however, they may not seem as bad as one may think, but not impressive. As you know, the competency is rising year after year particuarly in the graduate schools in the US, and I am afraid that such factor may hinder my chances. I know in the end an ambitious person should do the best to earn an admission, but it still frightens me, as it is an out-of-hand circumstances. Although I recognize that I can compensate that thing with many elements, but stil..

[orangeglacier]

I would focus on research.  If you get some good results published or anything like that, they definitely wouldn't care what college you came from.

[YepUrsi]

Yes, of course. It is much harder to get good grad and a good GPA at competitive school with good students than at a bad university. So obviously universities consider this for the Masters application.