Ms in HCI/User Experience profile evaluation/ 2018 entry

[rachelstyles]

Hi, everyone. I'm an international architecture undergraduate (5 year) on my last year of the program. I've been admitted to University of Manchester in UK (2016 entry) and will be doing an urban design & planning master for a year. Then I would like to apply to another master program (2018 entry, preferably less than 18 months) in something related to HCI/User Experience which doesn't require computer science/programming background in US. 

 

Program: Human-Computer Interaction/User Experience

Schools Applying To:  U Washington, NYU, Georgia Tech, Northwestern U

Undergraduate institution: Non famous asian university

Undergraduate GPA: 2.9

Undergraduate Majors: Architecture

Postgraduate institution: University of Manchester (2016 entry) 

Postgraduate assumed GPA: hign 2.1/65%+/ merit

Postgraduate Major : Urban Design & International Planning

GRE:  In the process of studying, assumed V: 150-155, Q:165+, AW:4 

IELTS: 7.5 (might be waived when apply)

Age:  24 when entering

Years of Work Experience: None

Internships: 2 months as an architecture intern 

Strength of SOP:  Planning to talk about my 'strong' design background (6 years) & postgraduate experience. 

Strength of LOR: Assumed all from professors in University of Manchester.

Concerns:  Low GPA in undergraduate, especially low grades in higher maths & computer related course (only 2). I hope the master program in UK can increases the chances of me being admitted to a better School in US as the HCI/UX/CS related programs are very competitive and I see most of the applicants who did there undergraduate in US have very high GPA. Does it help much if I try my best to get a Distinction in PG? Also my GRE verbal and aw will be lower than average for sure. 

Thanks.