GenericName123

I am an EE undergrad and will be starting my final year at UW(Washington) in a week. I have been thinking about applying to graduate school (MS) but don't want to waste my time studying for/taking the GRE and having to write applications if I really don't have a chance of getting into any. My overall GPA is 3.50 (I bombed my first quarter but have made deans list each quarter ever since) while my major GPA is 3.78. I have no research experience. I will be finishing up a 3 month summer internship in a week. There is one faculty member I could ask for a letter of recommendation and maybe my old physics prof. By the time I apply, I would have enough money saved up to pay for all of grad school ($40k-$50k) with no debt from my undergrad career. Does having money increase your chances of getting in?

I'm not very particular about which grad school I get into but I would at least like to get into a top 50 EE grad program. I would like to get accepted into UW, UCSD, UCSB, UCD, UCI, UCSC or UofArizona.

The main thing I'm worried about is not having any research experience. Should I bother applying? What schools would I have a realistic chance of getting into?

Thanks

PCHope

Since you are aiming for MS programs, you do not have to worry about your lack of research experience. IMO, you should have a good shot at any of these schools.

Good luck.

GenericName123

Ok thanks for the reply.

Anyone else have any idea?

ArtEngineer

how did you save up 40-50 thousand dollars during college? Just curious..

your stats should get you into those programs listed.

GenericName123

My parents and I have been saving up for a while. I also just sold my car and have made some money through my current internship which I will be finishing up pretty soon.

Are you guys certain that these schools are as easy to get into as you think? One of my classmates had similar stats and was rejected from UofWashington's grad program...

And all of the people that I know that have gotten accepted to UW have research experience...

GLOBALTRAVELER

I was not an EE major and I cannot say that I know about EE grad programs as much as graduate Math, CS or System Engineering programs BUT I would have a hard time believing that a 3.5 GPA would not get you into those schools.

One more thing....

You can (at some schools, not all) use the Non-Degree/Provisional Admission approach where you do the following:

1) Apply as a non-degree graduate student (easier to be admitted)
2) Take 3 graduate EE courses and ace them
3) Apply for full admission

Why?

If you have aced 9 credits out of a 30-credit MS program, there are not many schools who will turn you down. You have just aced damn-near 1/3 of the MS program.

GenericName123

My friend had similar stats but got denied from UW and UCD...but i know of girl who had a lot of research experience but a lower GPA and got into UW..

UW's EE website states that their admission rate for grad school is 15%...

PCHope

Are you sure you are talking about MS programs? I would understand the stories if they were for PhD programs.

GenericName123

Yes, my friend was applying for the MS program.

The 15% admission rate statement can be found here:

Masters and Ph.D. Application and Information - UWEE

And according to US College Rankings, UW's EE grad program is ranked 17th (which is also tied with UCSD & UCSB)...I would think it would be a little bit more difficult to get into a top 20 program with just a 3.5overall/3.78major gpa w/ no research experience...

Electrical Engineering Graduate School Rankings - US College Rankings

JamesMadison

the 15% admissions rate is for domestic+international. in reality, international students have an admit rate of ~5% and domestic is closer to ~50%.

GenericName123

If all of these schools seem to be within reach, should I apply to more difficult programs then? Maybe UCLA?