<p>This is my first thread. I am a senior in mechanical engineering at Rutgers University, hoping to get acceptance into a good graduate program in my field. My current cumulative GPA is 3.939 and my major GPA is 4.0. When i took a practice GRE test, I scored around 600 in verbal and 780 in math. I have about two years of research experience (with different professors) and I am currently working on my undergraduate honors thesis (hoping to finish by the end of fall 2009). I am planning on taking two graduate courses in the fall along with two more graduate courses in the spring of my senior year. I also have 1 year of intern experience within my major. </p>
<p>I am really concerned about the fact that Rutgers is not a top tier mechanical engineering university. I feel that my shot at a good graduate program is slim because of this. Here are some of the schools that I am looking into: Princeton, Harvard, Georgia Tech, Rose-Hulman, Stanford…</p>
<p>I know that this subject has been beaten to death in other threads, but I would like some personal guidance in this matter. Do I have a shot at any of these previously mentioned school? I would also like to know just how much emphasis do top-tier graduate schools in engineering place on where I receive my undergraduate degree. </p>
<p>You have no shot at all at Rose-Hulman’s graduate program. They do not have one.</p>
<p>Otherwise you seem to be in as good a place as you can be. Your school suffers in comparison, but I would not obsess over it - your LOR’s and the quality of your research are much more important. Your school may come out in final selections, but it is all but impossible for anyone to tell you how the different schools will regard it. Personally, I think you will be okay.</p>
<p>From my experience in EE, Stanford and Georgia Tech are tough, while Princeton and Harvard are just tougher than they should be.</p>
<p>I was thinking of applying to Rose-Hulman’s M.S program. The last time I checked, they did have one. Is it really that tough to get into princeton and harvard’s graduate program, even though they do not have a high reputation in mechanical engineering?</p>
<p>if you know harvard and princeton’s mech e programs are not that good, why are you applying? they are looking for students with demonstrated research that matches what their faculty want. do you have this?</p>
<p>I have looked into their faculty’s research interests. My current research is in the field of robotics and automation. It seems like both schools are decent in robotics, so that’s why I am applying there. I am not sure if I have what they are looking for in a potential candidate, because I don’t know how these schools asses each application.</p>
<p>I forgot about Rose-Hulman’s masters programs - my bad. Ivy League schools often place additional expectations on incoming students, like higher V & AW GRE scores. Plus a lot of people apply just to have the name on their resume, which also drives up the admission criteria beyond the norm for the quality of engineering education.</p>
<p>Still, if they are particularly strong in your desired specialty, then that is where you should apply!</p>
<p>Excellent LORs from your research advisors, Stellar GRE scores, strength of research experience-the typical things needed for placement in top programs. Remember the number of spots are limited in MS and PhD programs so competition is fierce. Apply early, apply often. Good Luck</p>
<p>Wouldn’t it make more sense to ask your adviser rather than students on a forum? Sure, some are graduates, some may be admissions committee members, but asking around in your department (from people that have received MS’s or PhD’s in ME) would probably be a better step. I think the fact that you have essentially a 4.0, a good GRE potential, as well as several potential recommends lined up (that go along with your research experience) makes for a combination that is really hard to beat. </p>
<p>Sure Rutgers is not a “top” school, but it’s a well known school and few would try to make a claim that it’s an easy school. Don’t sweat the stuff you can’t control, just do your best to apply to a variety of programs that fit your interests (either in location, cost, potential adviser, program… whatever it is you find most important) and you will get into one.</p>
<p>yea, I’ve been asking some of my professors for their opinion but they seem to give me very superficial information. I appreciate all the response you guys gave. Thanks</p>