ChemE Graduate Admission Chances

af213
Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:01:41 +0000

I am entering my senior year in chemical engineering. My credentials are strong, I believe: 4.0 GPA, 1510 GRE (800Q, 710V, 5.5W), three summers of research in this department, two co-publications with my faculty sponsor (with a third and possibly a fourth to come), a Goldwater Scholarship, a few extracurriculars with a leadership component in each, and expect to have strong recommendations.

However, my undergraduate department does not exactly have a track record of sending students to high-level graduate programs. Most students go straight out to get jobs after their BS, and most of those who do try grad school stay at this institution, where the graduate program does not enjoy a high ranking (or any ranking at all, as far as I can find). Our top graduate this spring will attend a respected Big Ten school in the fall, but that’s it for the last several years.

Furthermore, all of my experience is at my undergraduate institution – I have not done any REUs, lengthy study abroads, or internship/co-ops.

I’m primarily looking at top institutions – Minnesota, Wisconsin, Stanford, Illinois, perhaps MIT. I’m wondering if anyone would offer their opinion on where I stack up at this point. Is it recommended to build a hierarchy of “reach” and “safety” schools, etc., or should I stick with the blue chips, or reevaluate my short list entirely…?

Anything is appreciated.