EE PhD Fall 2009 ... some advice

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am a female EE senior at one of the ivys. I am applying for PhD in EE and I had a few questions.</p>

<li><p>I will be taking the GRE in mid Nov. Is that too late? I understand that the scores are given to you the day you take the exam and you can put down four choices of schools at that time. But, still … any thoughts?</p></li>
<li><p>Here is my profile:</p></li>
</ol>

<ul>
<li><p>My GPA is 3.45 and my major gpa is around a B I would say. I sort of bombed my chemistry class freshman year, and my E&M class last term (both classes -> C). But other than that I have decent grades.</p></li>
<li><p>I have published a paper in bioinformatics where I am first author. I am also currently working in nano research that is very promising. I have done other bits of research in the past.</p></li>
<li><p>I have been a TA for calc and EE.</p></li>
<li><p>I have a small scholarship for engineering this year.</p></li>
<li><p>3 recommendations (2 research, 1 from the prof I TA-ed for).</p></li>
</ul>

<li>My schools of interest include:</li>
</ol>

<ul>
<li><p>UC Berkeley, U.Illinois Urbana Champagne, Stanford, MIT, Cornell, Columbia, U. Michigan, UT Austin.</p></li>
<li><p>I am interested in pursuing a PhD in EE with a focus in nanotechnology (probably nano-optics).</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Are my choices realistic? Do I have a shot at getting into these competitive schools?</p>

<li>I am also interested in eventually going into patent law. Would a PhD and then a JD be a waste of time? Is it better to get a MS and then a JD?</li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks very much.</p>

2

<p>Well it’s probably too late for advice now, but have you considered pursuing a MS first, then applying to PhD later on?</p>

<p>Your stats are borderline for the top programs. Much will depend on your research background, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation.</p>

<p>Pursuing a MS first, gives you a chance to improve on your strengths and ultimately get you into a program of your choice.</p>

<p>Regarding patent-law, that’s a fork in a different direction. You sound pretty interested in doing research in a developing field (nanotech). For that, you’ll want a PhD. But if your ultimate career goal is patent law, then the PhD is a waste – it won’t help you earn a J.D. I think you need to seriously think what’s more important to you – trying to do achieve both will put you in school for many, many years.</p>

<p>I know of 2 classmates now practicing patent law; both went this route BS EE, MS EE, then J.D. Unfortunately, I don’t have contact with them any more. Both were star undergrad students – 1 went to Columbia Law and the other to UC Berkeley (Boalt?) Law.</p>