Graduate admissions from not-prestigious school

Applying to College
1

<p>I am an undergraduate in MSE (Materials Science and Engineering) at the University of North Texas. I transferred last semester because I changed my major from Botany (I was at the University of Hawaii before).</p>

<p>I’m curious how hard it will be to get into a more prestigious university just because UNT is not well known. I have minors in Physics and Chemistry, and although I have two years until graduation, I am expecting a 3.7 or higher gpa. I am volunteering in a lab in the chemistry department right now working with inorganic materials in biological systems.</p>

<p>I am from California and would like to go back there or stay somewhere in Texas (preferably UT Austin).</p>

<p>Any kind of information would be very helpful. It just seems like most the people on here are at well-known universities.</p>

2

<p>You could take this question to the Grad School Forum. Go back to the main page for the forums, and scroll down to find it.</p>

<p>People get into top grad schools every year from “no-name” universities. It is a completely different game than undergraduate admission. Everyone in your field of study has heard of your university, and half of them know your professors in person. OK, I exaggerate, but you get the picture. Get good grades. Take advantage of any research/internship/job opportunities. Get to know the professors who will write your LORs. Refine your goals for grad school so that you can write a clear Statement of Purpose. Do your best on the GRE. But, don’t worry about the name on your diploma.</p>