<p>I’m an undergrad at GT and I want to apply for the MIT phd program in MSE (organics and polymers). Would it hurt my chances if instead of finishing undergrad in 4 years, I studied abroad in Japan for a year and finished my degree in 5 years. The japan program is basically a research program where you dont really take classes so I would have to make it up with an extra year.</p>
<p>I doubt it would hurt–but why not finish in 4 years, apply to MIT and then arrange a gap year?</p>
<p>it wouldn’t hurt – to the contrary it would make your application stand out from the rest, especially since you’ll be away doing research in Japan and not just having fun</p>
<p>what i’ve noticed with PhD applicants in sciences it that of those who got accepted into prestigious programs, many were already out of school – some had chosen to do a masters, other to work in the industry for a year-two – graduate admissions seem to favor this approach rather than accepting fresh graduates right out of college – they probably believe that such people are more mature and determined to get a graduate degree, and needless to say they have already acquired basic technical skills and are more likely to spend less time in any program</p>
<p>so if you have one extra year of research experience it will probably increase your chances of getting in instead of being a setback</p>
<p>frogger,</p>
<p>Where in Japan?</p>
<p>俺は国際基督教大学と筑波大学に留学した。 あなたは関東か関西にいった？</p>
<p>The program is run in Tokyo by Tokyo Tech. I hear its a hard program to get into but im gonna try and apply anyways.</p>