How important is research experience when applying to grad school?

Question

I will likely be graduating with two B.S.E. degrees, one in electrical engineering and one in computer engineering in the spring of 08. I really want to go to a top grad school so I'm looking into applying this December. I will probably graduate with a GPA around 3.8/4.0 overall and about 3.95/4.0 in my major. Hopefully I'll do well on the GRE and will be able to get 3 solid letters of recommendation. The only problem is I have no research experience whatsoever. What are the chances of getting into a top program such as MIT, Cal-Berkeley, Michigan etc. with no research experience?

Answer 1

You're graduating a year from now, and you're worried that you don't have research experience. Your solution seems to be to keep on worrying. My solution would be to get some research experience. It's definitely not too late, and you seem well qualified to do some research this summer at one of the NSF's Research Experience for Undergraduate programs. Look at my two sources, which give information about NSF REU programs this summer in Computer Science/Engineering and Engineering. Only a few of the engineering programs are in electrical engineering, but if you apply to 5 or 6 total programs, you'll almost definitely get accepted to one. By the way, they pay you to do these things, so you don't have to worry about missing out on the opportunity to have a summer job. However, if you really can't do this, talk to your advisor or the chair of your departments about doing research with one of the professors.
Also, it will really help you to get into graduate school in any of the sciences if you've taken math courses beyond your science major's requirements (especially if you get a class like abstract algebra for a discipline like computer science).

Answer 2

Well to be honest it's going to be tough. I went through the admissions process last year, and everyone says that research experience is the most important part of an application to graduate school. That's because PhD programs (I'm assuming that's what you want, since that's the only higher degree that requires original research) are bringing you in to do research, and if you've already shown promise in doing original work then you're that much farther ahead. I will say that in my entering class I don't know of ANY PhD students that haven't had any research experience. I say this since my GPA was right where yours was and I had strong recs in addition to a paper accepted for publication at the time I applied to grad school.

So I'd recommend definitely having some backup plans. Nevertheless, apply to the schools you want. You never know right?

Answer 3

It sounds to me like you will not have any problem getting accepted at any of the grad programs that you've applied to or plan to apply to. If you really want to, you can get a little research experience behind you this coming summer. I would start looking now, the positions fill fast for summer programs. Even if it's one of your professors or someone in the field outside of your institution. Your advisor should be able to help you with that. We have accepted candidates to our grad program with NO research experience whatsoever, but it never hurts to have that in your CV.

I wish you the best of luck, you seem to have it all together!!!

Answer 4

you're undergrad college didn't require you to take any research classes? it sounds like you have a good solid application, it depends on the college or university. If they are just looking for someone with high gpa good grades and good recommendation letters you are pretty much in. you might want to check out the websites for each of the schools or give them a call and talk to a graduate admissions advisor and see where they stand on research. research hours are always good to have it just depends on how much the school leans on that to accept a student. hope this helps!

Answer 5

Rice University is also a top engineering grad school. They tend to accept more students from states other than Texas and with some form of Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). If you are interested in a summer long REU, go to this website and search for reasearch opps in your field: http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm

You seem to have advanced academic potential and should have no problem being accepted at a top ranked grad school... good luck!

Answer 6

frequently, in case you go with to artwork as an engineer for a organization, that they'd go with the BS or the masters degree. in case you go with to teach engineering at a college, you'll get your PhD. maximum employers choose the masters to the PhD, because it is a lot less study oriented, more straightforward. maximum engineering employers choose that you artwork for some years between your BS and getting into your masters software. This makes you a more desirable helpful employ to them, after your MS.

Answer 7

I don't think research experience will kill your application if you have that type of credentials. Your essay may be more important than your lack of research experience, IMO.