Chances of graduate school..?

Question

Im currently in college and planning to go to graduate school. what do top graduate school like MIT and UC berkeley look at when accepting students? is it grades or joining groups and organizations.

Answer 1

Your GPA, recommendations and GRE scores are most important. You need to make yourself stand out.

I have a PhD from Berkeley. The year I applied, there were over 250 applications for my department. Nine were accepted and six came. The following year, there were over 300 applications and they only accepted four.

I figure at least 90 of the 250 were well qualified -- which means only one out of ten qualified stuents got in. I was certainly qualified (master's from Duke with 3.8 GPA, 2250/2400 on my GREs, ten years industry experience in my field) -- but the thing that distinguished me from some other applicants was a recommendation letter from someone who was admired by the department's faculty. Others who were accepted including someone with a MS from University of Chicago, two with PhDs in other fields and two who were at the dissertation stage for PhDs in other fields.

I was rejected at MIT -- which had more applications and accepted fewer students.

So -- what do you need to do? Joining groups and organizations won't do much for you (though you should still join some professional associations). You need to get great grades and get a high GRE score. But you also need to form a relationship with some of your current professors, so that they can give you guidence. If possible, try to get something published -- possibly with someone who will write a letter for you.

And you also need a back-up plan. Well qualified students may not get into Berkeley or MIT -- but they will get into some good school.

Good luck.

Answer 2

They look at every single item in the application:

- Undergraduate Grades
- Test Scores (GRE, GMAT, etc)
- Previous Employment (if any)
- Extracurricular activities, organizations, volunteering
- Essays
- Recommendations
- Interview

Make sure you portray who you are, but also what makes you different from the rest. Maybe you have volunteered abroad, maybe you have written a book, or maybe you play an instrument? You may have a 4.0 GPA and a perfect score, but if you can't communicate what's so unique about you and why you deserve a spot in that graduate program, then your chances may not be as great. Good luck!

Answer 3

They are going to first look at GPA and your GRE/GMAT/etc score. If you get close to making the cut there, they are going to look at where you did your undergraduate work and how rigorous that school is considered. Then, they will look at the depth of your extracurricular involvement, particularly in the area you plan to study. That includes community service, leadership positions, and responsibilities. Did you do anything that really stands out? Did you start something great? Did you do extensive research in your field? What will make you better than the average graduate student? Do you have any significant work experience in your field?

Answer 4

All of the above the look at GRE scores grades and clubs. However i think the most important things is reccomendations. If you are serious about getting in there take a job working in the lab and work hard and let your boss know you would like to go to graduate school here. Trust me he can make it happen.

Answer 5

Call admissions at the places you want to get into and ask them. That's the best way to find out.

Answer 6

mohamad jafar abdolahi

Answer 7

GRFGYF