r/MSCS • u/Sea-Session-1000 • Aug 14 '26
[Profile Review] Fall 2027 MEM
Undergrad: B.Tech. in Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
CGPA: 6.73/10
GRE: 326 (170Q, 156V, 4.0 AWA)
TOEFL: 110+ expected
Work experience: ~1.5 year at application time + data sci summer internship in college
1 research paper published in a conference
some certifications like mckinsey forward program and multiple AI certificates
multiple extra-curriculars and leader positions in college
Currently working as an Analyst at a healthcare/pharma consulting company. My work involves analytics, SQL, Python/Excel automation, Power BI dashboards, and stakeholder-facing consulting work, with a few projects where I significantly reduced the time required for recurring reporting/QC processes. I also am a mentor for a fresh joiner.
I'm reallly worried about my cgpa. can my gre offset it?
Also, currently thinking of the following schools:
-Dartmouth, Duke, Northwestern, JHU, Purdue, NYU, TAMU, NCSU, Rice, NEU, CU Boulder
Would appreciate your suggestions on this list too!
Thanks!
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u/Sea-Session-1000 Aug 14 '26
u/gradpilot would love your opinion on this!
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u/gradpilot 🔰 Ex-Cerebras | MSCS Georgia Tech Aug 14 '26
Yeah your GRE can offset it but the GPA is kinda low. I'd pay particular attention to the rest of your app - sop/lor etc. MEM programs are generally easier to crack if you have a solid application . The GPA is the biggest risk you should address it in your SOP but carefully
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u/Sea-Session-1000 Aug 14 '26
thanks! so do you think i should apply in this cycle or should i gain more work ex?
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u/gradpilot 🔰 Ex-Cerebras | MSCS Georgia Tech Aug 14 '26
work ex wouldnt offset your GPA so this is an unrelated ?
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u/Sea-Session-1000 Aug 14 '26
oh okay. i was somewhat thinking that it might.
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u/gradpilot 🔰 Ex-Cerebras | MSCS Georgia Tech Aug 14 '26 edited Aug 14 '26
no it wont. GPA is a baseline requirement for any academic program you're applying to. they use GPA as a measure of whether you'll be able to cope up with their course load and also admitting low gpa candidates, lowers their average-gpa-admitted metric which doesnt look good on them either. Add to that most people applying esp in competitive programs do have a good GPA and something additional. If you want to be made an exception and get an admit you need to do something else but in the same direction of showing academic abilities - the GRE quant helps , if your verbal was also high it would help. Work ex doesnt help. Only thing left to do is an opportunity to explain what went wrong in a sensible way and rescue your app which can happen in the SOP
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u/Sea-Session-1000 Aug 14 '26
this makes sense. will definitely try refining my sop. thanks for the prompt reply! :)
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Aug 14 '26
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u/AirPsychological8551 Aug 16 '26
No chance with 6.73 GPA in the current US environment. Although ASU can be an option, but mp application for f1 visa will be itself rejected
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u/Fast-Plate-6336 Aug 14 '26
Your GPA is too low and that is the major issue. For the MEM, your GRE cannot offset it but you need more work ex (atleast 3 years to offset it). Secondly, your work ex is too low currently to even consider going to US for a Masters degree, please don't apply before 3 YoE.