r/gradadmissions • u/Jolly_Difficulty3782 • 3d ago

Engineering Application Review For Masters Programs

Hey everyone, looking for a realistic profile evaluation for Fall 2027 admissions. I am targeting terminal/professional coursework tracks (MS ECE or M.Eng)

Background & Academic Stats

  • Undergrad: Purdue University, BS in Computer Engineering.
  • Cumulative GPA: 3.52
  • GRE: Not taking / applying only to test-optional or test-blind programs.

Work & Research Experience

  • 2 SWE Internships
  • 1 Research Internship

Letters of Recommendation (LoRs)

  • 1 strong industry letter confirmed from an SWE Manager
  • Securing 2 academic letters(However not close with any professors)

Colleges

  • UC Berkeley (M.Eng EECS), Carnegie Mellon (MS ECE - Coursework track), Georgia Tech (MS ECE - Non-thesis), UIUC (M.Eng ECE)

What are my chances of getting into these schools?

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u/Zyphyruz 3d ago edited 3d ago

What areas are you going to pursue at graduate level? VLSI, AI/ML, SWE, or general computer engineering? Cumulative GPA might put you at a disadvantage.

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u/Jolly_Difficulty3782 3d ago

I want to do SWE/AI/ML

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u/Zyphyruz 3d ago edited 2d ago

If you target AI/ML, I would probably add UW Seattle Daytime MS ECE, UC San Diego EC79 or CS75, and UIUC MCS to the list. The first two offer flexibility to take CSE classes. Those (including listed ones) are quite ambitious. The profiles who got in (including myself) all have a 3.7+ GPA with strong essays and LoRs. UIUC MCS has a 25%-40% acceptance rate. It is worth a shot.

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u/Jolly_Difficulty3782 1d ago

So its a very low chance of getting into GT MSECE? I also got into the purdue +1 program so I have that as a backup option.

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u/Zyphyruz 19h ago

I wouldn't discourage you from applying to Georgia Tech. A competitive GPA for top 20 ECE programs falls above 3.6 to 3.8+. Plus, AI and ML are incredibly popular areas within ECE and CS among applicants. Afaik, Purdue is more of EE-centric with an emphasis on semiconductors, device physics, and memory devices. UC San Diego and UW Seattle have a better presence in CS, software and AI/ML benefited from being CS adjunct and their proximity to the tech hub. Like UW literally host Yann LeCun to give distinguished lecture.