1 answer
Charlotte
Student
Walpole, New Hampshire
1
Question
Updated
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What does graduate admissions look for in an undergraduate engineering student?
I am currently a high school senior who plans to major in computer engineering for my undergraduate degree. However, I have a growing interest in pursuing graduate school and I want to get involved in graduate level research in the future. So, I was wondering what graduate schools look for in an undergraduate engineering student? Does the specific college I go to for my undergraduate degree matter (In this case, I'm specifically deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Syracuse University), or does the GPA and extracurriculars I get involved in matter more? #spring25
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1 answer
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Electrical engineer, researcher and Software Developer
210
Answers
Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
Graduate programs in computer engineering are a fantastic opportunity to grow and succeed. They look for students with a solid academic background, research experience, and active participation in the field. To get ready, aim to do well in important courses like Computer Architecture, Operating Systems, Digital Systems Design, Algorithms and Data Structures, AI, Software Engineering, and Cybersecurity. Dive into research early through assistantships or your own projects, and build a personal website or portfolio to highlight your work, linking to platforms like GitHub.
Boost your technical skills by joining open-source projects on GitHub, getting certifications from Coursera, edX, or Udacity, and taking part in coding challenges on Codeforces, LeetCode, HackerRank, or Kaggle. Connect with technical communities on Stack Overflow or Reddit’s r/computerscience, and check out summer research programs like NSF REUs (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) or internships through Handshake and LinkedIn. Attending academic conferences hosted by IEEE is a great way to network with faculty and industry experts. Remember, strong letters of recommendation, especially from professors, can make a big difference.
Don't forget about soft skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork. You can develop these by volunteering, leading student organizations, or joining tech groups like IEEE or Women in Engineering. Stay active on LinkedIn by sharing your achievements, certifications, and projects, and join discussions to build your professional presence. Use tools like Notion or Trello to organize your projects and goals, and consider joining online communities like Discord servers for engineering students or professional groups on Slack.
When choosing between schools like RPI and Syracuse, focus on what feels right for you—RPI offers a tech-focused environment with strong research and industry connections, while Syracuse provides more interdisciplinary options. Ultimately, your GPA, research involvement, extracurricular activities, and how you use available resources will pave the way for your success in graduate school and beyond. Keep pushing forward, and you'll be ready to achieve your dreams! Good luck!
Boost your technical skills by joining open-source projects on GitHub, getting certifications from Coursera, edX, or Udacity, and taking part in coding challenges on Codeforces, LeetCode, HackerRank, or Kaggle. Connect with technical communities on Stack Overflow or Reddit’s r/computerscience, and check out summer research programs like NSF REUs (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) or internships through Handshake and LinkedIn. Attending academic conferences hosted by IEEE is a great way to network with faculty and industry experts. Remember, strong letters of recommendation, especially from professors, can make a big difference.
Don't forget about soft skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork. You can develop these by volunteering, leading student organizations, or joining tech groups like IEEE or Women in Engineering. Stay active on LinkedIn by sharing your achievements, certifications, and projects, and join discussions to build your professional presence. Use tools like Notion or Trello to organize your projects and goals, and consider joining online communities like Discord servers for engineering students or professional groups on Slack.
When choosing between schools like RPI and Syracuse, focus on what feels right for you—RPI offers a tech-focused environment with strong research and industry connections, while Syracuse provides more interdisciplinary options. Ultimately, your GPA, research involvement, extracurricular activities, and how you use available resources will pave the way for your success in graduate school and beyond. Keep pushing forward, and you'll be ready to achieve your dreams! Good luck!
Thank you for the advice! I'll be sure to look into any internship opportunities that come up while in college, and getting involved in open-source projects sounds like a great idea!
Charlotte