INTERESTED IN GRADUATE SCHOOL? Advice by Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Caltech, Johns Hopkins, UMichigan

[@rachel_lin]

Applying to colleges? Check out Study Hall College Consulting at shcollegeconsulting.com! It’s a team of myself and other UC Berkeley students where we specialize in reviewing college application essays and consulting 1:1 with students and parents. We also have a blog on our website where we post weekly tips and tricks! 📚🌟

[@nicolem6591]

Hi! This is a very helpful video, thanks! I had a question in regards to Abhi’s majors. How was it to major in computer science and mcb (in regards to workload and coursework)? Also, what led him to choose these two majors?

[@rf4619]

Thanks Rachel. I wonder beside a high GPA what are other key factors to get into these universities. Do you need research experience or papers published in academic journals? Also I believe one needs to be involved in volunteering and ECA? So how important are these? Thanks again

[@rachel_lin]

I think it depends on what kind of grad programs you want to apply to! At least for law schools, GPA, LSAT, and extracurriculars would be most important. If you are looking at more PhD kind of programs, research would be way more important - I just filmed a video about getting research positions in undergrad, which you may find useful - kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppDbd6JuiKh9mLs. And then for med school applications, your MCAT, GPA, and extracurriculars (which could include research) are important - I also filmed a Med School Advice video with a friend here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4jTo2uAdq-Zpac. Hope this helps!

[@rf4619]

Rachel Lin Many thanks!

[@karthik.v8113]

How important is the insititute one does their Under grad from? I hail from India.

[@rachel_lin]

Good question! A lot of college admissions officers say that your undergraduate affiliation is a minor factor in graduate admissions decisions. However, going to a prestigious/highly-ranked/school with more money undergraduate program may offer you more opportunities (professors, letters of rec, networking, research/internship opportunities etc) which may in turn allow you to put together a strong graduate school application. College admissions officers say that they care about finding students with strong academic backgrounds with passion and motivation to do graduate study. So challenge yourself academically and make the most out of the opportunities available to you! Hope this helps!

[@user-ze9tx7sj7f]

Very well organized video!!!!! Thank you!

[@rachel_lin]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching! 😆

[@armaanmali9989]

Thank you so much for the video !! As an incoming freshman at Berkeley I was worried about grade deflation and if it would be possible to get into good a program for post grad. And it’s great to see people majoring while in L&S (the college I’m entering) and getting into engineering programs!! Thanks for the video

[@rachel_lin]

Hey Armaan, thank you for watching! I’m glad that the video was helpful! Good luck in your first year at Berkeley 🎉😀

[@cesaravelar5393]

If I am a foreign student and I want to apply for a master's degree at JHU, specifically in biomedical engineering, what should I do? . You would help me a lot .

[@rachel_lin]

Hi Cesar! Check out this JHU website, which talks generally about JHU Biomedical Engineering Master's Programs - www.bme.jhu.edu/academics/graduate/masters-programs/masters-program/. Additionally, this website talks about the application requirements you would need in order to apply for their Master's programs - www.bme.jhu.edu/academics/graduate/masters-programs/masters-program/apply-to-the-masters-program/. Hope this helps!

[@romaldocasasmadridiii2354]

After watching the TV show NBC's "Community" I have this fantasy about going to college and writing TV shows that take place around college or there students with different genres of stories. Do you think there should be more TV shows that take place in grad school because there's some many teen shows? I have ideas for college shows. Comedies like "Victorious" or "Friends", action/fighting, mystery-drama, drama's like "the O.C". , suspense maybe like "Riverdale" or "Mr.Robot", sci-fi like "Roswell" or "Smallville" , and even rom-com stories

[@rachel_lin]

Oh yeah that’s a cool idea! I feel like a lot of tv shows are set around high school, because it’s “relatable,” even though the actors are like 25-30 🤣 I think college or grad school aged tv shows could be interesting. Some that come to the top of my head would be in Gilmore Girls when Rory goes to college or Legally Blonde is law school. Tbh sometimes it feels like HS tv is actually more of what college is like... idk seems like every high schooler on tv is going to a ton of parties etc which might not be the most realistic for many kids that age, but is more realistic to what college aged kids do.

[@pinkcardigan3329]

Would you say that the level of responsibility and amount of things you get published in are important factors in undergrad research? That has not been the case for me, I’ve been committed to one lab for all four years and only have 1 articles where I’m middle author

[@rachel_lin]

I asked Renee from the video her thoughts and this is her response: Personally I haven't been in published papers, but I also didn't apply to PhD programs, just Masters, so it depends on the program and competitiveness I would say.

[@pinkcardigan3329]

@@rachel_lin Thank you to both you and Renee!!

[@srihari7823]

What was Ryan's GPA at Berkeley? I am an aspiring aerospace engineer and planetary scientist hoping to get into Caltech for grad school.

[@rachel_lin]

Great question! Ryan had a 3.93 GPA for undergrad at Berkeley. Ryan’s advice that he messaged me: he says that GPA isn't really what gets you in. GPA is important because it will get people to read your resume/transcript, but it won't get you in on its own. Getting involved in research at the undergraduate level and demonstrating interest in a research topic via coursework is often considered more important. Hope this helps!

[@ahmedali-su8en]

I have 3.5 CGPA that's equal to around 90% in my university grading , I'm a position holder also , can I get into Harvard , MIT , or other top universities for MSc in Computer science ? I was also in four different societies ,, that counts as co-curricular activities..what are my chances to get in ?

[@cocoarecords]

what do you mean with 3.5 CGPA that's equal to around 90% in my university grading

[@ahmedali-su8en]

@@cocoarecords my university grading system is different like on 95+ marks I will get 4.0 GPA , so it's high , and on 90-94 marks we are on 3.5-3.7 GPA .. that's why I said 3.5 is consider as 90% in my university

[@rachel_lin]

Hi Ahmed, great question! I’m not an admissions officer or anything, so can’t really “chance you” as what admissions officers look for vary and many schools look at holistic review. But from what you’re saying, it sounds like you are getting good grades and involved in your university. Is your current college not in the United States? If so, then when you’re applying to programs, the school you’re applying to will probably do a kind of “conversion” on your grades to make it on a similar scale as other students applying. Focus on your current societies and try to get involved in computer science related things that you can show demonstrated interest and write your application essays about. Hope that helps!

[@RenaissanceRockerBoy]

Hi! I’m currently a freshman in college, and I already know that I want to go to grad school (probably literature/writing or history), specifically Harvard because they have really impressive liberal arts masters and PhD programs that I know I would be interested in. There aren’t as many guides for grad school as there are for college, and finding guides for liberal arts programs is extremely hard. Would you be interested in making a video similar to this (because it helped!) but with people who went to grad school for liberal arts programs? It would help a lot !😅 I’m focusing on refining my passions (literature/slam poetry and history), and am in several clubs while looking for research opportunities, but more guidance would be good 😄.

[@rachel_lin]

That’s a great video idea! I’ll try to ask around to find students, did you have any specific questions you would want answered?

[@sue2507]

Super helpful video!! Thank you!!!

[@rachel_lin]

Thanks for watching, it means a lot! 🙂

[@brhaneamha]

Subscribed !!

[@rachel_lin]

Thank you!!! 😁🎊

[@michaeln.2383]

Someone who graduated from Sacramento State, who was an incredible communicator, got accepted to Johns Hopkins for graduate school. I'm convinced that the secret to success is having incredible communication skills.

[@rachel_lin]

I agree, it’s all about how you sell yourself in your essays and interviews plus your undergrad grades... less so of your “college school rank”

[@malane8541]

Hi! Could you please share more about what your stats were/what you did to get in?

[@michaeln.2383]

@@malane8541 I got into Sacramento State from a community college with a 3.55 GPA. They just look for 60 units or more from community college transfers. There are no interviews or other obstacles.

[@malane8541]

@@michaeln.2383 was ur cc gpa 3.55 or was that your ending gpa (from state)

[@michaeln.2383]

@@malane8541 My ending GPA was 3.44. You'd have to have a 3.7 - 4.0 GPA to have any chance of gaining employment. I think everyone now enrolls in graduate school. A UC school may be the best option.

[@mannchaiphattarapokin256]

Thanks, Rachel.

[@rachel_lin]

Thanks for watching! 😁

[@Spongebob-qy1hx]

hi rachel

[@rachel_lin]

Hi sponge bob 😁