Parrish

[MtownJacket]

This comes with two assumptions:

1. Grad school undergraduate major matters - it doesn't. That's why I know History majors with PhDs in Neuroscience (and that is actually plural; I know two). He's better off with a GT degree in biology then applying.

2. GPA matters more than school. If that's true, why go to UGA? In-state, a school like Fort Valley is easier than UGA and you're even more likely to get a 4.0. Out-of-state (since his college is free), Alabama has better looking women than UGA, a better football team, and easier classes. Hell, Auburn is about as close to home as UGA.

This is not always true, while it might be for what you are talking about. Technical graduate degrees require a solid undergraduate background. I've seen people who had the right undergrad major and a 4.0 but only had a BA instead of a BS and that caused them to wash out of grad school. They weren't prepared for graduate level classes. At first they sat in on some advanced undergrad classes to catch up but eventually they were like screw it, I'll just be a high school teacher.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

I thought the biggest determining factor was entrance test score? Wouldn't a more applicable undergrad program enhance this?

 

[zippyGT]

This is not always true, while it might be for what you are talking about. Technical graduate degrees require a solid undergraduate background. I've seen people who had the right undergrad major and a 4.0 but only had a BA instead of a BS and that caused them to wash out of grad school. They weren't prepared for graduate level classes. At first they sat in on some advanced undergrad classes to catch up but eventually they were like screw it, I'll just be a high school teacher.

Let's not hide in generalities.

What about a GT BS in biology or applied physics would not prepare a student for that type of program?

 

[dressedcheeseside]

Let's not hide in generalities.

What about a GT BS in biology or applied physics would not prepare a student for that type of program?

True, but to what degree more than a BS in Kinesiology or Biology at Uga? Enough to offset the other two factors I mentioned where we're blown out of the water: football and college life?

 

[zippyGT]

I thought the biggest determining factor was entrance test score? Wouldn't a more applicable undergrad program enhance this?

To what major? Most majors require the GRE or another general aptitude test that's agnostic to major.

True, but to what degree more than a BS in Kinesiology or Biology at Uga? Enough to offset the other two factors I mentioned where we're blown out of the water: football and college life?

That's not how to look at it. GT has the majors, but a much better reputation and a better class profile (remember, a 3.15 = honors at GT while a 3.6+ is honors at UGA) because the engineering majors pull the school's average GPA way down.

You're better off as a Chemistry major at GT than at UGA, for example, because Chemistry is a higher-than-average GPA at GT (competing against engineering majors) but a lower-than-average major at UGA (competes against family studies, forestry science, and animal husbandry)

 

[LegendaryGT]

Worst thread of the offseason?

 

[GTWannaBee]

Worst thread of the offseason?

No, pretty sure "reality" is the worst thread.

 

[MadTownJacket]

snip

I only said they're a good school for instate jobs because of connections. Education quality (judging from what my high school friends have said about their UGA classes) is pretty mediocre. But they do have connections, and that helps.

I thought the biggest determining factor was entrance test score? Wouldn't a more applicable undergrad program enhance this?

Meh, up until a certain point. GRE and GPA are used to filter out applications. A lot of graduate schools only look at the GRE/GPA to see if you're above minimum threshold, and then they look at other aspects of the application. If you're going to a traditional graduate school, then LORs from PIs and research experience would matter more than a high GRE score. If you're going to a professional graduate school (read MBA, MHA, MPA, etc), then work experience might be the biggest determining factor.

At least that's what I've learned from research on graduate schools. The ones that I'm applying to care more about work experience than about a stellar GRE score.