how difficult is it to get into a engineering grad school program coming from a non-engineering background?

[skim milk]

looking back, I think I would've been better off staying as an engineering major but it is way too late to switch my major back
I would like to go to grad school for a certain engineering discipline

let's say my undergrad degree(s) was a B.S. in Economics/Mathematics and B.S. in Business with a concentration in Information systems

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Well, it would depend on the school in which you wished to enter into the grad program, but I'd say it likely would not cause you a problem. However, you would want to add some undergrad classes that you will need as a background for the grad work, I'd think.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

To be brutally honest, unless your Bsc is in physics or chemisty, I don't see how you could go into engineering grad school. I think your best case scenario is that they make you take some undergrad classes first, and the worst case is that they flat out tell you that you have to complete an enfineering major.

From the sound of it you were an engineering major and switched out? I don't see too many schools looking too kindly on that, but you can give it a shot...

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle
To be brutally honest, unless your Bsc is in physics or chemisty, I don't see how you could go into engineering grad school. I think your best case scenario is that they make you take some undergrad classes first, and the worst case is that they flat out tell you that you have to complete an enfineering major.

From the sound of it you were an engineering major and switched out? I don't see too many schools looking too kindly on that, but you can give it a shot...

I agree. Unless you have some sort of technical non-engineering undergrad it's not going to be easy.

 

[desteffy]

My undergrad was in pure math and I got into top tier Industrial Engineering grad programs. People at these schools told me they like math undergrads more than engineering ones.

 

[GreenGhost]

Agree. You need a decent background in physics and mathematics, plus the knowledge in the area you plan to work on. You may get admitted to the program if you have a prof that supports you, but you will need the knowledge associated with the undergrad engineering degree.

 

[Armitage]

Starting with a math degree might not be to unreasonable - particularly if it's from a good school, though a focus on econ may not carry as much weight. The econ background might be a + in an industrial engineering program.

You'll likely need an exceptional GPA, and some evidence that you have more going for you then just the GPA (good recomendations, undergrad research, etc.). I'm sure it depends on the program you're trying to get into as well.