Am I totally screwed?? Should I take a year off?

Graduate School
1

<p>I just finished my junior year and I'm double-majoring in Chemistry and Biochemistry. My GPA currently stands at a 3.4, and I was planning on applying to graduate programs in biochemistry next year. I've read that grad coms like to see an upward trend, but I'm experiencing a downward trend :(. After a really solid freshman year and beginning of my sophomore year, I completely tanked two of my major classes and ended up getting a C+ in one and a C in the other in the same quarter. And then, this past year I was taking Physical Chem, which I really struggled with and ended up with two B's and a C. I'm pretty much done with all of my major classes now, and both of my major GPA's are pretty low (~3.1-3.2). I'm regretting it now, but I definitely didn't put in as much effort as I could have into my classes. If I apply for grad school in the fall with my grades where they are now, I can't see any of the top tier schools admitting me.</p>

<p>I don't have any publications, but I have a good amount of research experience. I worked in a lab last summer and joined a lab in the fall that I've been with all year. I'll also be continuing my research with my current lab this summer and next year. I think I can get at least two strong LOR's from these experiences. I haven't taken the GRE yet, but I've heard that that doesn't matter that much anyway.</p>

<p>Is there any hope for me at top schools like Berkeley, Caltech, or Stanford?</p>

<p>I've also been considering taking a year off so that my senior year grades will appear on my transcript. I'm planning on taking several graduate level chemistry and biochemistry courses, so would it be worth it to take a year off so that I could potentially have good grades in these courses on my transcript and raise my GPA?</p>

2

<p>Those three schools, with a 3.1 major GPA? Probably no chance.</p>

<p>But there are plenty of perfectly good grad schools not named Cal, Stanford or Caltech. Graduate programs generally have acceptance rates in the single digits. You were always going to have to apply to more schools than just those three anyway.</p>

<p>Yes, it would be worth it to take a year off and pursue internships or a job.</p>

3

<p>Your really need to improve that major GPA. </p>

<p>I suppose it is possible that you could repeat those chem classes you got 2 B’s and a C on and then have the old grades expunged (At my school you could have a max of 12 credits (4 normal classes) expunged from your record).</p>

<p>It’s a gamble tbh. An extra year might not sound like much but it can become quite a drag.</p>

4

<p>Your research experience will be important, but it needs to be specific research projects that you can specifically address exactly what you did, etc. I’m sure you know this, but a lot of people don’t know the difference between “conducting research” and “working in a lab”. Grad school committees definitely do. I’m agreeing with the others that with your GPA, chances at those caliber schools is not likely unless you have some specific (and possibly published) research to overcome it.</p>