chances?

<p>I am currently at the university of Georgia pursuing a degree in biochemistry. I plan on graduating in May of 2013. But i also plan to do a masters in biochemistry here at uga also...I want to apply right now....but my gpa won't be that great if I do plan to apply before this year ends. It will be at a 2.96 gpa average. I am in a research lab right now and been in here for about 2 months.</p>

<p>What do you think my chances are? Even if i get average GRE scores?</p>

<p>I was also thinking maybe apply after i graduate..I could boost my gpa by then...I will also have a year worth of research in a lab. And i could spend more time for study for GRE. My chances would be higher...but what do you guys think my chances are if i apply now?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>Nobody does “chances” for graduate school because they’re complete nonsense. But at this point, you would not be an attractive candidate. 3.0 is the cutoff point for many graduate schools.</p>

<p>You would be well-advised to have strong senior-year grades and wait to apply until after completing your degree, in order that you have a track record of improvement to show gradcoms - along with a year of research.</p>

<p>thanks for the response…but what do you mean by complete nonsense? does that mean its a really random shot for anyone who applies?</p>

<p><rant>
The “What Are My Chances?” forum is the most ridiculous bunch of delusional claptrap on the Internet anywhere outside the Sarah Palin 4 Prez blog. All “chances” threads are utter and complete mind-boggling nonsense. Nobody on any of these forums has any idea what anyone’s “chance” of being accepted to any school is, because nobody is a member of an admissions committee. It’s a bunch of high school students talking at each other without the slightest clue what they’re talking about.
</rant></p>

<p>This goes double for graduate school, because programs are both highly selective and highly personalized. Every quality program gets tons of applicants with great grades and high test scores - not all of them can be admitted. Professors themselves make up graduate admissions committees, therefore finding the correct “fit” with research interests and faculty is generally more important than whether your GPA is 3.54 or 3.48. The number of students admitted may vary widely each year based on faculty funding, impending retirements, grant success, etc.</p>

<p>Nobody on these forums has any idea what each school’s faculty are researching, or how many students they’re accepting, or how much money they have, or whether the only professor in someone’s intended subdiscipline is about to retire, or any of the 10,000 other factors that govern graduate admissions. Ergo, anyone who tells you what your “chances” of being admitted to any particular school are, is quite simply blowing smoke up your ass.</p>