<p>I'm currently an undergraduate (rising junior) in a bit of a bind. I'm doing an individualized major, so my courses consist largely of biology and art (more heavily bio than art). My career plan is to do biological or medical illustration. However, as I have progressed deeper into biology I have come to realize how much I really enjoy it - I've always enjoyed it, I just never thought I'd enjoy it THIS much. I'm beginning to want to go to grad school for biology (genetics, specifically) which would give me the option of research OR illustration (many illustrators go into the field with graduate degrees in biology). Heck, if I can do both genetics research and illustration that'd be ideal.</p>
<p>Anyway, my problem is that I have not been planning on grad school before this so I didn't have any of the admissions requirements in mind. I now feel like I've screwed myself. Because I'm not strictly a bio major, I've skipped a lot of the requirements - by the time I graduate I will have taken a lot of upper level bio courses. My overall GPA is a 3.7 right now, in my bio-related classes it's probably a 3.4. However I have not taken chem, orgo, physics, or calc - unfortunately shortsighted of me, I figured I wouldn't need them because I was doing illustration and know enough of those topics to understand my bio classes.</p>
<p>I know I need to know these subjects for research/grad school. I plan to study independently and sit in on lectures so that I will know the material...But they won't be on my transcript that way. Do I have a spitting chance at a decent bio/genetics grad school without chem, orgo, physics, or calc on my transcript? Which of these are most important? I'll probably take a year of gen chem but am unsure of the others, I won't have time for all. Most school sites I've checked don't list specific prerequisites but I can only assume they are required.</p>
<p>Also of note: I do have research experience. I'm spending this summer in a relevant lab, hoping to work through the next two school years too. I also don't need to go to grad school right after undergrad - I'd be fine to take a few years off and work instead.</p>
<p>If I can graduate with a good bio GPA, get good recommendations, and gain a few years of experience, will grad schools be forgiving about my other deficiencies? Will they let me prove I know the material even if it's not on my transcript?</p>
<p>Thanks for any insight. Sorry for the long post, I'm trying to contain my freakout.</p>