<p>I'm and environmental science major and I just finished my fall semester of senior year. I got my grades back, a 2.71 GPA for the semester and that drops me to a 2.99 cumulative. I've worked so hard this semester that this completely deflates me. Worst of all, I got a D in my Jazz class, the class that was suppose to be an easy grade. last semester, I had a 2.62, and this spring. I've had my best year my sophomore year, but everything seems to be going down hill after that. I took ecology this past semester and got a C+ in it. I've worked insanely hard in that class, and got A's on every assignment, but the teacher loves to give extremely difficult tests. There's so much info that I have trouble retaining everything. I like to study 10 days before the test, but that's not enough. This looks so bad on me because I am an environmental science major. For Jazz, I don't even know where to begin. I nearly failed the midterm because I didn't have enough money for the book and CDs. Then i spent the entire thanksgiving break making a study packet for it when i finally did get the material. I had my first exam, ecology, on saturday and i could hardly sleep the couple days leading up to it because I was studying and trying not to fail the course. Then i had three finals on monday. Again I hardly slept, but i did very well on those, A, A-, and B+. Then I completely crashed after my last one that day at 9:00. I didn't wake up until noon on tuesday. That day was the first time I looked over my Jazz packet since thanksgiving break. It was very overwhelming. I was so jaded by everything that i could hardly concentrate. I wound up failing the final, and probably the course, but the teacher probably just pitied me and passed me. He was most likely disappointed in me since I showed up for every class and sat in the front row, or maybe that was what passed me. That wednesday during the test, i could hardly remember what I looked at failed it royally. the same thing happened last semester. The finals schedule overwhelmed me so bad. For my french existentialism class, I had an A- on the midterm and course paper, attended all classes, but had a c+ in the class...meaning I failed it really bad. It's so frustrating that all my hard work is not showing, and it'll affect me getting into grad school. It's not even that I want to go to grad school for myself, i want to go so I can help people with the abilities i've been given. And for my parent who gave up their entire lives to come to America so i can go to college. And my neighborhood isn't as nice as when I was growing up. I need to get them out of here before it turns into a full fledge ghetto. I'm not one to whine or complain, but i can't help but see how horrible my finals schedule was, but i can't let that be a reason for my shortcomings. I am so deflated right now. I was hoping to go to grad school for epidemiology or environmental health, but I don't think they will take me. life is terrible, and i want to use my abilities to make it better for everyone, not just my parents. that's why i want to do public health. i don't think it's going to happen. Next semester, i have the toughest course load yet, and from the trend these past two semester provided, I'm seriously thinking I don't have enough talent to be in college. I was hoping on having a nice break after hauling my butt for four months, but now I'm stuck in this depression. Now it just feels like i've wasted all my time. if i start school like this, there's no way i will have motivation to work. after seeing all my hard work resulting in bad grades, i really don't think i'll be able to face the courses waiting for me. i do learn in class despite what my grades indicate. i still remember all the lessons since freshman year because i've taken them to heart. this is not something I'm proud of but, I took a physics midterm for someone I knew this past semester, and i got a 89 on it, this is a class I haven't taken since i was a freshman...I needed money for that expensive jazz book -_-. and I can argue with any humanities majors about ethics or God. i know i can do all this, and basically explain any concept in ecology, but yet each time I think of my grades, I feel so low. i'm so worried that i won't be able to get into grad school.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Use paragraphs</p></li>
<li><p>You’re right</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Work for a few years. If you get the right type of experience, then your grades won’t matter as much.</p>
<p>Advice from someone with similar GPA struggles:</p>
<p>Don’t apply for fall 2011 admission.</p>
<p>Completely focus on your classes for the spring semester and achieve a 3.5+ GPA.</p>
<p>Find an internship/research opportunity in your field for the next year or so.</p>
<p>Apply for fall 2012 admission, now with 1) a GPA improvement trend, 2) professional experience and 3) strong letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>Why do you feel you even need grad school? Be more specific than “I want to help people”. I saw no mention of research so I presume this is for a terminal MS. That would be thousands more in debt (for small gains) and it seems you have trouble just paying for books. What does the MS allow in terms of jobs that you want that the BS doesn’t?</p>
<p>And you’re right - you probably wouldn’t get into grad school with a 2.99 unless you have work/research experience that you’re not telling us about. Have you already applied? Deadlines are passing by for Fall 2011 admission. If you haven’t, then I recommend that you don’t. Go get a full-time job and decide later whether you want/need grad school.</p>
<p>Also, use paragraphs. It’s very difficult to take you seriously when you present a giant wall of text.</p>
<p>Well, actually, I would say that if you really want to go to graduate school, give it a shot. Apply to a couple of your top choices. You never know. </p>
<p>Believe it or not, my GPA is worse and I just got accepted into a top10 engineering PhD program (a week after sending in my app!). Sure, I had a couple of hooks, good recs, and some tough circumstances to explain but it sounds like you have the latter (and maybe more?) as well. </p>
<p>Be realistic with your expectations but don’t be afraid to try!</p>
<p>It sounds like your frustration goes beyond worries about grad school. Does your school offer resources for people struggling in classes? Can you get tutors or someone to help you study more effectively through your school? I don’t know how all schools work, but my undergrad offered these services for free. Do you have attention problems or feel depressed and unmotivated? Taking advantage of your school’s counseling services might help then.</p>
<p>Right now, instead of worrying about grad school, I would focus on getting a handle on your classes and preparing for a job or full-time volunteer opportunity after graduation. Once you feel less stressed, then start looking into grad school. And don’t beat yourself up too much- it sounds like you are motivated and well rounded with your heart in the right place. You’ve already accomplished a lot by making it through most of a bachelor’s degree; give yourself credit for that!</p>
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<p>Don’t do that again. It certainly won’t help you to get into grad school if you get expelled for academic dishonesty. If you can’t afford books that’s what the library is for.</p>
<p>If you know that you have trouble retaining info you need to start studying more than 10 days in advance of your test. You should be studying continuously throughout the quarter.</p>
<p>And if you think you’re depressed you need to deal with that, schedule an appointment with a counselor. It won’t resolve itself on its own.</p>
<p>Do you have any experience with environmental science research or work? To be honest, if you lack that, that’s more of a problem than your GPA. Get a job/fellowship/internship/volunteer in the field you’re interested in and work for a few years.</p>