<p>Hi everyone! I plan on graduating on 2012 in chemical engineering and thinking of applying for grad school. So, I have some positives on my app as I come from a a top 25 engineering program, have 3 summers of good research experience (even one on Switzerland!), and a GRE of 770 quantitative. Nonetheless, I have some negatives as well, with a 2.3 GPA (2.6 major GPA?) My question is that i'm concerned for my grades for grad school (if i can even get in)...or job. Any tips on how to make the good look much better than the bad?.....</p>
<p>Very tough situation with your GPA. You need to improve it. You might want to take some time taking more classes and doing well – maybe even delaying your graduation.
What do your professors/research supervisors advise?</p>
<p>2.3 is extremely low for grad programs in the US, even from a quality school, and will be tough in this job market as well. I do not think that you should even apply for grad schools this year, as I do not think you have a chance even at bottom-tier schools, although there may be some that will take you. Some employers will be forgiving of the GPA if you have good recommendations with relevant activities and experience, so I would recommend going for a job first, aiming for something that would pay for your continuing graduate education - with your employer paying the bill, you might be able to get into a part-time masters program.</p>
<p>Thank you for both of your replies!</p>
<p>My advisor so far has recommended to not overload in classes, and work really hard with the small (but hard) number of classes I am taking now (which is 4). The professors always recommend continuing with research, as I am proficient in lab and they do not know of my GPA. I wish i would take more classes, but my advisor strongly does not recommend it. I have the option of taking research for credit (which I will do) but it counts for my next semester’s classes.</p>
<p>Just in case, I started writing my statement of purpose but I do not want to mention my grades, should I? </p>
<p>Also, I was hoping to obtain some small advice. When going to a career fair and looking for jobs, should I have my GPA on the resume? my major GPA? both or none?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>
You would have to. Your only real shot at grad school is going to come from convincing some professor to look way, WAY past your grades. To do that you will need fantastic LOR’s (and probably direct intervention) as well as your own story explaining why your grades are so low. Why ARE your grades so low?</p>
<p>
Not sure… the advice I have heard in the past is that if the GPA is <3.00, leave it off.If you include the 2.3, try and include the 2.6 as well.</p>
<p>If I were you I would try having a long heart-to-heart with one of the professors you are currently working with, and seeing if they would take you on as a grad student. They already know and like you, and are more likely than anyone else to overlook your grades.</p>