<p>I am a first semester junior who took a semester off but have now caught up. I a bio major with a 3.7 GPA and an interest in biochemistry also. I could graduate on time, but am now considering whether I want to stay another year to do more research in both biology as well as chemistry. </p>
<p>As long as I have the finances, is there any harm to remaining as an undergrad, doing research?</p>
<p>And, should I elect to stay only 1 extra semester, does it matter if I apply for spring admissions to grad school?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>NAT</p>
<p>Doing more research can only help you get into graduate school. Not all graduate schools offer spring admission, so you might have to stay an extra year rather than just a semester if you stay at all. Alternatively, you could apply to a short Master’s program, but those usually take 2 years and you’ll have to pay for it yourself.</p>
<p>Why spend an extra year in undergrad accumulating more debt (assuming you’re taking out loans) just to do research when you can obtain a full-time research position after you graduate and get paid? You definitely need research experience for graduate school, but consider what would be best for your situation. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if a graduate admissions committee would look down upon a student who took an extra year to graduate, however they would take a close look at what that student was doing in their 5th year. They would want to see that the student was doing research AND taking a solid course load that pertained to the program you’re applying to. </p>
<p>If you choose to graduate on time and apply for research positions, do keep in mind that most labs will ask for a minimum of 1 year (usually 2 years) commitment.</p>
<p>Also, most graduate programs in the biomedical sciences don’t offer spring admissions.</p>
<p>Yeah, and I am really undecided between biology and biochemistry. I think I want to go into the direction of environmental bio/chemistry, so I am thinking the research would help me to decide.</p>
<p>Thankfully, debt is no issue as I go to a SUNY school and live at home. If I graduate on time, I will have only one research experience (I am hoping this summer). </p>
<p>If I decided not to do research in my 5th year, I could wind up double majoring in Bio and Biochem.</p>
<p>However, from reading the posts in this area, it seems that I would be better off selecting one of the majors and then getting in some solid research and extra upper-division courses during that 5th year instead. Is this true?</p>
<p>Part of my problem is that I am sitting on the fence about what exactly I want to do in grad school. Likely, it would be along the lines of environmental bio/chemistry.</p>
<p>Nat</p>