<p>Alot of the websites i've visited for grad schools say they look at your last two years of marks for admissions. I VERY much struggled (failed a few courses in 1st and first half of 2nd year) but started to turn things around in the second semester of 2nd year. </p>
<p>I'm in 3rd year now hoping to keep up with the progress i made, but now i'm just curious how or if my first two years will affect my overall application, since on the academic transcipts it clearly lists your grades from all 4 years and lists how many courses you failed etc. I just hope that its not making a bad impression where the first 20 lines of transcript show disasterous results...</p>
<p>somewhat unrelated to this situation is the letters of reference. I'm not particulary chummy with the profs (nor are they very approachable, as said by many other classmates). I have a prof that i got decent marks in his class, but we have no relationship outside of the classroom. I'm just wondering if i should just ask him anyways?, solely based on my grades in his particular class to be a reference me. </p>
<p>So far i only have one non-academic reference (from my summer job), but i don't think thats going to cut it for academia...so i'm kind of stumped as to where i should go from here.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot to everyone for their assistance.</p>
<p>ps if it means anything, i'm hoping to move back home to attend the University of british columbia, so if anyone goes there could also send me a message b/c im having alot of questions.</p>
<p>On grades - your overall GPA will be a gating factor but as long as it's decent (say 3.3 or better) it won't necessarily be a deal breaker except for the most competitive fields and programs. Unfortunately that's getting to be almost everything these days. Of course, F's make a bad impression, but the fact thet you have (and will continue to) done better will be noted. Particularly important will be the grades in your upper level major courses. </p>
<p>LORs - over the course of this year, start talking to your major professors about grad school. Visit during office hours and explain that you're starting to think about continuing, talk about your interests, and so forth. You won't need the letters until next fall so you have plenty of time. (Incidentally, have one of them specifically address your early grades and how you've done well since.) Writing LORs is part of their job so don't worry about asking - its a professional responsibility, not a "buddy" thing.</p>
<p>Finally, take a look at the first couple pages of Graduate School Admissions 101 for other's thoughts and a lot of FAQs</p>
<p>It would be hard to imagine a letter of recommendation from a classroom professor being all that valuable anyway. Get yourself into a lab. That is the right way to get a letter of recommendation and research experience.</p>
<p>It's your third year. You have plenty of time to establish relationships with your professors. Start now. Forget chummy, just make sure they know you exist and that you're competent. Ask insightful questions in class. Come to them with problems (that will stave off any more F's, at least). Getting a good grade means nothing when it comes time to ask them to exude confidence in your potential as a grad student.</p>
<p>Of course, you shouldn't make it a mission to manipulate your professors into liking you. Experience has taught many of them to smell a kiss-up from a mile away. I've tried ;)</p>
<p>As for the grades in the first two years, it depends. Were those failed classes crucial to the subject you wish to pursue? (An F in genetics in sophomore year, for example, would be disastrous for a biology student, or an F in elementary econ for a business major...). Were those F's a result of an unrealistic work load, difficulty adjusting to an American institution, or other extenuating circumstances? Is your recovery stellar, or just sorta-kinda-okay? Do you have other accomplishments that would make a graduate application stronger (work experience, great test scores, novel ideas and genuine interest in your field)?</p>
<p>Basically, there is no straight answer as to how admissions committees will view your first two years. Your next two will decide that.</p>