<p>hi, I am at the University of Michigan and I am doing poorly this freshman year. First semester was a 3.4 and the second semester isnt turning out to well either. How much does freshman year weigh in graduate school admissions? I am a declared math major and I am doing well in those courses so far so I am not too worried however I want to appear competitive for the top math programs. Also I am of Cuban descent I know graduate school does not weigh minority status as much as undergraduate schools however to what extent would it be a boost to admission? Thanks for your time!</p>
<p>3.4 isn't bad at all (especially in math, don't expect to get 4.0). So, if you improve your GPA, you shouldn't have a problem getting into grad school (if you don't, you'll still get to make it to grad school but you'll have fewer options). It's way too early to worry. But if you want to get into the top math programs, you'll want to be known by your professors to get undergrad research opportunities and good recommendations (research potential is essential for top grad school applications).</p>
<p>can i get a bump!?</p>
<p>You'll be fine. Do well the rest of your undegrad career. Find a research position and talk to your professors about your plans so that they can get guide you and get to know you. The time you invest will pay off in terms of your knowledge of the application process and potential areas of research as well as your letters of recommendation. Most of all, enjoy your time as an undergrad. Like Blobof said, you'll get into grad school somewhere with a 3.4. The next three years you'll be able to learn from your first year experience and you'll probably improve.</p>
<p>I was just wondering how GPA works in college. I don't want to screw up my admission to Grad School the way I screwed up my chances for College. What is a respectable GPA for UPenn Grad School?</p>
<p>I don't know a lot about grad school admissions, but I do know that they look at both your GPA in your major and your overall GPA. Most top grad programs require a 3.0 to apply, but successful applicants probably have much higher GPAs. Some grad programs are more competitive than others. For example, Yale English is more competitive than Yale Ecology/Evolution. Furthermore, just like in college admissions, your GPA is just one factor, although a very important one. To make things more complicated, schools like Chicago and MIT get a bit more leeway with GPA, so there's really no set in stone number. </p>
<p>I hope you're not aiming for Penn grad school. It has great programs, but it's much too early for you to pick out grad programs. You have to know exactly what you want to study, and your research interests should closely match those of the faculty. It's too early for you to know exactly where your interests lie. </p>
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<ul> <li>high GPAs, high GRE scores (the best grad f'ships rely heavily on these numbers)</li> <li>strong letters of recommendation from professors in fields related to your desired course of study</li> <li>a clear statement of purpose - what within your program do you wish to focus on theoretically, geographically, and chronologically, and why is Michigan/Penn/Berkeley etc. the place you feel best fits your needs?</li> </ul>
<p>This last has become increasingly important - in ecology, for instance, my colleagues and I would want to see that you know what our research foci are, and have a real reason to want to work with one or more of us and/or a desire to combine working with us with tapping other strengths in the biology department (such as oceanography or forestry).
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<p>Also, it doesn't really make any sense to ask what a respectable GPA for a grad program is. Do the best that you can do. If 3.8 is a respectable GPA would you still not prefer a 3.9? And even with a 4.0, it's not like you can just walk through into any graduate program that you want (it'll help a hell of a lot.)</p>