Getting into graduate school with low grades?

<p>What are your chances of getting into a prestigious graduate school with a D and a C+ (current GPA 3.1) on your transcript, and what can you do to increase your chances?</p>

<p>That will be a challenge unless your GRE scores are through the roof and your poor grades were early in your undergraduate career and the later grades are all very strong. You can improve your chances by getting involved in a research project that leads to a publication and getting into an REU and then applying to that university if you think that they are seriously interested in you.</p>

<p>Thank you for your advice. The poor grades were 3rd semester, and I hope to raise my GPA to 3.7 or 3.8 by the end of my undergraduate career, take higher level classes (several of the higher level classes will be in the topics that poor grades were received in). I currently am involved in research and plan to do an honors thesis, and I am planning to do a different research project over the summer that hopefully leads to publication.</p>

<p>I ended up with Cs in Organic Chemistry and a C+ in Physics I. My final, cumulative GPA was 3.55 and my GRE scores were a little above average (V167 Q158). I’ve gotten interview offers to 5 of the 12 schools I applied to and the other 7 have yet to send out any interview emails. I also have a lot of research experience (6 years) and applied for and received NIH grants for summer programs and post-baccalaureate research.</p>

<p>Although grades and GRE scores are definitely important aspects of your application profile, if you can put together a narrative of passion, initiative and success in your field of interest you can overcome low grades/scores and get offers to competitive programs!</p>

<p>That’s awesome congratulations! Thank you for your advice, and good luck choosing which school to attend!!</p>

<p>Thanks :). If I may ask, what year are you and what is your field of interest? We can probably give you more personalized advice if you give us a little bit more information about yourself!</p>

<p>I had a slew of Fs on my undergrad transcript, finished with a cum GPA of 3.08 and was accepted to a top program in my field at a Big 10 state flagship. It’s not impossible.</p>

<p>as someone with probably a 3.4-3.6 ugpa and a 4.0 major gpa i’m curious what your stats were to get you in. Did you have amazing research? connections? phd or masters?</p>

<p>thanks a lot!</p>

<p>Thank you, and congratulations! That’s very encouraging. Is SPH school of public health?
I am a sophomore interested in biology, but still still exploring specifically what field within biology I would like to go into. I know I would like to go to graduate school/possibly research and academia. If I can make up for these two red flags…</p>

<p>@cornellbrb: Get into research as early as possible, if that is something you are interested in. Developing a rapport with professors is extremely important, and working in someone’s laboratory is a great way to give professors more time to get to know you (and therefore have more to say about you in the event that you ask them for a letter of recommendation). Once you’re doing research, be proactive and involved. There is a wealth of institutional and national programs designed to get undergraduate students more experience at the bench and presenting their work during the summer and even during the school year. Applying for these programs and getting funding are great ways to enhance your application to graduate (or even medical) schools.</p>

<p>I also found that doing research in a biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory actually helped me understand my biology and biochemistry courses better!</p>

<p>That’s all I can think of right now. Above all, do something that you are passionate about! If you are really dedicated to something, it shows when you have to write your personal statements and statements of purpose and when you have to talk about your interests during interviews.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you!</p>

<p>Yes, SPH is the IU School of Public Health, although my field within the school is not a “traditional” health field. But we’re starting to understand that outdoor recreation plays a key role in healthy people and healthy ecosystems.</p>

<p>HI Congrats on your success in getting into grad school. I was in exactly the same situation you were in. I have an atrocious undergraduate transcript…many Fs with gpa of about 3.06 (about the same as yours). I graduated in 1985 and wish to go to grad school for a masters in Math. Can you give me some advice as to how you were able to overcome your bad grades and get in? Much appreciated. Thanks</p>