Hi Everyone!
I am currently an undergrad going into my last year at a top 10 geoscience university.
I want to apply to a grad school to pursue a masters in geophysics, but my GPA is much lower than I would like (2.8/4.0).
The one thing that stands out for me (more or less) is that I have 2 theses completed and 1 paper in review.
Does anyone have advice or suggestions?
It depends - are you interested in MS or PhD? If PhD, are you first author or buried in the middle of the author list for the submitted paper? And how glowing do you expect your research mentor’s recommendation letter to be? If you have a first author paper in press in a good journal and you have a walking-on-water- glowing letter from the faculty who is corresponding author on that paper, and if you have another glowing letter from a second faculty for your second thesis and if your thesis topics are in areas that faculty in the programs you are applying to appreciate, then I think you have a chance. We have taken occasional gambles on PhD applicants who have underwhelming grades but stellar research experience, as evidenced by publications and extremely positive letters.
I would be interested in a MS, but would also be completely open to pursuing a PhD.
I would be the first author as well.
With your publication and with glowing letters of recommendation, you may be okay for a master’s degree. Admissions are typically less competitive than those for a Ph.D. program. If you do not get into graduate school, there is no shame in working to gain more experience (and publications) in your field. The further out from undergrad you are the less your grades from that time matter, particularly if you are working in the field and can show you’ve contributed to your discipline (i.e. publications).