<p>I want to start looking at graduate schools for biology soon but I am not sure if I will be able to get in with my current GPA. Here's the situation: I started at a community college when I was in the National Guard and decided it wasn't for me, so I jacked around for a semester and got really bad grades. A few years later after getting older and wiser I started taking classes again and got my GPA up to a 2.6 and was able to transfer to the university I currently attend. The courses I took at the community college were not related to my current degree (they were business courses). My GPA at my current university is a 3.25 with a biology GPA at 3.6, my total GPA between the two schools is around a 2.7 or 2.8. I wanted to know if graduate schools look at the trend of the GPA? Will it matter that I changed programs and I am now doing pretty well? I also have glowing letters of recommendation, and two more semester until I have completed my degree? Any words of advice or explanation would be helpful.</p>
<p>To my knowledge, most admission boards will look at trends and often times be interested in students that pregressed well over time. You may also get veteran’s preferences since you served which means you are competing with other minoritiy groups for slots which may increase your chances. </p>
<p>I graduated with a 2.75 and a 3.0 in biology, but I did well on my GRE, had clinical work experience and great references, and I got into a masters of public health degree program. </p>
<p>I’d say the biggest determinant will be what you want to do and where.</p>