<p>I am currently attending Baylor University and am earning a BS in Neuroscience. The problem is I recently switched to this major and they are telling me I don't have enough time to be involved in research which I really need/want before graduate school.</p>
<p>If I stay at Baylor, I will probably only have a 3.4 when I graduate due to depression & anxiety my first two years attending which have really brought down my overall GPA. It seems impossible for me to even consider going to Columbia having a low GPA and no research experience.</p>
<p>The question I have is if I transfer to another school with a similar program, would this be beneficial for me if I end up having an overall higher GPA? Since the previous grades wouldn't count, and my GPA for the other school would be much higher. And this would also open up the possibility of being allowed to do research as an undergraduate.</p>
<p>I am very hardworking and determined, and going to Columbia is my dream. I had a rough start to college and I'm looking for a way to fix this. I am willing to do whatever I can from this point on.</p>
<p>Graduate programs look at ALL grades when examining applicants. This includes transfer grades and study abroad grades if applicable. Transferring wouldn’t benefit you in the slightest and would in fact probably be a pretty foolish move. The good news is that most programs tend to heavily emphasize junior/senior year and major grades, so that works to your advantage. </p>
<p>The best strategy would be to work as hard as you can in the classes you take before graduation and get as much research experience as you can. If you’re a junior, you still have two years to get involved in research (or 3 if you take an extra year). Ask around in the department and see if any professors are willing to take you on as a lab assistant. You won’t be doing groundbreaking stuff if you’re new to the major, obviously. </p>
<p>Applying to master’s programs would be a very good idea – many of them offer funding and would be great stepping stones to PhD programs like Columbia.</p>
<p>There is no reason why you have to apply for grad school directly from your undergrad program. In your senior year, with the assistance of your faculty, look for a full-time research position, especially at a school you might want to attend as a graduate student. You may have to start off unpaid as an intern until you demonstrate your value, but this should be part of the employment negotiations. After a year or two of research, you will be more attractive to grad programs.</p>
<p>And transferring schools will be of no use to you at all for the reasons given above.</p>