<p>I started off as a Chemistry major and switched to Biology about a year in. I just switched last week to Environmental Sciences (what I wanted to do from the beginning but let myself get talked out of it by crappy HS counselors and bad advice).
Anyway, my Chemistry grades are less than impressive -- a string of Cs in lectures, a D in Ochem and As and Bs in the labs. I'm also taking Cell Biology now (too late to drop it) and will be able to pull out a B-/C+ in lecture but an A in lab.</p>
<p>I want to get a Masters in Environmental Science, most likely with an emphasis in Public Policy, Urban Sustainability, Conservation and things like that. The lowest grade I've gotten in a non-Chem class was a B+ in British Lit and in Recent American History.</p>
<p>Will my less-than-impressive grades that are presently unrelated to my major hinder my chances of getting a Masters in Environmental Science? I've looked a few schools and their required classes and only a few require/recommend Ochem and whatnot. </p>
<p>They could. Environmental Science is one of those interdisciplinary majors that could incorporate elements of Biology and Chemistry into it. I wouldn’t stress about it too much, but try to do the best you can in your courses. If possible, I would retake the OChem course you got a D in. Even if they aren’t courses required for your major anymore, they are still affecting your GPA.</p>
<p>I’m not sure how far along you are in your undergraduate career, but it will help if you can show an increase in academic performance after the Bio and Chem courses.</p>
<p>Even if I tailor my searches and target schools to those relating to policy and planning rather than actual research? I do well in the lab portions, but the lectures are killin’ me. The labs are exciting and I do well with hands-on learning. Sitting and listening while I’m being talked at for 8 hours a week? Yeah…not so much.</p>
<p>I have junior standing but I won’t graduate until 2014. </p>
<p>I’m also taking Animal Bio now and will probably manage a B in the class by the end of it. There’s also some other Bio classes that I have to take along with Physics (I’m only required to take Physics I and Environmental Physics, but I think I’ll take Physics II as well). There’s also classes that are directly within my major like Ecology, Environmental Law and Policy, a year’s worth of ecosystems classes, Urban Ecology, etc. There’s also a solid amount of Urban Studies classes I’ll have to take in addition to the three I’ve already taken. I do well in those classes and enjoy them a lot more than the STEM classes (with the exception of, like, 2) that I’ve taken thus far. Perhaps they will provided the needed GPA boost.</p>
<p>I was thinking of re-taking Ochem during the summer online at a local community college. It won’t fit in my schedule for any of the upcoming semesters and I can’t afford to take it at my university during the summer since there’s no summer financial aid. </p>
<p>My GPA from the three schools I’ve attended is about a 3.2 (and should remain around there after this semester), so it’s not awful, just not breath-taking either. But I have two years to at least bring that to a 3.4 - 3.5</p>
<p>This is one of the type of programs I’m interested in. I guess it is more Environmental Studies that I’m interested in and not Environmental Science, per se.</p>