<p>Honestly, this is more for cathartic purposes than anything, because I'm feeling super miserable right now. It's angst time.</p>
<p>Basically, I've wanted to do research in biology since I was a kid, and I've slogged through two years of undergrad at JHU (which I'd been so enthusiastic about - naivete, it seems). Coming here seems like one of the worst decisions I've made in quite some time; I can't compete with all the insane premeds, and the curve is harsh enough that my GPA is screwed to high heaven (2.9, probably not going to change after this semester, may go above 3.0 after next/summer). I don't know what to do any more, because I still want to go to grad school, but this is starting to feel utterly ridiculous. And the sad thing is I know plenty of people who aren't that much better off, so it's not just me being lazy - this school is driving us nuts. I'm starting research now, but my GPA is making it hard to be enthusiastic about much of anything. Honestly, I keep hearing from grad students and professors that because it's Hopkins, I'll be okay with around a 3.0 GPA. I'm having a lot of trouble buying that.</p>
<p>I guess more than advice on getting better grades, I need help with direction. Where do I go from here? It feels late asking this now that I'm done with sophomore year and only have a year and a half to go, but...</p>
<p>Let it go. As long you’re making pretty close to 3.0 and yes, IT IS HOPKINS. Profs are willing to give a break on schools like JHU who have very tough grading system. Your LORs will matter as your professors will be able to explain you as a student beyond those letter grades. You should be focused on research and see if it makes you any happier being in the lab than in a classroom trying to study for these exams.</p>
<p>People get into graduate school with worse. As was already stated, you can aim for a master’s program (might even do better than mid-tier since your degree is from Hopkins and if you can get great GRE scores, research experience, and recommendation letters) and get into a great PhD program subsequent to that. Alternatively, you can work in a research lab or do a program like the NIH’s Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award program:</p>
<p>Most important is that you do not let defeatist attitudes get in your way. A low undergraduate GPA can be offset by an otherwise strong application in other areas. Emphasize your strengths - do really well in your research placement, cultivate strong relationships with professors, and do a research program next summer. Also, do realize that more and more people are taking indirect routes to graduate school - by which I mean they’re not going straight from undergrad to a PhD program. They’re doing research or working in closely related fields for a few years before taking the plunge. Not only do you make yourself a more attractive candidate, you see what it’s like to really work in the industry/do the research, make your commitment stronger, explore research areas more thoroughly, and possibly even save up some money.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should give up on your dream. You aren’t completely out of reach. But maybe you should consider transferring schools? It seems like JHU isn’t working for you. Perhaps you will do better elsewhere?</p>
<p>You’ve also only done two years of your undergrad. At this point, I was slightly above what your GPA is now, but was able to learn from my mistakes my first two years and began to prioritize my time better to put school and research before all else. If your GPA is trending upwards, don’t apply until the year after you graduate so that your final year’s GPA is reflected on your transcript when you send it off to grad school.</p>
<p>Strong LOR coupled with scores in the 90th or higher percentile on the GREs (include one of the Bio Subject tests) will put your GPA in perspective for the admissions committees. And JHU does matter when it comes to grad school apps. The grad schools fully understand that a school like JHU pushes a person in ways other schools simply cannot. Best of luck.</p>
<p>If you’re two years in, as the above poster mentioned, you have plenty of time to get your GPA up to a 3.3-3.5 level which is OK for most programs.</p>