Physics Grad School + Low GPA

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>A question that has probably been asked a thousand times. My GPA for my physics major is currently about a 2.90 and I'm in my junior year. I am also staying in college for an extra year to complete two majors- the physics BS and cognitive science (haven't decided between BS and BA yet). My cognitive science major is a 4.0 right now and my overall is a 3.12.</p>

<p>I would like to go into a Physics grad program, because there is more you can do with physics. I know my GPA is relatively low for admission since some grad schools won't even consider me without a 3.00 at the very least, however I think my CV looks good.</p>

<p>Some things I have listed:
-author of capillary condensation poster presentation for my school
-co-author of capillary condensation poster accepted to the american physical society
-women in STEM accepted to physics society poster session at my school
-survey for women in stem accepted into conference "Gender and Justice in STEM Conference"
-Same survey accepted to "Women in STEM Mini Sumposium"</p>

<p>I also received some grants so I could continue my capillary condensation project during the summer, and I am presenting at the Gordon Research Conference this August.</p>

<p>How am I looking?</p>

2

<p>Grad school chancing is murky at best. What could matter is whether your research experience fits what professors at the prospective schools do.</p>

<p>But did you take the physics GRE?</p>

3

<p>I am supposed to take it this year</p>

4

<p>And thank you for your reply, btw</p>

5

<p>The things I look for when evaluating a graduate application are how well the student has done in the upper division physics courses. Is the Quantum grade a C or lower? The GRE scores are useful (both general and physics) too but grades are the most important. Of course, getting good grades does not mean that you can do good research. In fact, sometimes, those who are very good in the lab are not the best in courses. However, the fact remains that to get to the research portion of a graduate program, a student needs to pass the graduate courses with a B average and that is why we look at grades.</p>