<p>Posted this in the "what are my chances" subforum too, because I'm not sure where this should go...</p>
<p>I finished my undergrad at Stony Brook at the end of last fall (9 total semesters). I doubled majored in Chem & Applied Math and Stats. My total undergrad cum GPA is 2.97, however if you discount my first year when I was having serious personal problems, it's about 3.2. I was on dean's list my final two semesters (A little bit above 3.5), so my GPA trend is always increasing (I only ever had one semester which had a lower GPA than any of my previous ones). My major GPAs follow the same trend (they're a little higher). I hear grad school admissions notice these trends, which I hope is true. I did research with a prof for a year, and I think I did everything he asked me to do well, although he didn't ask for that much. It was all computational, no actual labwork. I did an internship at the NYC department of environmental protection one summer. I got a good employee evaluation. My GRE scores (percentiles) are 97th% verbal, 78th% quant, and 78th% writing (raw scores are 167V/160Q/4.5W). I'm taking the chemistry GRE in a few weeks.</p>
<p>My GPA is a bit of a problem, but I don't think it's low enough to stop me from getting in to at least a halfway decent program. My real problem is letters of rec. I'm definitely getting one from the prof I did research with, but the way things are going, I don't think I'm going to be able to get any more. I've emailed about six professors, only one or two of whom I had even the slightest hope could write me one, but nobody replied. Besides the prof I did research with, I hardly ever talked to anyone, which I sorely regret now... I can't go to campus and ask, it's far and I've moved away. The people I did my internship with are stonewalling me (saying they're too busy, etc) for months and it doesn't look like I'll get anything else. I'm worried that having only one LOR and a mediocre GPA will stop me from getting in to anything at all...</p>
<p>I'm not 100% sure what I want to do, but I think my goal is to get a masters in chemistry and do much better there (I think I can do much better, judging on how much better I did at the end of undergrad than the beginning, and more importantly, I'll network more). This will probably strengthen my eventual PhD app. Is this a common route? Mediocre masters --> do better in masters program to show you're capable --> to PhD?</p>
<p>Anyway, thanks for reading all that stuff, if you did.</p>
<p>I should add that I live about 45 minutes north of NYC and am hoping to not have to move unless I really need to.</p>
<p>Those are all positive things but you do need a second letter of reference. If the supervisor at the internship does not want to write you a letter then ask another professor at your undergraduate school. Preferably one you did well with in a class. Have you chosen the places you are applying to yet? You seem determined to stay in the area. I guess you want to save on expenses. You will likely not get into a highly selective program but I am sure there are a significant number of options near NYC.</p>
<p>The route you have chosen is a reasonable one. I have known a number os students who have gone this way. It is critical that you really perform well in your Masters courses and get a good research experience.</p>
<p>A 2.97 with a 3.5 in your last 60 credits isn’t super terribly low for an MS in chemistry. We can’t really comment on your chances especially since it depends on exactly where you want to apply, as well as other factors, but I think it’s safe to say that you could be admitted <em>somewhere</em> and potentially even a halfway decent program with that. However, whether or not it’s a place you really want to be is the question.</p>
<p>The real issue is the letters of recommendation. Virtually all reputable grad programs require at least 3 letters of recommendation from past professors or people who have supervised you in research or related work, so if you cannot get an additional 2 recommendations, you can’t get into a good program. If you only live 45 minutes north of NYC Stony Brook really isn’t too far away to go visit in person if you have to (at least not if you really want to get in), but I don’t think that’s necessary. Lots of professors write recommendation letters for students who took their classes but with whom they had minimal interaction. Obviously they won’t be the most flowery letters ever, but they could be solid enough to get you admitted.</p>
<p>If you absolutely cannot get recs from 2 other profs, another option is to take two grad chemistry classes somewhere nearby as a non-degree student. Do really well - get As - and establish rapport with the professors. Then ask for a recommendation.</p>
<p>Yeah, I am looking for some upper level undergrad or first year graduate courses in nearby places that I could take over the summer. </p>
<p>I’m still asking profs for letters, but nobody is replying to my emails. I don’t know if profs will get annoyed if you call their office phone for something like this, especially since I probably said about ten words to them ever… if their numbers are even available.</p>
<p>I’m not expecting to get into Columbia or Cornell or anything (well, maybe if I do really well in a Masters) but I don’t want to have to go to the bottom of the barrel if I can avoid it.</p>