<p>Hi. I'm posting here in hopes of someone to provide me with advice and words of wisdom to help me decide what I should/want to do as a next step in my life. I recently graduated VT with a BS in Biology. I switched majors twice (chemical engineering -> chemistry -> biology) before settling on biology. I was the first of my family to go to college, so I rushed and had no idea what I was getting myself into. Because I was ill-prepared for the challenges and personal bad choices, I now have an abysmal overall GPA of a 2.3 and an in-major GPA of a 2.9. For the last couple of semesters, due to the switch of majors, I was frantically trying to keep up on coursework to graduate on time and raising my GPA. I only had a chance to help out a professor with his research by doing some assisting and grunt work as an extra credit for his class; therefore, I can't exactly reference that as research experience.</p>
<p>Basically my question is: What options should I look into? I understand full well my GPA is pathetic for the sheer number of students with a biology degree. I've had some summer jobs and proved that I am a very diligent worker, but a GPA can't reflect that. Honestly, I'm kind of at my wit's end as to where I focus my efforts now and pretty much willing to do anything to help my current situation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Are you thinking of applying to grad school or are you looking for a job?</p>
<p>I’ve posted around other forums and gotten some advice. As of right now, I am looking around for a job in my field, mainly near home. I’ve also messaged my university and a university near home to see if they got some volunteer position. Also I plan to volunteer/shadow in a hospital lab on weekends. Hopefully, something good will happen. As for graduate school, I haven’t given it much thought yet. Ideally I want to try working a bit and see if there’s a specific field in biology that truly jolts my interesting. I’ve taken a liking to wildlife conservation from researching around, but things are still up in the air really. Ty for your reply though.</p>
<p>I’m am in a similar boat as you. I’ve also recently graduated with a B.S. in Zoology and have been looking for work. As for your GPA, I’m not sure how much employers actually look at GPA. If I were you, I wouldn’t put it on your resume, and only talk about it if they ask. On the bright side, at least you were able to finish and get your degree. Some people have such a hard time with the science courses that they end up switching majors or dropping out.
You say you don’t have much research experience, but I’m sure you took lab courses where you learned different skills. What skills did you learn? Put those on your resume.
I’ve been applying to tons of jobs as a research assistant but so many of them want experience or specific skills, and the only experience I have is what I did in my lab courses. I’m also trying to find volunteer work at my local university.
Urgh, it sucks looking for work. Good luck and let me know how it’s going!</p>
<p>You may want to expand your search to include jobs which do not require a specific major (i.e. like how humanities graduates search for jobs). The supply of biology graduates is large relative to the number of biology-specific jobs, so that the pay levels are no better than what humanities graduates find in presumably mostly non-major-specific jobs.</p>
<p>[Virginia</a> Tech Post-Graduation Report: Salaries reported](<a href=“http://www.career.vt.edu/scripts/PostGrad2006/Report/DetailReportSalaries.asp?College=00&Majors=Y&Cohort=2011-2012]Virginia”>http://www.career.vt.edu/scripts/PostGrad2006/Report/DetailReportSalaries.asp?College=00&Majors=Y&Cohort=2011-2012)</p>