<p>Okay, I am not going to argue with you any further as that was not the purpose of this thread. I understand that some undergrads have publications upon entering graduate programs, but this is usually achieved in the final years (many universities require students to write a thesis for ex.), not in the first year or first semester of the second as I am now.</p>
<p>For purposes of applying to graduate school, it’s better to have no experience with good GPA than to have “research record”, as you call it, with bad GPA, since you can always get some lab experience after graduation. You cannot re-do your academic record though.</p>
<p>“Many applicants to top graduate programs have at least a couple of publications.” You’ve just contradicted yourself.
I am not asking anyone for advice on how to get into graduate school. If you have nothing further to say regarding the original post why are you wasting your time?</p>
<p>I assure you, there is no contradiction. Those who make it to top schools with publications have level of talent/energy/dedication well above yours, and they are able to excel academically while working at the labs. Apparently, this is not the case in your case. And given that, in your particular case, if you have to choose between lab experience and good grades, it’s better to choose good grades.</p>
<p>I know that you think that your getting bad grades has nothing to do with your spending time at the lab, but it does, and it will be duly noted by the grad school admission committees.</p>
<p>When did I ever say any of the work I have assisted with was at a lab? </p>
<p>Your assertion of my so-called lack of talent is your opinion, what makes you so qualified to make such an assertion when you have nothing better to do but sit on a website and weed in my thread about something completely different than to what you are commenting? Get a life.</p>
<p>Why attack my qualifications? You know nothing about me, and I know about you that you are getting bad grades while devoting your time to “research” instead of studying, as you should. If you don’t trust my opinion, ask your professors what you should do to become a research scientist - to have “research” experience with bad grades or to have good grades while you can and get experience later (since, apparently, you cannot manage both).</p>
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<p>Again, if you know everything, why are you posting here? In your view then, anyone who is posting here is worthless. So why are you aksing?</p>
<p>Print out this thread, take it away and file it for a few months (or maybe years). Then look back on it later and see how aggressive and childish your posts are. </p>
<p>You seem to just want people to praise and worship you, and tell you you’re wonderful</p>
<p>I can tell you that, but it wouldn’t be the truth. </p>
<p>What the colleges will see is a mediocre student from a foreign school they have never heard of who has no money. Harsh but true.</p>
<p>I think you really have NO CHANCE at the majority of places you are applying for, and even if you get in, no chance of affording them. This is ultimately a situation of your own making. People have made good suggestions at things you can to improve your situation, but you refuse to consider that there is anything you can do to improve your perfect self.</p>
<p>It’s your choice. You can sit there waiting for admissions staff to bow down to your greatness, or you can actually do something to improve your chances of admission. Surely the purpose of posting here is so that others can suggest such things?</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you are as perfect as you seem to believe, you don’t need any of this advice.</p>
<p>I seriously don’t have time to spend arguing back and forth with the two of you. I think we both have better ways to spend our time other than throwing negative, unhelpful comments at each other. From the very beginning neither of you had anything positive to say. What was the point in you posting a link to a thread I posted a year ago? Or drek’thar basically making up things about my school and work experience. It’s not your responsibility or business to judge my past choices or financial decisions. I asked for advice on a particular case relating to a particular set of schools, not for an evaluation of my failures or even success. If you don’t think I can get into those schools, fine. I welcome your opinion, but NOT for you to tell me I’ve taken the wrong path or went to the wrong school or should have published a paper, because we’re two different people with two different opinions on life and what it means to be successful. All of this attacking and insults were not necessary to “chance” me.</p>
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<p>I only see one person posting insults, and it’s not me or drek’thar.</p>