USC chemistry/physics grad school

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

So I’m hoping/thinking of applying to the chemistry grad department for physical chemistry or material sciences and maybe one for physics (just to see). The problem is I have a 2.9 GPA. I read that the min was 3.0 and the way it was worded made it seem like a hard 3.0 with no leeway. I was just wondering if anyone knows of someone who got in with a sub 3.0 GPA. also does it help that these programs are ranked like in the 50’s and 60’s? according to USNews and world report, so maybe they wont be that selective? I would say I have other areas of my application covered. 2 years of research in a p-chem lab, 2 publications, 3rd and second author (maybe a third paper?), great GRE scores and most likely good letters of rec.

Also last two years of of college GPA is 3.1 (slight upward trend). senior year getting mostly A’s.
its so hard to raise the GPA beause I had so many units coming into college and did a lot my first two years. so for example: 30 units of pure A’s got my to go up by .19

I just want to know if they throw out the app and if I should keep my money.

2

anyone?

3

A 2.9 does seem low for admission, but who knows? You can email the graduate schools you’re interested in and tell them your story. Hopefully they’ll give you honest advice.

4

Try asking in the grad school forum, because virtually all the other forums here are for undergrads. But having significant research can trump anything else. And most colleges will pay more attention to the last 60 units or your major units so you can highlight that on your CV. You should be talking to your Professor contacts and see if they have anyone they can reach out to for you or suggestions for your situation. Most people do not get in with low gpa but there is a young Prof at UCSD who graduated with a sub 3.0 from USC and was able to go to UCB for PhD because of the research at USC and post grad research at a lab at UCLA.