Very Low GPA, Decent Everything Else

Graduate School
1

<p>So...I am not really sure what my ceiling is in terms of applying to graduate schools. I want to apply for a PhD in Chemistry, and I am currently on schedule to graduate with a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.S. in Biology from Emory University in May 2013. </p>

<p>The problems:
I have a 3.0 cumulative GPA. My major GPA isn't much better. Unfortunately, I didn't really care much about studying the first half of my undergraduate studies.
I got a 3.0 on my AWA on the GRE.</p>

<p>The rest:
My GPA has been going up fairly steadily. I had a ~3.7 GPA last semester, and I expect it to be higher than that this semester.
My GRE scores were 165 in both math and reading (93% and 96%, respectively).
I have worked in four different labs: 1 private pharmaceutical company, 2 Ivy Leagues, and at Emory. I should get very good recommendation letters from any of these.
I have one publication in Tissue Engineering (Impact Factor 4.0, and presented at an international conference) and have one or two more pending from my current lab.
I also have two years experience working in a biotechnology/chemistry patent law firm.</p>

<p>So basically, I would love any advice or suggestions on graduate school applications and such. I plan on taking the Chemistry GRE in November in hopes to help mitigate a poor GPA, but I also was shocked when I got that 3.0 on the AWA section of the GRE. Thank you all!</p>

2

<p>I would talk with professors at your school and the labs you worked in at other schools.</p>

<p>Are you interested in working at any of the labs you’ve worked in previously?</p>

3

<p>Dear OP,</p>

<p>To build on what RacinReaver said: if you’re interested in working at one of those two labs at the ivy league schools that you have worked in, and you have a good relationship with those PIs, you might be able to talk to them and see if they would like having you as a PhD student in their lab. If they would, then in some cases they can heavily influence admission into the PhD program. In other words, if they can vouch for you and want you in their lab, sometimes they can pretty much “recruit” you into the program. Same goes with your current lab/PI at Emory. You should speak with each of the PIs and explore this possibility. </p>

<p>Best wishes,
-DV</p>