Want to attend grad school but did poorly 2 quarters

College Life
1

<p>I am a freshman at UC Davis. I did poorly first quarter with a 2.93 GPA. Second quarter doesn't look to be much better and I am looking at getting around a 2.8. Both quarters I had 13 units. </p>

<p>Basically I prioritized socializing over studying because in high school I wasn't social and wanted to change a bit. I also realized what I need to do in life and studying in general.</p>

<p>But for spring quarter, I am gonna get serious. I will do work in the library every day for at least 2-3 hours. I will take 17 units and get higher grades to raise the GPA.</p>

<p>I am currently a biology major and want to attend a good grad school like UC Berkeley. Is it still possible?</p>

2

<p>wow… 2.9 is considered poor? Since when? lol</p>

<p>Mmm. Well, as long as you show the effort of it, i’m sure you could probably get into the grad school you wish.</p>

3

<p>Keep going, try to improve and focus more on your studies (already obvious). What do lose by applying to Berkeley? Think about it this way: you already have the “no” by not applying, you are trying to obtain the “yes, your in”. Your GPA can improve, but depends on you, starting today. :slight_smile: Good Luck!</p>

4

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Since the OP wants to go to Cal for grad school.</p>

<p>OP- sure, it’s still possible. But honestly, no one here can tell you if it’s possible for you until you actually see if you’re successful at this goal for the spring quarter.</p>

5

<p>Admissions to grad school work differently than undergraduate. The main factors considered is your coursework that’s related to the type of research you want to do, your research experience, and letters of recommendation. They’re going to care mostly about your grades in your biology courses, and possibly chemistry depending on your research interests. Some schools might require you to have a 3.0 GPA, though if you have strong letters of recommendation or strong research experience, it’s possible that you can get into grad school with an even lower GPA. Since you’re probably taking mostly gen-eds, I wouldn’t worry at all, unless you got low grades in your bio or chem classes. Now is probably a good time to start looking for research opportunities.</p>

6

<p>Winter Quarter isn’t over yet. Finals for most classes are worth a lot. There’s no reason to believe your grades are set in stone.</p>

7

<p>If you’re just a freshman, you shouldn’t worry too much - graduate schools concentrate much more on your sophomore and junior grades (or junior and senior grades, if you apply after you graduate) and grades within your major, especially upper-level classes in your major. Most graduate committees understanding that the initial adjustment to college is difficult for some students, and they are far more forgiving of a lower first year GPA. Just do your best to keep your grades high from now on.</p>