<p>I'm a Biology/Psychology double major. I will be graduating in two or three semesters, but have not started doing research yet. I have a 2.66 GPA due to some circumstances which brought my GPA down, but a 3.6 in transfer credits (since they look at everything). My question is , what kind of outside-the-classroom internships, volunteering, etc. should I be doing to be admitted into a Genetics Ph. D program? I find it difficult to find specific internships for that. Thanks.</p>
<p>The only thing you need to be doing is research. A research internship at a company would be fine, but generally people do research in labs at their home institutions or neighboring institutions. No other extracurriculars are necessary or even particularly helpful, especially if they take time you could otherwise be using to work in a lab.</p>
<p>Thank you for replying; I saw that you live in Cambridge from your profile. I will try to do research then, perhaps with UMass Memorial if not at my school since I live in Worcester. I hope I don’t have more difficulty finding research opportunities with professors at my school.</p>
<p>Try looking at professors in your department to see what research they are doing, learn a little about it (maybe read a paper or two from their lab), and email professors about working in their lab. Sometimes you’ll be given grunt work (like autoclaving, washing, making plates, etc), but look for every opportunity to get involved in a research project. Many professors are willing to accommodate undergraduates if they have space in their lab (and someone who’s willing to take you on), especially if you’re willing to volunteer.</p>
<p>At my school, they have a job posting website for the university and many of the professors post lab tech jobs on their as well. That could be a way to get your foot in the door. It may not involve much research at first, but you can try to work your way up.</p>
<p>I’m sure professors look at GPA’s to get involved in research though, don’t they? My school is small, so I’m very scared that the professors might see my grades and think “Oh, but he isn’t a very good student…” I took Genetics last year and am very interested in it, but unfortunately, I got a C in the course because I had a lot of health and personal problems that entire year.</p>
<p>Professors may or may not heavily weigh your GPA, but you never know until you ask. Some professors may overlook it or you may be able to explain it to them. Try emailing professors and asking if they have a place in their lab for an undergraduate. Getting a C in the Genetics when you’d like to go into Genetics won’t look great, but you can try to make up for it by reading up on their research, doing better in other biology courses, etc.</p>
<p>You’ll be fighting an uphill battle either way for graduate school if you’re GPA is < 3.0. All you can do is work to raise your GPA, and do your very best to find some great research experience. You may have to get your masters before entering a PhD program–it’ll give you a chance to get a high graduate GPA and show PhD programs that you are capable of graduate level research.</p>
<p>I plan on retaking Genetics and getting an A in it, since apparently my school will replace the grade (but the C is probably going to stay there). The class itself was not too hard, but the problem might be convincing the professor to let me take part in his research, or getting him to give me permission to join his Recombinant DNA class (200-level).
I still have two years left, so hopefully I can also bring my GPA up a lot by focusing on nothing but school and research. </p>
<p>Let’s suppose I get into a Master’s program and then have a really high GPA (and maybe some good research experience). Realistically, is it possible for me to then get accepted into an Ivy League (e.g. Harvard) Doctorate program? I now have the motivation needed to do my best at school, but I hope it is not too late for that or that I have not ruined my chances with my undergrad GPA.</p>
<p>The difficult thing about graduate school admissions is that you can’t really predict anyone’s chances based on their stats. Many graduate schools consider your “fit” for their program–do your research interests coincide with what professors in the department are currently studying? Are the professors you want to work with taking new students? </p>
<p>At really competitive programs, it can be hit or miss with even great applicants. If you have a GPA > 3.0 (obviously, the higher the better, but this is often the cutoff for applications), have good research experience, have solid letters of rec, a good SOP, and are a good fit for the program, then yes, I think you would be a competitive applicant. Having a masters degree would show that you are capable of graduate level coursework and research. It demonstrates that you know what graduate school is like, you are able to succeed, and you are prepared to pursue a higher degree. I think you could be a competitive applicant, but competitive applicants get denied from really great programs all the time. Apply broadly and make sure that you would be willing to go to any of the programs on your list.</p>
<p>What concerns me slightly is your comment “and maybe some good research experience.” I’m sure you didn’t mean it this way, but don’t focus too heavily on your GPA, especially your graduate GPA, if you end up getting a terminal masters. I just mentioned it as a way of demonstrating that you are capable of academic success, particularly if it’s the one deficiency in your application, but it is by no means the most important part of your application package. By far, in my opinion, research experience is the most important part of your application, followed perhaps by letters of rec and your SOP. Don’t disregard GPA, but don’t assume that a high GPA will get you into a top program.</p>
<p>EDIT: I forgot to mention this, but alternatively, you could try to take some graduate level courses. That would also demonstrate that you are capable of graduate level academics.</p>