Will a mediocre GPA keep me from research?

Graduate School
1

<p>So I am at junior at UC Davis for entomology. Due to orgo my gpa went from a 3.4 to a 3.19, but I think I will be able to get it to a 3.4-3.5(maybe) by the end of my senior year. I have a year of research experience as of this September, and will be continuing my own projects and lab work alongside an internship with a biotech company doing some bioinformatics. I love research and want to do it for a living, but if I don't get my GPA up I feel like my options will be slim. I know I want grad school, definitely a PHD. I know a lot of people would say that my GPA is fine, but when I ask current grad students their undergrad GPAs I get a lot of "oh, I left cornell with a 3.6..." and the average GPA seems to be a 3.6-3.7. I'm not horribly picky about my graduate major or school, as long as I am in the subject material I love (invasion ecology and/or biological control).</p>

<p>My question: Can I get into a high-middle range school or above with my projected scores? If my GPA hovered at, say, a 3.2, would I have a solid chance? </p>

<p>Sorry for being one of the many people complaining about their GPA, but thank you for any advice.</p>

2

<p>I graduated last May with a GPA of 3.5 and I am now applying for graduate programs too. From what I learnt, you should be fine as long as you keep it above 3.0. Most of the programs I have looked at/I am applying to, indicate that your GPA must be above 3.0 to be considered. My professor that I worked for during my senior year personally told me that GPA is actually the least important aspect in your application! Even I have seen some programs that are asking for your GPA from your last 60 or 90 credits if your CGPA was lower than 3.0.</p>

3

<p>You’ll be fine. A 3.4-3.5 is not going to keep you out of PhD programs… a 3.4 with mediocre research experience and unremarkable LORs will, but a 3.4 with solid research, a good GRE, good LORs? You have a shot at some good schools. Maybe not Harvard Stanford Hopkins etc, but that GPA will not kill you. Plenty of people around these boards have gone to good PhD programs with that GPA or lower.</p>