<p>Right now my GPA is 3.42. Unless something goes horribly wrong, it looks like I’ll be making all A’s (or A’s and high B’s) this semester. (I have one final left next week, so I don’t want to get ahead of myself.) I’m taking summer classes (all sciences), and I usually do well in those. I’m hoping all of that will bring it up a bit. </p>
<p>I’ll be applying before the end of the first full semester that’s coming. I’m set to graduate in May '09 (was supposed to graduate this year but I’ve been very very sick, esp. at the beginning). Anyway, my professors told me to put an addendum on the application to explain this, only because it did greatly affect three semesters of my work especially, to the point where I finally had to withdraw and almost died. I just had a rough time and so did my grades. I’m still not in the clear because there aren’t cures, but I’m not as sick as I was then. I’m just trying to recover as best I can from that now.</p>
<p>My question now is, how do I try to make up for the GPA? I’m studying for the GRE and taking it probably at the end of the summer. I’m having some issues trying to figure out who to get rec. letters from, just because so many professors forget their students after the students leave their classes. I know it’s happened to many friends of mine. I’m trying to get research in the Fall at the school I want to go to grad. school at…I’m REALLY trying on that. There was only one research spot open here for a ton of biology majors, so I had to go elsewhere no matter what. </p>
<p>What can I do to make up for this grade-point average? It’s not terrible and is within their requirements, but it’s not fabulous either. </p>
<p>The program I most want to get into (at UAB-- for pathologybiomedical science) says that its requirements are: 3.0 GPA, 1000 GRE (which seems low to me, b/c the other biology programs there have theirs set at 1150), 3 recommendation letters, and whatever is on the application. </p>
<p>Thanks ANYONE for advice.</p>
<p>I think you shoud be fine GPA wise, especially since you have a really good explanation as to why it might be on the lowside. My GPA wasn’t stellar either - it was a 3.5 and I managed to get accepted into all the schools I decided to apply to and interview at.</p>
<p>I think what really made up for it was my research experience. I didn’t publish any papers, but I did research in a lab since freshman year and did two different summer programs. I basically got my recommendations from my PIs and one advisor.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if you have worked in a lab or not, but if you haven’t try getting started as soon as possible. Can you take fewer summer classes and work in a lab at the same time? Also, try talking to professors you had before, you never know what they’ll remember.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I think it’s too late for summer stuff (plus I have another surgery and too many classes). I figured if I did it in the Fall, even if I applied IN the Fall, I’d be in the midst of research. If I apply in Dec. or Jan. I’d be done with it (but I do want to apply before the Fall semester ends). </p>
<p>A BIG problem is that a majority of the biology faculty retired after they taught me. I really have to take the new professors, and they usually leave after a semester or two it seems. I’ve heard that some students just ask professors they’ve taken from anyway-- whether they remember them or not. If that’s what I HAVE to do, I will. I just wish they could remember me…my music professors do, but the ones who I need to remember me seem unable to as time passes. :o)</p>
<p>However, I AM taking biochemistry this summer at a college that isn’t my home campus. I’m pretty sure that if I do well in his class (I’ve taken classes over tehre before) he can write me a good rec. letter. Of course I’ll have to find two more people, but is it okay to have a letter from a professor that’s not at your “home” college?</p>
<p>One more thing about research; I would have done it LONG ago if I’d known how. I had an advisor who wasn’t any help (I finally switched), and there aren’t opportunities here for it. As a matter of fact, I’m having to jump through all kinds of hoops to get some research for the Fall.</p>
<p>Ever consider taking a year or two off to get some research experience? You’ll make money and make sure graduate school is something you really want.</p>
<p>I’m doing research in the Fall semester at the institution I want to go to for graduate school. I can’t take a year off college for insurance reasons; I’m too sick to be uninsured and that in itself is complicated. (I have a thread on grad school addendums that covers that somewhat.)</p>
<p>University lab tech positions have some of the best medical insurance out there.</p>