I'm not sure if this is the correct forum or not, so apologies. However, I am in need in advice from people that will be objective and straight-forward. Currently I am attending UCSD as a Psychology undergrad after I transferred from a community college. Here is my dilemma - After my first year at UCSD my GPA will be a 2.5, both in overall and major. Obviously this is no where near acceptable for grad school and this is why I am worried. My plan was always to take a year off after graduating in order to gain valuable experience in the field, however with much better grades. I've done calculations as what the best-case scenario would be and with a 4.0 after the three quarters in my Senior year I would have a 3.1 Psych GPA and a 3.0 overall GPA. There's also the option of taking an extra quarter to boost my grades, which would raise it to a 3.2-3.3 (is this worth it?). Also, in regards to research experience and letters of recommendations...I have none. I really have no idea what in the world I have been doing and feel incredibly discouraged with the prospect of going to a university with nothing to show for it.
Summer is coming up and it's a great opportunity to get some experience down. But how do I go about doing this? Is e-mailing professors in the surrounding universities of where I live the best way to do it (I'd work for free)? And even if I do accumulate good research experience, decent GRE scores, and the LORs, which universities would accept me? I assume I'm already out of the running for the top schools. I just feel completely lost and need some opinions and advice about the situation I've dug myself into.
