Chem Grad...help!

[ITJ998899]

I'm having one of those hours where I've decided I'm a failure at life, and I've entered a full-blown panic attack (and instead, I should be studying).

I'd like to attend graduate school to study Chemistry. I'm a female, junior, currently attend a name brand University (and by name brand, I mean overrated non-Ivy). I'm interested in Organic Chemistry, but my grades were B+ both semesters. My overall GPA is currently 3.5, but I've had notable, inexcusable blunders that lowered my GPA quite a bit.

So far I've completed a summer research opportunity at a big pharma synthesizing drug-like compounds (that went well), and I've just begun research in an Organic lab (spring, junior year.) I've never gotten below a B in a chemistry course, but I haven't gotten exclusively A's either.

I know this is the most poorly written piece of whatever, but if anyone has ANY insight...or words of widsom....or advice as to how to STOP freaking out, let me know. Do I have a shot at getting into graduate programs?

[DUguy333]

Yeah, I'll tell you exactly what my advisor told me my junior year...it's WAY to early to have these concerns...Here's my advice however as it sounds you're most worried about your GPA. Take a couple of summer of classes or easy electives to "pad" you overall GPA. If all else fails, devote extra time to studying for the GREs to compensate for a less than superlative GPA.

[frankdux]

a 3.5 is still a competitive GPA. in fact, i've heard that 3.5 is unofficially the 'cutoff' for most competitive programs. do well in your last year and you should be ok for getting into some solid schools.

[ITJ998899]

Thanks! My classes are more under control this semester. (It's my easiest thus far, and for the first time ever I'm not taking some harrowing math course!!). I'm hoping to graduate with above a 3.5, and now that I've gotten through my most difficult coursework, so hopefully that will improve :oops:

[mahist10]

I wouldn't worry about it. I had below a 3.5 in chemistry courses, and a 3.6 overall - wouldn't be surprised if we went to the same university... I've heard that employers understand how rigorous the chem programs at the top-10s are, and I know that graduate admissions officers are pretty sympathetic. You certainly shouldn't pad your GPA by taking easy courses - they'll see right through that - but I do recommend taking a couple classes outside of the chem department that interest you. My classmates in chemistry destroyed the curves in the upper-division bio classes, and I found that the lab report-writing experience easily translated to producing fine papers in beginning graduate-level social sciences courses.

[nertperson]

You have nothing to worry about. My final GPA was somewhere in the unenviable 3.1 range, and for no good reason. When asked, I told my interviewers explicitly that it was because I never did shit like withdraw from courses I was doing poorly in, take mickey mouse classes to boost my GPA, take harder courses at community college, or any of the other fun and games I saw other people play at.

I have only gotten into one school so far (and been rejected by at least 8 ), but if I can get in with my garbage GPA, your 3.5 shouldn't hold you back.

[tkm256]

If you apply to the university I'm currently at (which is ranked kinda sorta okay--it's a Big Ten with lots of money, but all the applicants want to go to that shiny gold-and-brown school in the north of the state), you'd get in. I have a 3.8 GPA (mostly in bio, though for a time I was a chem major) and the adviser for the department enthused that I could get in anywhere I applied. A 3.5 isn't too far down from that, so I think you'll be fine.

BTW: organic rocks. Long live the ketones.

[ChemHopeful]

My final GPA was somewhere in the unenviable 3.1 range, and for no good reason. When asked, I told my interviewers explicitly that it was because I never did shit like withdraw from courses I was doing poorly in, take mickey mouse classes to boost my GPA, take harder courses at community college, or any of the other fun and games I saw other people play at.

I wouldn't advise you do this. Plenty of students bring home a 3.7+ without any hi-jinks and the recruiters know this. I would downplay your GPA and offer some apology for it, not try to cast aspersions on other people's GPAs or get defiant about it. You'd be better inferring that the 3.1 gpa you have is not an accurate reflection of your ability than saying that you earned it fair and square. If you can point to a high subject GRE score or As in your upper level courses, that would help

As for the OP, a 3.5 and some B+s won't close any doors. What you can do now is try to get As in your chemistry courses from now on and make sure you have some good undergraduate research experience. Your letters of recommendation will be crucial, as well