bad undergraduate AND Masters grades

[teletubbie]

im having a bad time at my biology masters program (got a C+ and am expecting another one) and my gpa is just a 3 and my uGPA is 2.9. im just abt rounding up a year in the lab im volunteering in where ive basically just done cloning work and have 2 10-week summer research experiences (REU programs). im looking to apply for postbac biology/biochem research programs (though i dont think i have the preparation to delve into biochem) and am just a bit anxious i guess abt the whole thing as i am constantly researching the topic. any opinions at all?

[GeoDUDE!]

What kind of response are you looking for? Your question is super vague. I am not really familiar with Postbac admissions, but my feeling is they are significantly easier to get into that graduate school because you often have to pay your way through them. I'd question though why you want to continue school if you are having such a bad time. My friend is in a postbac at columbia and she dislikes it a lot and says that you pretty much have to 4.0 it or get close to it for it to help you since the classes you take are mid level undergraduate. 

 

just an FYI, a 3.0 in graduate school = 2.0 in graduate school. 

[LMac]

As someone with a poor GPA history, I took informal "postbac" classes and volunteered in a lab for 2 years before applying. This way there were no admissions requirements since I enrolled as a "non-degree seeking" student. It gave me the flexibility to choose the classes I liked, and that would demonstrate that I could now get As in tough classes.  That said, my poor grades were several years behind me, and I think that helped separate then and now in terms of my application. I think the big question for admissions committees would be if you actually want a PhD, when your grades suggest that you don't like school. You'll have to address that really well in your SOP. Anyway, that's just my $0.02. Best of luck

[teletubbie]

that's probably what i need. a break. im kind of going through something right now so thats why my grades arent the best, but i worked hard during my last two years of undergrad and still only managed to an average of barely 3.0 gpa for those two years. maybe im really not made out for this?

[LMac]

If you're questioning that, I'd say take some time off. Either way, knowing in your own heart whether you really want this will only make you happier. Also, figuring out if you don't want it beforehand can only be a good thing. And that's totally ok too. I graduated with a 2.9, loved the idea of school but struggled with the reality of it. After taking a few years to try some other things, I was ready to go for it. Sometimes I kick myself for not going to grad school earlier, but then I remind myself that had I done it too soon I would have been miserable, and most likely unsuccessful. Going for a PhD isn't the end-goal, but knowing whatever it is that makes you happy and pursuing that, is.

[teletubbie]

okay. thanks so much for your reply. im still not used to being a bad student. i was good student in high school and won a prestigious scholarship that paid for my masters and will pay some of my phd, given that i dont take more than a year off. so, i dont really have the time to take off, unless i dont get in anywhere. in that case i will lose the scholarship and i will be forced to think twice about what im doing

[CanRes]

I think that the scholarship will only really help you get accepted because the department won't have to cover your tuition, but after that it probably won't impact your life in one way or another.  It is expected that nearly all biology Ph.D. programs will cover your tuition in full and give you a stipend, and this stipend would be about the same as the scholarship.  So pretty much whether or not you actually utilize the scholarship, you will still get paid about the same.

[teletubbie]

someone told its easier to get into PhD programs w a scholarship. true or false?

[CanRes]

It's for sure true, because they don't have to pay as much for you.