Getting into a master's program with ~3.0

[Gradbioguy]

So I had a very interesting undergraduate career. I am majoring in molecular biology at a public ivy. I had severe depression that started at the beginning of my second semester, continued through the third, and it was not until the fourth I seeked out help. By the end of the third semester I had a 2.3 gpa. My semester I started counseling I got a 2.88 and started research in a well respected lab. I continued seeking help over that summer and was doing significantly better by the fall semester. Taking upper level classes, I got just over a 3.5 gpa in the fall. My spring gpa (sixth semester) improved slightly to just under a 3.6 causing my cum gpa to 2.98. With my fall gpa, I expect to be at 3.0.

I've continued doing research and have produced 2 posters thus far and will be doing a thesis my last semester. Completely the thesis means I will be graduating with a distinction in research. I will be taking a graduate class in the fall as well.

My LoRs will likely be from my PI (who likes me a lot) and the professor I will take the graduate class in the fall (already taken a class with him and I hope to collaborate with him on my thesis. We are on very good terms).

I anticipate doing well on the GRE, but so do everyone. For the sake of arguements, let's just assume I about the average for someone who gets about a 3.1, 3.2 gpa.

I have no delusions about getting into a PhD program but I want to do a master's program so I can continue to work hard their and hopefully get into a respected program after getting a M.S.

Because of my grades, I dont expect to get into super competitive programs, but I do want to go to decently respected programs. For example, I looked at william and mary graduate biology. They, like others, have 3.0 requirements. Based on the broad overview of my academic achievements, will I be a competitive applicant at such a program? Does anyone have admission data for similar programs?

[ballwera]

Our backgrounds are eerily similar haha. I skipped the M.S and did a 2 year stint as a tech before applying to PhD programs last fall ( you can see my results below, my uGPA was < 3.0). If you are really wanting that M.S, make sure to apply to funded programs. 

[Gradbioguy]

I figured the funded programs would be ideal. Generally speaking, will I be competitive for those programs (again, middle tier master programs)? I guess a more generalized question is what kind of applicant profiles do middle tier ms programs have?

[bsharpe269]

I figured the funded programs would be ideal. Generally speaking, will I be competitive for those programs (again, middle tier master programs)? I guess a more generalized question is what kind of applicant profiles do middle tier ms programs have?

 

From my experience, the school you get your MS from matters little in PhD admissions. The program I attended is ranked between 150 and 200 for biomed sciences (it might be higher for my specific discipline but its hard to find rankings on those). I was admitted to top programs for my PhD. Schools will care way more about what you did during your MS than where you went.

 

I would look for any funded programs with PIs in your interest area and go to whichever you can get funding for. I do think that you have a shot at getting funding for middle tier schools but I would also apply to some lower ranked schools, just to make sure you can get a funded offer. If you are in a lab currently then it might be worth trying to stay at your current school for your MS. It might be easier to get a funded offer there since they are familiar with your research skills already. I ended up taking an unfunded offer at the school near my parents so that I could live them to cut down on expenses. It worked out for me and I got funding after my first semester but I think I was the only one in my cohort to get funding so I wouldn't recommend this plan in general.

[BiochemMom]

My situation is really strange, grade wise.

I'm prior military and so is my husband so due to moving, I have five undergraduate institutions for my total transcript.

When my cumulative GPA from all institutions (the total 135 credit hours for my BS) is calculated as though I attended only one institution, my uGPA is 3.24.

However, if you look at them individually, my degree granting institution GPA is abysmal. 2.56.

I had a 4.0 until my last two years of college. I gave birth mid semester my last semester as a junior (my second semester at my final institution) and did not take incompletes but rather self studied and took two exams and the finals for 18 credit hours of major courses in a three day period, while sleep deprived and seven weeks after having a c section. I made all C's and a D.

My final year, it was almost impossible. I still don't know how I finished my bs. My husband attempted suicide in the middle of a 21 credit hour semester (my last semester--and I had my core completed so I was taking p chem 2, biochem 2, differential equations, analytical chemistry, inorganic and the labs for all but the math), I had a child under one who I breastfed so I was up all night if she was up, and I lived 70 miles from my institution so I commuted 4 hours a day total to go to my classes while so stressed I'm still unsure how I didn't have a complete meltdown. All C's and a d that semester too except biochem where I got an A.

I didn't attend an MS program as a way to improve my transcript (because to an outsider who didn't know what was going on, it looks like I was a great student until the classes got hard) but because I wanted higher pay in industry since my husband is disabled and my income will always be the primary source of income. I overloaded myself to graduate quickly out of guilt of leaving the workforce and financially strapping my family.

I only applied to the MS program at my final undergrad institution. The profs there all knew my situation--every person on the committee had been an instructor of mine during this time period. They all knew I was capable and were "floored by my dedication to complete my degree" (words they said).

Once my MS started, my kid was sleeping fully through the night, my husband was finally receiving disability from the VA (after a 29 month wait), and was being treated for his TBI. My stipend was generous for an MS program and we weren't quite as strapped any longer with me bringing in an income again and the VA paying him for his service related injuries. I took all of my courses in my first two semesters (14 hours each so I could do nothing but research my last three including the summer--when you live as far away as I do and have to be home to pick up a kid from daycare because your husband works night shifts, this was the only way I could focus on research during the limited time I had on campus). I had a 4.0 in my MS even though it was a LOT of work to teach myself the background I didn't grasp from my undergrad in order to do it.

My MS is why I fell in love with research and decided to do PhD. I don't think I would have been able to do the PhD straight from undergrad because I wouldn't have the evidence of my MS GPA and publications to show my grades for my last 3 semesters of undergrad were circumstantial.

Write a killer SOP and don't be afraid to discuss your grades. I did it for the PhD too to explain the 3 semester straight c and d anomaly in my uGPA. I focused on it as a way to prove my dedication to my degree--I kept going no matter what. My letter writers discussed it as well.

Pick great letter writers and knock your GRE out of the park. You can get in. Terminal MS programs are easier than PhD programs to enter and with strong support from your current advisor as well as a willingness to own up to your weaknesses and portray them as strengths could get you there.

Good luck!

Edited June 11, 2015 by BiochemMom