How hard will it be to get into a good grad program?

Question

I want to get into a large, research oriented university with a PhD program in genetics. I will be applying either mid-late fall 08 semester or early 2009 (as you can see there is a large difference in my last 60 hour GPA for before fall 08 grades and after fall 08 grades).

Cumulative GPA: 2.976

Last 60 hours before fall 08 semester: 3.09375

Last 60 hours after fall 08 semester: 3.4769

GPA in major classes: 3.3

GRE: 90th percentile

Biology Subject GRE: 90th percentile

Research experience: genetics - 1 year (also was the lab's tech) & organic chemistry 1 semester

I will also have three good letters of recommendation

My low GPA is the result of circumstances during the first part of my collegiate career. In my late teens and early 20's I was the only caretaker for my physically disabled, abusive mother who suffered from several mental illnesses. I took care of her while working to support us both and going to school full time. There was a large amount of my undergrad career where I was having severe anxiety attacks and depression from this and it really affected my GPA.

Answer 1

Most grad programs are ranked on the stats of their incoming classes. This means your cumulatives grades and test scores are very important to them. Most grad programs (I'm not familiar with research graduate programs) also have communities online where you can see the kinds of scores that your goal university typically admits. If you are too far outside their general admissions, then your chances are low even with good extras like LOR, etc.

You situation seems very unique, but sadly many admissions for graduate programs pay very little attention.

The bottom line is that you should always apply anywhere you want to go. Not applying means you know for certain you won't get in. Look at the admission figures and you should be able to see what schools you have good shots at. Like in undergrad, go for a safety, some mid range, and a few hopefuls. But if the admission process is anything like JD or MD programs, then your GPA and test scores are (despite school assurances otherwise) their primary admission criteria.

Answer 2

I like your chances. :)

Subjective and objective criteria are used to decide whether a candidate is likely to succeed in a graduate program.

And yes, some who serve on graduate admissions committees are eccentric folk; that said, you've done everything you possibly can to compensate for a 3.0 GPA - which I might add, isn't all that shabby.

Your personal statement needs to tell a compelling story, but as long as you apply to several programs (large and other), you're going to be just fine.

Good luck to you friend!

Answer 3

For a grad program in the sciences, having below a 3.0 GPA is going to be a real issue. There are some programs that won't even look at you. You'll need to do everything you can to highlight the positives, because your GPA is only just a bit too low, and perhaps they will make an exception for you, if you can show them why they should.

When you apply, make an effort to highlight the GPA you had in your last 60 hours, plus your strong GRE scores, and your research experience. Get a reference to reinforce your academic potential.

Go visit each campus. Before you go, research the professors, and decide which one has research interests that most closely match yours, and who you'd like to have as your faculty mentor. Make an appointment to speak to that person. Sell yourself to him, and get him on your side. That sort of support can be extremely influential in PhD admissions.

Answer 4

You might want to consider retaking classes you got lower than a C in. Ask a counselor. You should be able to swap a second grade for the first. Like: If you originally got a D, retook it and got an A the A takes over. The D won't be erased from your transcripts but it won't be reflected in your GPA. This also means that if you got a D the first time and an F the second time the F takes over. So only do this if you're confident you can do better (or at least the same) than last time. What's also good about this is that future schools may potentially see that as maturity. That you failed once but you didn't give up and proved you were capable of it.

A counselor also told me once (not sure if this is true) that some grad programs only look at the last half of your classes (which are supposed to be all your major classes) and primarily disregard what your GE half of school looked like. Perhaps something to look into.

Good luck.

Answer 5

It will be as hard as you make it