Do C's get more than degrees?

I am a freshman at UC San Diego, having a difficult time studying. I'm smart, I just can't find the motivation to work harder (stress is eating me up). Right now I should be studying for my chem final tomorrow... I've heard that grad school is the new college, and that if you want a good job, you have to go. Is that true? And if I graduate with a C average (or slightly higher), can I get into a decent graduate program for some sort of biological science? Also, any tips on staying motivated?

Do C's get more than degrees?
I am an UCSD alumnus and I can see how you may not be motivated to work hard. The school, as with other UCs, expect their students to help themselves. It will probably help you to study with other individuals that are more motivated than you. That means don’t show up to Warren Lecture Hall five minutes late and sit somewhere in the back. Get there early, sit on the front row and make conversation with other classmates!





Grad schools will be looking at your overall GPA and your GPA for the last two years to account for those who have transferred from a JC, since those grades are not counted toward the overall GPA. For a UC, the minimum GPA is 3.0, while about 3.3-3.5 is probably needed to stand a realistic chance. See the link below for stats on admitted UCSD grad students.





You may say that 3.5 seems pretty high. That is because UCs, except engineering and few other areas, only offer PhD degrees at the graduate level. That’s where the CSUs come in because they only offer Master’s degrees. Although people have various reasons for pursuing a Master’s, it seems like those who did not make it right out of undergrad, earn a Master’s and reapply to PhD programs afterwards.





So if you are going to apply for Biology and you don’t have a very high GPA, you could be going to a CSU first. At a CSU, you will be taking similar graduate classes as those in PhD program for about 1 to 1.5 years. PhD students also earn a Master’s degree on the way. To make an analogy, CSUs are like the JCs at the graduate level in that it gives you a chance to “transfer” to a UC.





CSUs are more flexible in their admission in that some offer conditional admission, given that you maintain a 3.0 once you start, but you need at least 2.5 undergrad GPA to have any bargaining power. Degrees that are terminal at the Master’s level (i.e. no PhD available) such as an MBA or Master of Social Work tend to be more competitive and the minimum won’t be enough.





In sum, grad school will put heavy emphasis on grades earned during last two years so you have plenty of time. But you will have to change some of your studying habits since your grades won’t improve automatically. Feel free to email me if you want more studying tips. Good luck on your finals.
Reply:It depends on your major, but going back for a Master's isn't going to exactly hurt your career!





If you are a C average, your chances of getting into a grad program are limited, especially for biological science.





How to stay motivated? Find your killer! It is JUST the stress that makes it harder to study or is it...what? Find that and conquer it. What stresses you out about studying? Try a study group AND a tutor. Get help.





Also, make connections. Get to know professors and let them know when you are struggling.
Reply:Dear Jenny,


You need to start yourself a study program. Remember any college program is stressful. If you think a C will cut it in a Bio-science program you need to rethink your goals. To stay motivated remember your goals...when you know you have an exam to study for do it 2-3 days before the exam not the night before. Think about where you really want to be 5 years from now. Take a summer class to reduce your fall load. Best wishes to you the Professor with a hammer.
Reply:yea that's pretty much it...I'm a soph. in college...but I'm gonna get my M.B.A. once I graduate...cause that's the only way to stand out among the competition. To stay motivated, try thinking about your life if you weren't in college.
Reply:if you fail out and need a sugar daddy I'll be in touch