Getting into top grad program after

[msmrmw]

Retaking undergrad courses I did not do well in, taking some graduate courses, and possibly doing a Master's or another Bachelor's degree?

I spent the first three years of my college career without any idea of what I wanted to do, and didn't especially try hard either. I still kept working at a lab though. By the time I was a second semester senior, I found my goal in life: to get into a top graduate program. However, although I had two publications, I also had a 3.3 GPA, and the desire to achieve this goal came too late to improve it. Understanding this, I am planning to do one or more of these things:

1) retake undergrad courses I did not get an A in
2) do a Master's degree
3) get a second bachelor's degree that is different but related to my research interests (because you know how inflated the grad course grades are)

Would the old 3.3 prevent me from getting into a top 5 program after all this, or would I have a shot then? That's all I need to know; tell me if it's a possible goal or I should give up.

 

[Quantum Defect]

Retaking undergrad courses I did not do well in, taking some graduate courses, and possibly doing a Master's or another Bachelor's degree?

I spent the first three years of my college career without any idea of what I wanted to do, and didn't especially try hard either. I still kept working at a lab though. By the time I was a second semester senior, I found my goal in life: to get into a top graduate program. However, although I had two publications, I also had a 3.3 GPA, and the desire to achieve this goal came too late to improve it. Understanding this, I am planning to do one or more of these things:

1) retake undergrad courses I did not get an A in
2) do a Master's degree
3) get a second bachelor's degree that is different but related to my research interests (because you know how inflated the grad course grades are)

Would the old 3.3 prevent me from getting into a top 5 program after all this, or would I have a shot then? That's all I need to know; tell me if it's a possible goal or I should give up.

I have known a fair number of people like you who get an M.S. in a field allied with the PhD program that they are interested in, followed by a PhD Program at a very good university.

You won't know if you can get into a good school, until you try. I think that you would be competitive for many good programs, why not try now?

I would also not worry so much about getting into a "top 5" institution as much as I would worry about getting into a good research group (assuming you are physics, chemistry, engineering, etc.) at a quality university. At this stage, the reputation of the group (and what you do) matter much more than the fact that you went to a bright & shiny graduate school.