Master's in Physics after lackluster undergrad performance?

[genericity]

Hello, I have a few questions regarding acceptance to master's programs in physics.

I started undergrad many years younger than my peers (I was 14). Due to a combination of poor discipline and time management skills, family issues, and mental health issues, my performance during my first three years of undergrad were lackluster (physics GPA - 3.0). I stopped slacking off in my senior year and made a 3.9 GPA my last two quarters, but having no research experience outside of labs (currently reaching out to professors and in the hopes of getting involved), I don't think going to a PhD program would be feasible.

I'm wondering, how selective are terminal master's programs in comparison to PhD programs? if I were to do a master's and do really well in terms of grades and a thesis, would this open up a path for acceptance to competitive PhD programs? and could anyone recommend schools that are decent for theoretical particle physics that offer a terminal master's? I've only found a few so far.

thank you in advance.

 

[Megaquark]

What's your endgame?...by that I mean, what do you want to do when you're all done with school? Having a career goal in mind can help to make those tough educational decisions easier...have you considered taking a year off from studying to just work and see what life is like "out there"?

 

[genericity]

My endgame is to enter a career in particle physics research. since I've already graduated from school and the earliest I would be considered for admission is either spring or fall of next year, I'm technically taking a year off from school right now! currently working a part-time job (unrelated to physics) and am reaching out to professors in the hopes of volunteering in a research lab part time. I don't want to take even more time off than I already am and hope to get back to physics coursework (and research) next year via a master's program.