Do I have any chance for graduate school with GPA 2.8 out of 4 in the us?
It's possible. You will probably have the best chance at a graduate program at your undergrad college, where the instructors know you. If your overall GPA is 2.8, what's your GPA strictly in your major? your minor? If either of those are higher (and either is what you want to study in grad school), definitely talk to the head of that department. Make sure your references are instructors whose classes you've done well in. If you earned your low GPA as a freshman and got better as time went on, point that out. If you took a break from school and started getting better grades when you came back, point that out, too. If you have the opportunity to take a graduate-level class while you're still an undergrad, do it. This will help prove that you're capable of the work and also serious about the program.
Can you get into med school with an undergrad GPA of 2.9 with a biology degree?
Normally not, but there could be a marginal chance of admission if you have something else going for you to compensate for this, such as a super-duper MCAT score; good shadowing or internship experiences; great letters of recommendation from professors, physicians, or other credible persons who believe in you; publications; great admission interviews (if you get as far as being invited to interview); a compelling personal AMCAS essay; and so forth.You might laugh at “publications” (for an undergraduate?), but I am presently mentoring an undergraduate who has produced three publications on diabetic retinopathy in peer-reviewed medical journals even before finishing her B.S. in biology. So you see, this is the kind of competition you’re up against.
How does a bad GPA (2.9) in an undergraduate exchange program in an Ivy League (1 year duration) affect your chances of getting in a good US graduate program later on, provided you have an excellent GPA, extracurricular activities, etc.?
I am not an Admissions officer so this is just speculation. A lot depends on the reputation of your school. A bad GPA outside of your school means that perhaps your school is way too easy or you don't have much of a competition. Struggling at the undergraduate level is certainly not a good sign. So, you will need a story, a very good and truthful story, explaining the bad grades and why you should be able to do better if given a chance. Note that certain Ivys are well known for grade inflation, so a 2.9 may actually look even worse to some graduate schools. In any case, with excellent GRE and letters of recommendation, plus a good story, you may be able to overcome the bad year in the US, but if not, at least you will know why.
Can I get into podiatry school with a 2.9 overall undergrad GPA?
A podiatrist is a medical doctor; you'd have to go to med school and have taken the premed classes. You can't get into med school with that GPA; the average for accepted applicants is about 3.7.
2.9 GPA: Can I get funding for grad school?
I can only imagine how difficult it has been for you to be a student of color at a predominantly "white" institution that is less than progressive. I think the geographic location of the school and whether it is in a rural area or city makes a big difference. It's crucial that you get those recommendations from your professors, one from an internship you did would help as well. Since you are so close to graduation withdrawing doesn't make any sense (you don't "start fresh" at a different University, your GPA will follow you). You'd just end up as a "super senior" somewhere else. Regardless of where you go, given the momentum of depression, you will need to get the appropriate treatment in order to succeed in grad school (maybe a combination of medication and psychotherapy). In other words, at this point, simply changing schools won't treat your depression. Honestly, I would have to agree, you'll find it difficult to get into grad school (especially if it remains below a 3.0) unless you write a superb essay "connecting the dots". Help the schools understand why your GPA is so low, without making excuses or being sappy, while somehow translating your hardship into an insightful sociological perspective or vision (for example, how best to prepare and incorporate students of color into having a successful college experience). Since you want to study Sociology you can make it work. Most schools can appreciate the benefits of a diversified student body, so being poor, of color, AND qualified can help you get admitted as well as receive funding. Some graduate programs are willing to look beyond a low GPA if they can appreciate your value. But you need to express yourself well and find the right school that will listen. Best of luck.
Can a person with a low undergraduate GPA (~2.9) but with max graduate GPA (4/4) and high GMAT (750) get admission to top-20 B-schools?
Some of the admissions consultants on Quora will likely provide a much better answer given they have infinitely more experience than me but since you A2A, I absolutely think you have a shot at 10-20 ranked schools. Of course by all means apply to H/S/W but you would need to couple those stats with an outstanding story or reason for the low undergrad GPA.Schools in the 10-30 range are likely a great fit for you. I specifically mention 30 because you'd be doing yourself a huge disservice if you skipped looking at programs in the 20-30 range. Many of those programs are solid nationally known programs or at least regional targets for many of the same jobs that you might want out of H/S/W. For example, I interviewed at Deloitte S&O with people from Washington Foster (22), Rice Jones (28), and Ohio State Fisher (31). Based on Poets and Quants 2015 ranking here: Harvard Business School Tops New 2015 Poets&Quants' MBA Ranking - Page 3 of 6 - Poets and QuantsI'm betting at many of those 20-30 schools you'll also find solid investment banking, consulting, CPG, and tech grads. It may be a more difficult road but clearly you are bright so don't limit yourself.Now, I'm not saying apply to every school but find the schools that fit for you. Think about where you want to work after business school, both region and industry. Each school has their own focus (or 2-3 key areas of strength) once you get to that part of the list. Best of luck no matter what you decide, it's the greatest decision I ever made!
How possible is it to get into graduate school with a 2.9 GPA from an Ivy League and moderately high GRE scores?
I graduated with a 2.8 undergrad GPA from a relatively unknown school in Pakistan. My major was computer science. I did well with GMAT (94 percentile), references, work experience and application essays and was accepted at Columbia Business School. The best suggestions I received was to acknowledge the weakness of my undergraduate GPA and explain why it was not a true reflection of my ability to survive a structured, quantitative program of study.
Minimum GPA to apply to Graduate school?
Most grad schools require at 3.0 GPA to apply (some will consider you if you're a little under, some won't consider you at all if you're under) but expect a 3.5 or better. He has no shot at all at any program with a 2.0. He has to retake a lot of courses - if he can. Most colleges won't let you retake classes if you got a C or better in them - otherwise everyone could qualify for grad/med school just by hanging around and retaking all the courses until they ace them. That's not an option in grad school - you must maintain a 3.0 to remain enrolled in the program. The requirements will also differ a bit by department. But he's been getting bad advice from someone if he thought this was an option with that GPA.
Will I get into law school with a 2.9 GPA from a private school and a 149 LSAT score?
Your numbers are not good... but if the rest of your application is strong, you may have a chance at getting accepted to a lower ranked law school. You may want to do some serious introspection - do you really want to go to law school and, if you do, are you really up for it? I say this because if you really wanted to go, why on Earth didn't you focus on making sure you got good grades? It seems like you've sabotaged yourself! If those grades actually represent your academic best, then you need to think about whether you will be able to handle law school. It is actually harder than undergrad (in case you were thinking you could just slide by...). If you don't get any acceptances this go 'round, I would seriously consider studying your a$$ off and retaking the LSAT (since there is nothing you can do about your GPA). Good luck!