Is grad school for me?
Hello! I am coming on here seeking advice about post-grad and where to go career wise. Any and all advice is 100% welcome and extremely appreciated.
For some background, I am a current senior dual majoring in Molecular & Cellular Biology and Microbiology. I have been in research for 2 years, will be 3 by the time I graduate. I work part time during the school year (~15 hours per week) and full time during the summer with an internship through my university in the same research lab. My research lab is actually amazing, i have a great PI and an even better mentor and have learned so so much. I’ve completed my own research project and have presented a poster at 5+ conferences. I am also crazy involved in my school and promoting research. I have the possibility of being on my mentors paper that is hopeful to be submitted later this year. HOEVER, I have a low GPA, entering my senior year it is a 2.9. I genuinely love science and research, I'm just an insane procrastinator and a bad test taker, and it makes me concerned about how I will do applying for grad school.
I am looking for advice on what to do post-grad. I am the only undergrad in my research lab and everyone assumes that I will be going straight into grad school to obtain a PhD. They do not know my GPA. I don't even know if I really want to do a PhD, its a lot of work and obviously I’m not the best student. If I were to apply, I would apply to my same school for grad school, where my PI is on the selection board. I know I eventually want to go into industry, I’m not interested in being in academia forever, I want to do R&D or anything. Can I get an industry job right out of bachelors? Avoid doing the PhD? Possibility just doing a masters? Do I even have a shot at a PhD with my research experience and my PI hyping me up? Very confused about my future and just wanted to see if anyone has any advice.