Need some help - in a sticky situation

[ProteinChem]

A little background in cliffs format:

 

-Sophomore in college, studying for BS in Biochemistry

-Very good at biology, chemistry; decent at math, physics

-Want to go to graduate school and work with protein folding and protein design

-Currently in an undergradate ecology lab, hope to have 5 or more posters with my name on them by the time I leave (3 as first author)

-3.88 GPA after first year (Gen Chem I & II, Gen Bio I & II, Ethnobotany, Calculus I, College Algebra & Trig, English 104, Introductory University Class)
-Semi-heavily involved in extra curriculars, both school involved (leadership positions) and community service involved

 

Here are my two issues:

1) I don't know what I need to be looking at for an MS/PhD when it comes to protein folding and design. Structural Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, etc.? They all seem plausible, but they can't all be equal, surely.

2) My schedule as it stands with a BS in Biochem is going to make a relatively high GPA a very tough task. My work ethic is great IMO, but it can only take me so far. Before next year, I have to have Genetics and Evolution, OChem 1 & 2, Calc Physics 1 & 2, and Calc II taken or else I have to switch majors or take an extra semester of school (I only have one semester where I can take PChem I). I obviously want to get into the best graduate school possible, and don't want three semesters to hurt my (science) GPA because I'm overloading myself with STEM courses. What should I do with this? Take a Chem heavy Biology degree, or continue on as I am and work for the highest GPA possible?

Thanks guys.

[CharonY]

If you want to look at protein folding specifically (which is a bit odd to me, considering how early in you decided on a specific topic), you should check out the local department of biochemistry and see what is going on there.

If you have identified labs with work that you are interested in, ask them if you could work for them as an undergrad and go from there. If you are at a small teaching college or equivalent and want to go to a grad school elsewhere things are a bit trickier, though a good letter of recommendation tends to help in either case (to get into contact with research groups).

 

Other than that, you may want a stronger focus on biochem or molecular biology. However, competing just based on GPAs usually boils down to the luck of draw, as the best unis tend to be overrun with candidates with excellent grades. But again, if you know what you want to research you should focus on the groups, not the school.