Future Considerations from an Undergrad

[lookingfer]

Hello all, this is my first time posting in the Microbiology forum, I have read several of your articles and they seemed very informative. I am at a cross roads, and feel I have not done enough to advance myself in the field of microbiology.

I am in my second to last semester and will be attaining my B.S. in Microbiology in May of 2012. My GPA at that time will be around a 2.9, and I have no lab experience whatsoever. Any attempts I have made to try and get into a lab have been thwarted by the fact that I work 34 hours a week, or that the professor does not want to take the time to train a student that will be graduating so soon anyhow.

I volunteer a couple of hours a week at a center for HIV/AIDS patients, and was wondering with my lack of experience and lack luster GPA what are the possibilities that I can pursue once I graduate. I know that some Medical Diagnostic labs will hire someone with a degree in Microbiology as a Medical Lab Technician, but was wondering if there are any other avenues I could explore and could potentially be successful at. Any recommendations, or any advice would be much appreciated.

[Jorge1907]

What university? I find it hard to believe that you would be granted a BS without successfully completing lab coursework (is that what you meant?). With no practical expertise, you are effectively unemployable as a microbiologist.
I know of one department that offers a 1 hour course in careers in microbiology to educate graduates in opportunities other than grad and med school.

[Jorge1907]

btw - Medical Technology involvess specific training and certification (ASCP) so that opportuntity may not be available to you at this point in your career.