If you are considering a career in research, it will help you decide whether or not your enjoy research, and help you choose between research fields. I t is recommended that students have a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average, but motivated students who are interested in pursuing research can approach faculty to ask about joining their research projects regardless of their gpa. Grades are indicators of a students grasp of the basic principles required, but they aren't meant to be the sole evidence of your ability to participate. If you are struggling with your performance in classes because you do not have enough time to study, you may want to reconsider undertaking research. If you do decide to pursue research be aware of the demanding time commitment involved.
Some research projects have course prerequisites.
If you are unsure about whether or not you have met the course prerequisites, ask the faculty adviser who oversees the project or an academic counselor in the research department. Tasks required by undergraduate research vary widely and are based on an individual agreement between you and your faculty supervisor. The experience is designed to teach students about how and why experiments are done, and to let them join in the excitement of seeing results. More advanced students may design their own research project, but the majority work alongside a faculty researcher or graduate student on an on-going project. To gain a good sense of the scientific research method, it is good to work on a specific project with a hypothesis, read original scientific papers related to the research topic, perform experiments, perform data analysis or discuss data analysis with your sponsor, and write a report.