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less-than-3.0 too :(

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Everything posted by less-than-3.0 too :(

  1. It's not that I can't find a job , I was offered two: one from Aflac and the other from 1st Investors. I didn't take them because they wanted me to drive my own car to people's homes and small business to sell insurance policies and get them sign up for mutual funds. All commission based, no base salary, and no gas and car insurance stipend. I graduated with a BA in Environ. Studies and a double minor in Econ and Asian Languages. I feel that I can do better........ I would enlist in starfleet if it only it were real
  2. Hey is anyone here in the Environmental Systems graduate group at UC Merced? I'm interested in the program and would like to talk with someone on the inside. So if you're out there (I know you are.) Feel free to comment. I'd really appreciate it! To give you a better idea, I just finished my undergrad at HWS in environmental studies, double minoring in economics and Asian studies. I would like to pursue a MS/MA then PhD. in Geography and came across the Merced Environ. Systems page which seemed intriguing.
  3. Ok I haven't been posting for a long while. I've just spent an entire summer job hunting and having interviews to no avail. And I am seriously considering taking a Kaplan or Princeton Review GRE classroom course. I've also been constantly checking out websites of the grad schools that I would like to apply to. Turns out I think I may have a decent chance of getting into USF. I also have had plenty of time to think about my sub 3.0 GPA and realized it's a B- average. (2.73) and I feel a little better now but perhaps all the anxiety of graduation has worn off. Job hunting sucks and I still haven't gotten hired. I'm thinking of possibly trying to get in somewhere for spring '10. How is everyone else doing?
  4. Ok I'm taking my last final today: microeconomics. Then I've got a week off before I start a 4 week summer course at Binghamton University, then I'm officially done as an undergrad. Will begin practice for the GRE, word memorization and math practice. Starting the apps, bugging my profs. for letters of recommendation. What are a few common books that first year grad geographers read? You guys are really helpful btw.
  5. So I guess there is hope and I'm not doomed with my cumulative 2.75. Although the other day I calculated my last 4 semesters and it was hovering around a hypothetical 3.0. So I need to bust the GRE and then find something to do for a year after I graduate while I wait for the apps. Anyone here going into or doing geography? But yes I used cringe every time someone complained about their 3.5 or 3.8. What are grad school's take on learning disabilities? I certainly have some which could explain the sub 3.0 GPA.
  6. Is there such thing as applied human geography?
  7. I'm getting a better idea now of what I want to do. I want to do applied human geography and remote sensing. (Is there such thing?) As soon as the semester is out, I'm going to retake the GREs and start my apps. as well as start applying to gov't census jobs or some related field that I can apply to geography. I did not mention one thing before. I was diagnosed with some learning disabilities a few years ago: dyscalculia and attention deficit disorder. (I probably should have ditched economics from the beginning however by the time I needed a disciplinary minor I had already completed 2 courses and it was easier to finish the econ then start a new disciplinary minor. I already had an interdisciplinary minor in Asian studies and was nearly done with my interdisciplinary major in Environmental studies.) I had a meeting with my school's center for teaching and learning center where they recommended that I be re-evaluated by a neuro-psych to get official extra time on the GREs. They also said I was ill-advised from the start, but I think that's partially my fault. My question to everyone here is do you have or know of anyone with learning disabilities in a graduate program? What are some grad school policies regarding learning disabilities?
  8. Any of you in geography do any remote sensing? I've been reading up about it and it sounds really interesting.
  9. The "why questions" is just so that I can come back and discuss with them on how to construct a good SOP. But yes I see what you mean. I really don't want to become a research slave for someone else. Thanks for the advice.
  10. I got to chat with 2 of my environmental studies/geography profs. today and they helped me define some goals. One is from Brazil and specializes in Amazon spatial analysis and South American economics while the other is a China expert and specializes in water quality. Both of these guys are my favorite profs. Unfortunately They weren't hired at HWS until I was a Junior. They gave me 3 paths that I could follow: -Become a Prof. and stay in Academia, "publish or perish" especially at research universities. Look into geography, sustainable development: environmental studies, water, agriculture and development. -Go into Gov't: USGS, NOAA, USAID/state dept. -Private sector: ESRI, Consulting etc. Then they asked me to figure out for myself why geography is a good fit? (vs. what I've done so far.) And that I should plan on having about 2-3 pages of "why?" questions. My current GIS prof. (the guy from Brazil) recommended that I try and find a graduate prof. at a graduate school who is currently studying South East Asia who might be looking for a native Thai speaker. Don't know how difficult I will be to actually do that but hey it's worth a try at least. My Geography prof. (China expert) asked me hypothetically what's wrong with what I already have with my BA and I told him that I felt that it hasn't really answered all my questions or given the feeling of having figured something inside and out. With my econ background coupled with my environmental studies, I've learned that markets work in theory but they are not very personal. When it comes down to the real world, geography plays a huge part in how entire economies function. Lately I've been reading about the Solow growth function and how infrastructure and technology go hand in hand to the development of an economy. I think I'm going off on a tangent here but I see direct connections between human productivity and their surroundings. Significance of place I feel is very important to people on a personal level. I was also told to look into institutions that are outside of the U.S. Namely NUS or National University of Singapore. (Not really a big move for me since I spent most of my childhood there.)
  11. Thanks people, you're all making me feel better. Lately I've been really burned out and under a lot of stress. I guess I'm going to keep posting my progress.
  12. Thank you so much! I'm so glad I found this website. Yes, I need to figure out what it is I want out of a degree. I know that I want to at least be able to research. At the same time though I'm not sure about staying in academia or going for the private sector. I guess a priority would be to work for the highest pay. Not suggesting that money is my prime motivator but it does help with deal with a dose of reality. One of the things I was deciding a year ago was what could be my highest potential if I stayed in school 2 years for an MA or 5 for the PhD? What are my options just having a BA (which I found out a few weeks ago isn't too promising as a traveling life insurance salesman jeez.....) I would like a good balance between being able to afford to live as well as be happy doing what I like. If I can find that happy medium, well I would be very satisfied.
  13. I am also very interested in the development of south east Asia. (That's why I studied abroad in Vietnam and minored in Asian studies.) Particularly the countries that share the banks of the Mekong River: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam. How they have developed since the second world war. Why they are still considered third world countries, and what programs are being conducted to improve the standards of living in those countries.
  14. I think I would be comfortable working for any of those provided that I find something meaningful that I can support myself with. I don't know if I'd make a good teacher, but then I've never really tried to teach anyone but myself. With the little research I've done, I enjoyed doing it. I'm somewhat independent and like working on my own but it's good to get outside opinions and help when needed. I have a part time position offered by a sustainability non-profit hopefully starting this summer.
  15. Wow this is really helping. I'm getting a better idea of what I want to do. I'm going to sit down with some of my geography profs. and talk about some ideas I have. I think really what I need is time to think, which right now is not enough due to all the work I'm finishing. I was thinking along the lines of how can we make the most efficient use of our space with the least amount of impact to our environments. This could be anywhere from planning cities and communities to make more efficient use of their geographic space to educating people on more efficient, sustainable ways to getting things done: commuting, living, agriculture, commerce etc.
  16. I'd like to learn how to use GIS to spatial analysis and conduct research on how to lessen the impact of human land use. How can we make the most efficient use of space with the smallest amount of impact. This is just my ideas thus far.
  17. So I guess a good place to start would be to contact faculty with prospects of what you want to do and see if they are interested?
  18. I also have a part time job offer from a company called Green Living Project out of so cal. They do grass roots sustainability education in developing countries and was wondering if this would be relevant to put on the application. One of my career advisors suggests that working for a year could also help my chances of getting in. Sometimes I feel kind of lost. I know what I want but I can't really prove it on paper so to speak.
  19. I'm leaning towards pursuing a grad degree in geography and was wondering if I have the background. I'm an env. studies major with double minor in econ and asain studies. I've only taken 3 undergrad geography courses; intro GIS, geography of garbage, environment and development in east asia. I found out kinda late that I want to continue geography and I don't exactly have an amazing GPA. I do however have one summer research internship, one semester study abroad. Do grad geography programs look for very diverse undergrad study?
  20. I was hoping to find a post on this subject. I have just realized I want to go to grad school for geography. I'm still finishing up my senior year for a BA in environmental studies with a double minor in asian studies and econ. I sucked at econ and it's pulled my GPA down to a 2.75. Although I show continuous improvement on the GPA from my freshman year to senior year. All the programs I've looked at at the schools I want to go to all say they want at least 3.0. I'm really scared and don't think I have a chance. I plan to work for a year and start my applications, prep for GRE again and get my life in gear. Everyone tells me that all I need is decent GREs, good recommendations and great statement of purpose and I should be fine. I don't know who to listen to.
  21. I've got a long way before this will happen but I'd like to be able to use geo-spatial analysis to help people live more efficient, sustainable, happy lives. I'd like also make a comfortable income enough to be able to afford a little airplane to have total freedom to go anyplace and gaze down at the earth. just my 2 cents.
  22. Hi everyone. I'm just finishing up my undergrad at HWS (Hobart and William Smith Colleges) in Geneva, NY. and just realized I should have applied to grad schools. The problem is I didn't think I was going to last fall. I've got a really mixed-up, all across the board major and minor. I'm an Environmental Studies Major with a double minor in Asian Studies and Economics. How I got to this point is a little weird, I originally wanted to be an econ major like everyone else in my family but found out that having discalculia (not sure on spelling, but it's a math disability) turned econ into a 4 year long nightmare. I got distracted and took a semester study abroad in Vietnam got all As, was given an Asian studies minor, and then came back and took 3 courses in geography: environment and development in east asia, geography of garbage, and am now taking an intro GIS course. I switched my econ major to a minor in order to fulfill our school's disciplinary/interdisciplinary requirement and have retaken two econ courses and need to take yet another over the summer after I graduate to actually get my degree in the mail. I love GIS, and learning about how and why people do the things they do where they do them. Having grown up in 4 different Asian countries and speaking several languages; Thai (mother's tongue), Japanese, Vietnamese-both enough to get around. I really think I want to pursue a graduate degree in Geography. On top of all this I was lucky to score a summer research job in '08 working with an ecologist and surveying upstate ny for invasive aquatic plants. I didn't really get to contribute much to the scientific journal article other than my name, but I got to do all the dirty work from sorting dead, wet plants, baking them and weighing them as well as scuba diving off a pontoon boat in the finger lakes to get the plants. My only issues are I don't have the world's greatest GPA, 2.75 or 2.8 depending on how well I do at the end of this year. I also need to take a kaplan course on the GREs to boost my score. I do however have 2 profs. who'd be willing to write recommendations. I also may wind up with a part time job with a company called Green Living Project, in Van Nuys, CA. My plan is to use the free time to practice my GREs and start applying to schools. I only really interested in going to schools on the West Coast. One of my geography profs. went to U or Washington and really recommends it while another geography prof. of mine recommends some of the UC schools. I'm also looking at Hawaii as a possibility. My significant other just got accepted for applied mathematics at UC Davis and I was thinking it might be nice to be near her. So there you have it, my college life story thus far. I really appreciate any thoughts or comments on what I should do and would love to know what any current grads in geography are doing and how they got into their schools. If anything sorry for such a long post, I didn't mean to waste anyone's time. tnx.
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