BlackSunrise

Apologies if this is in the wrong section but. I'm going to be applying next year for some jobs, and a few MPA programs, a few IR programs and a few programs that allow me to combine and do both. My concentration with my MPA would be non profit management and my concentration with an IR program would be International Secuirty Studies or Human Rights (probably the former) I should start this by saying this thead 'assumes' i'll get into a program. Big assumption, I know but lets just assume that, yeah? I know what I want to do and have narrowed it down to 2 things. I want to work either for the government or for a non profit organization that deals with international issues. From an Non profit side I want to, in the end, run and be in charge of a non profit that deals with international issues. If I go down government i want to in the end work as the head of a branch possibly or a high level offical. i wouldn't mind 'working my way up' as a lot of government people do, maybe as a Counterintelligence Threat Analys or Counterterrorism Analyst (using the CIA as an example). I think the analysis and critical thinking skills I get from the MPA and the IR programs will suit me well. Does an MPA/IR aid with this at all? Am I completely bonkers and going down the wrong path? Does an MPA do anything for government based positions. Ideally I'd like a degree(s) that will keep both options open until I decide in grad school what exactly I want to do. Thank you for all you can!

@Pie: What i'm thinking is doing the clinical one during the summer at Tufts or Harvard and then continuing my current lab in MD during the semester; that way I can get the summer experience (plus another LoR!) and keep my semester internship. @Jullet: Thanks! I really do enjoy the lab, it's awesome and fun. Thanks everyone!

Thanks you guys. one more question. will schools looks down on me for not having a 'clinical' experience. My lab is a neuroscience lab that focuses on depression and the axons that create/fire depression. It's more of a wet neuroscience lab but this lab spurred my interest for clinical. Should i try and change labs and get a clinical lab? Or stay in this current lab for the remainder of the time? I enjoy the lab a lot, I just didn't want that experience to 'hinder' me from other applicants; though I'm guessing a good recon from a medical school lab setting of 2+ years (i might get published on a paper too) can't hurt me? Or does anyone have any other advice?

okay thanks. I have 1 presentation at our undergrad research symposium at my school. I'll try and get 1 or 2 more and more research

Thank you all for reading this. I tried to make it as reader friendly as possible as to not bore you since it might be considered a long post.... I graduated last year with a B.A. in psychology and a International Affairs minor, honors society because my psych GPA was high enough and good research experience (2 years in a neuroscience lab). I bounced around a lot to find my passion and I'm glad I did. I want to go to grad school for clinical psychology and then get a masters in international affairs. Hopefully I'll be able to combine it and work for an NGO, research or abroad improving mental health practices on the clinical level in 3rd world countries, or practice here helping victims of var, torture or asylum victims. That's the background that might help you with my question. My GPA overall at my 4 year isn't very high, a 3.25, which I know isn't the best for psychology. BUT my psych GPA is a 3.7 and about 44 credits of psychology classes. The thing is I took about 12 credits of these classes at a community college (6 intro credits and 6 upper level credits) the last remaining credits which are about...90% junior/senior level and 10% sophomore level are at my 4 year. According to my schools policy all of these classes, even the CC classes appear on my transcript but only the 4 year classes taken at my university give me GPA credit; the others are only 'credit towards graduation'. i still have the classes with the grades on them from my cc on the official transcript. My questions(s) are this: Will grad schools not consider me because of the 3.25? I know its low but I'm not sure if grad schools will take into consideration my psych GPA and the different schools where my classes were held. Since a lot of applications ask for 'major gpa' I'm assuming I can put the 3.7 and since my grades are on my transcript, all of them, they can verify? Is it true though schools do care about your overall gpa, your major GPA in upper level courses is more important? Will that play to my advantage? Will I be able to explain in my application the low gpa? I'm not trying to make an excuse or anything about it, I would just like for them to take note that my psych GPA and my last 2 years at my 4 year were above a 3.5. Do grad schools recalculate GPA? How much of a stickler for 4 years are schools? IE will they not care at all about my CC classes (because I hope they do care!)? if it matters here are my GRE scores I tried to make up for my sucky major GPA with this. QUAN: 163 VERB: 161 ANA: 4.5 OTHER INFORMATION My recommendations are 1)my neuroscience lab PI for 2 years between 20-30hours a week, 2) a psych professor, and either my international affairs minor professor or one of my 2 internships with IA. I have 2 internships through IA under my belt; 1 was a part time internship I've done for 2 years as a researcher for Asylum and Torture Victims and another was through Physicians for Human Rights for 8 weeks as a research intern. My IA minor GPA is a 3.7 if that matters. Thanks so much. I really appreciate any advice or experience you can give me.