Jo
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Posts posted by Jo
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Well, there is some good news, but before I get into that, I have to say that my GPA is going to either bump up very little or stay the same. But this is what I predict to be my final GPA:
Overall- 2.99
Final 60 hours- 3.05
Major GPA- 2.37
I'm going to go the nondegree route and take the classes in the graduate program I want to go into. I'm planning on getting a 4.0 Grad GPA and I am going to reapply to that program I took courses in. I plan on getting to know my professors very well so that they will write me compelling letters of recommendation.
Now I want to ask this. If my undergrad GPA really happens to end up being a 2.99, will that haunt me later on? One of my friends who got into a PhD program told me that if I show that I can perform well in grad school and make nothing below a 4.00, that I might have a chance of getting admitted into their program. This plan is my last plan. I'm still going to apply to more Masters Programs. If all fails, I have my safety net.
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On 4/5/2016 at 5:29 PM, vmortega said:
I'm doing a double major in Microbiology and Genetics and I have a 2.3 GPA. Even though my GPA is so low I want to go to grad school for Developmental & Reproductive Biology. I have had a lot of experience in research since I had multiple internships and jobs working at the veterinary school, zoos, genetics laboratories, etc. In addition, in all my laboratory courses I have passed with A's but in other courses like chemistry and math I have done poorly. I was wondering what are my real chances into getting into a school program even if I get a real high school in my GRE and have good recommendation letters. And if so, which schools do you recommend (similar programs).
I would consider doing another Bachelors or a Post Bac. Anything below a 2.5 overall, you will not even be considered at any school. Above a 2.5, you might get into a mediocre school housed in a building. But to get into grad school now and days requires a minimum of 3.5 overall, final 60 hours, and major GPA. My situation is similar to yours. I have a 2.96 GPA but a low GPA of 3.0 last 60 hours and a 2.4 major GPA. They do calculate major GPA, even if it's not listed on your transcript. Sounds crazy that they take time and use a ruler and look at each course. For me, I probably have no hope at all in ever going to grad school for another 2-3 years. I'll probably end up doing another Bachelors at my home school while my brother will go to grad school before me and he is way younger. GRE scores too are a huge factor. I'm gonna spend a year studying for the GRE, 2 hours a day and then I'm gonna retake it. Some schools will instantly weed out by GRE scores. But GPA is a huge factor. When older people tell you, "graduate school is not hard to get into", they are wrong because they went to graduate school in the 60s and 70s. Things have changed a lot. Also, you will need 90th percentile GRE scores too.
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46 minutes ago, Happington said:
Just want to share, and possibly get some support!
My undergrad GPA was abysmal. There are reasons for this, but unfortunately there is no "Put your excuses for your second and third year here" box on applications. After I graduated from my undergrad, I tried figuring out my GPA (my school doesn't use a 4.0 system) and I figured I had landed solidly in the 2.2ish range, with a 3.2 in my last two years, with the entire last year spent on the honour list. My undergrad also included a forced withdrawal for academic performance, and two changes of majors. The most mixed of records.
I applied to a masters program with the professor who worked with me on my undergraduate capstone and managed to get in. I did great in the program, pulling a 4.0 masters GPA, have upcoming publications, and a thesis with some interesting research using an emerging technology.
Right now I'm applying to PhD programs, and have actually had interest. None of them know my story. One professor talked to me over skype, and didn't comment on my undergrad performance, and I never mentioned it. I had some big research projects, a couple of publications, good GRE Quant scores for my field, stellar GRE AW and Verbal scores for my field. I had to apply late so I only applied to a couple of programs, specifically ones which have a policy that the minimum Undergrad GPA is superseded by a Graduate GPA.
My dream was always to get a PhD, but I gave up at some point. In the last four years I managed to claw my way back to being a half-decent candidate. If I don't get in, I'll try again, but I'm optimistic about one in particular, my #1 choice, in fact. I get the impression I'll be hearing back early next week. The prof that contacted me didn't say anything specific, but I'm optimistic, Computer Science interviews like that aren't common from what I can glean.
Short form: Don't give up hope, pick the right projects, take a few more classes and get A's. Try long enough and SOMEONE will recognize your ability, and scoop you up.
Wow, 2.2 is pretty bad. It seems like your research experience and GRE scores really made up for that undergrad GPA. After reading your post, now I'm starting to realize that there might be hope. Maybe I just applied to all the desirable and most competitive schools in the United States that have huge football teams. As I said, I am applying to some mediocre schools in the summer and some Universities that will be less competitive. But if all fails, my plan is to move out of where I live and to work and take online undergrad Psychology Courses to raise my GPA while I'm working. I was told that I can get into my University's graduate school because the university I go to is horrible and one of the low ranked schools in the nation, but the work is super hard. The city is awful too, everybody who lives there hates it. That is one of the reasons why I really want to move. I was hoping it would be for grad school, but most likely, it's gonna be for work. I also will retake the GRE if I have to reapply, but this time, I'm gonna enroll myself in a prep course. My city never had one because it sucks. I hope if I have to move for work, I will get to live in a big metropolis city. Unfortunately, grad schools in metropolis cities are so competitive and want students with a 3.8 GPA.
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Hello everyone,
As you may have read, I had a horrible undergrad experience and had many personal problems. If you have not read my previous posts that I think I posted back in the summer or sometime last fall semester, then I'll talk again about my horrible GPA, GRE scores, and why I am in this position and why I got rejected from every grad school I applied to, even one school that was mediocre and not accredited rejected me and accepted everyone else:
Applying Now Undergrad GPA: 2.96 overall
Jr/Sr GPA: 3.00
Major GPA: 2.40 (I have no idea if they even calculated that, but it's not on my official transcript)
GRE: 138V/143Q/3.5AW
Work Experience: One semester working at a school and currently working at the same school until June. I have volunteered in a lot of community services working with children.
Personal Statement: I have no idea if this was one of the issues why all the 6 schools I applied to rejected me. I mentioned how I want to work with children and adolescents and talked very little about working with adults and I said that I wanted to go to the University because the program would reach my goals. I never really explained why, and I wrote a lot of scenario examples about how I would help children reach their goals and stuff. But I revamped my entire personal statement and made it sound more professional. I did not mention my GPA and the problems I had in my statement. I never brought that up and the same goes with the GRE scores.
Leadership Positions: I am in Psi Chi as an Officer currently.
I will say this. 3 schools weeded me out entirely and 3 schools read my application but still rejected me. All of my friends got accepted and are all making plans to move and stuff. I only got rejected. I am also shocked that they never even at least gave me a chance for conditional admissions. I told one of my close friends who I trust about this and she told me that it's more than likely my GPA. She also said that I applied to all traditional competitive schools too that only take top students, which is somewhat true. I decided from now on, no more competitive schools. I'm going to apply to schools that are not named Universities and that have the program housed in a building. Traditional Universities are hard to get into.
I have 10 more schools left, most of which are not competitive, one has appeals policy where I explain myself in front of a committee. Should I explain my GPA and GRE scores in my personal statement? Many people told me not to, but I do not know if I should. What do I do? I want to get my life started. It's depressing how I'm the only one who did not get accepted. Would I have a chance at a tiny school housed in a small building?
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1 hour ago, bhr said:
I'm not sure what is not fair about midyear applications. Most schools do this because they need to set their budget and schedule for the following year, so they accept students in the Spring. Summer applications also require that faculty meet to make decisions during a period where they often aren't on campus.
If you feel like you will be a better candidate after graduation, then take a year off. There is nothing wrong with taking a year, or two, or ten, to figure out your path. If you have diagnosed aspergers and a learning disability, than the best thing you can do is use whatever accommodations are available and post a strong semester or two of coursework.
What I don't think you understand is that not having Fs and having people skill through "life" won't do shit for you. Almost every person applying for these programs will not have Fs, and most of them will have better grades than you do. Most of them will also have "people skills", and, to be brutally honest, "life" doesn't count for much when you are 22, unless you have a particularly compelling personal narrative.
If I have to, like if I have no other choice, I may have to do extra coursework. I can get diagnosed with LD and I can get accommodations. Maybe if I take a year off, I might get into my dream school in Fall 2017. I'm trying to avoid that route, but if it's my only option, I may have to do that. That, or I could do an internship somewhere and maybe that will strengthen my application. I could perhaps try to explain I have aspergers and an undiagnosed LD in my future personal statements. But I'm sure people who have below a 3.0 have gotten into grad school.
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Also, I am applying to one school that requires a 2.6 overall or Jr/Sr years. I wonder if I have a chance at that school. No schools say anything about major GPA.
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9 hours ago, bhr said:
You don't want to go to an unaccredited program if you want a job in any of those fields. Here's the thing that links almost every sub 3.0 acceptance: personal responsibility.
You dismiss your grades because of "personal reasons", but don't talk about how you can address those reasons. You dismiss the GRE because you aren't a "test-taker" and never took a prep course. Your one mitigating factor is "people skills" and a semester of lab research (which may or may not be in the fields you are applying to).
Most of us who have had success (and I got into a top MA program with a 2.0ish gpa), have done the following:
1.Have mitigating factors that explain poor grades, proof that those factors have been addressed, and a track record of success after that.
You have a sub 2.5 major GPA and an extremely poor overall and Jr/Sr GPA, suggesting that issues you had manifested throughout your college career. This doesn't suggest that you had a personal issue that affected a single semester or year, or that you had a couple of false starts, but rather that your "personal reasons" were never addressed, and are likely to affect your graduate work. If you can address this in your letter, do so, but just saying "personal reasons" doesn't help.
2. Have good test scores, publications, awards or other marks of alternative academic prowess.
The GRE's are dumb. Many students have problems with it, and it's not always indicative of your academic skills. That said, those scores are horrible for someone considering a graduate degree, and your excuses don't help. Graduate school, particularly in some fields, is full of different tests. Saying that you are a poor test taker will hardly fill someone with confidence in your ability to be successful at the next level. While many people don't take prep courses (myself included), programs are also going to want to know why you didn't spend time preparing for an exam that you knew you would have trouble with.
3. Have compelling experience either in the field or in life.
Programs are looking for people who succeed. If you have had success or experience in a related field to the one you are applying to, or even success in an unrelated one, it helps build a track record for you. Just saying that you have people skills doesn't make you a good grad student. A lot of people have people skills, and can't succeed in the classroom. Research in a lab doing similar work to what you will do in grad school definitely helps here.
4. Have a strong personal narrative and sense of self.
You will need to be able to make a strong argument why your past failures will not be repeated, and why you deserve a place in a program over people who spent more time, and had more success, in the preparations for graduate study. The fact that you haven't identified a specific field that you want to pursue doesn't help.
My suggestions to you:
1. Figure out what caused you to do so poorly in undergraduate work, and address it. If it requires mental health counseling, disability accommodation, or life changes, than address those things, and then talk about that in your letter.
2. Prepare for, and retake, the GRE. While the GRE shouldn't determine your success, it does, and an outstanding score will do a lot to prove your potential.
3. Find a job, either paid or volunteer, in your field. This could be as an administrative assistant, lab assistant, peer mentor, or any other position that gives you insight into how the field works. Doing this will make your SoP stronger, since you will have a better sense of the skills needed to succeed. In addition, you may find new letter writers or advocates willing to help you and add valuable experience to your CV.
4. Pursue opportunities to network, learn and research. Attend talks or conferences that happen locally. Reach out to potential future advisors and ask for their suggestions. Build a network of current graduate students who you may want to do work with. Pursue opportunities to conduct research or publish. Read new books and write up a book review for a journal.
5. Consider taking supplemental coursework that will help your application. This can be undergraduate work, or un-admitted graduate work, if you find a place willing to let you take a course. Consider retaking courses to boost your GPA.
I won't mind working to make my application better, but I do not want to take anymore undergrad courses. What I am trying to do is avoid sitting out a year or even 2 years. I am taking more courses that will get my major GPA up to a 2.5 and my Jr/Sr GPA up to at least a 3.2. By the end of this spring semester, my overall GPA will be a 3.15. I still have schools in the summer I am applying to. However, my dream school is due before I graduate. I'm upset at that. They should have all their applications due in the summer. However, somebody who works at my dream school who I have worked with is writing me a letter of recommendation. Not sure if that will weigh heavily.
In regards to my academic performance in undergrad, I have aspergers and possibly a learning disability. I'm just afraid to address it in my personal statement because I'm worried they will read it and toss my application as a whole. I am planning to get diagnosed with a learning disability and if I do get into grad school, I plan to be on accommodations. The reason I have good people skills is because I have learned them throughout life. But when it comes to academics, I am very weak. I really want to work in the Counseling field because I have had experiences in the past. I don't want to end up working at Burger King or as a Custodian because 20 grad schools rejected my application. I'll tell you this. I never got in probation or got any F's in any classes. After my Masters, I think I will stop there and get my LPC.
I do hate the GRE though. If I were to retake it, I might take the GRE accommodate. I took the regular GRE last time and it was so hard. I may not be able to go to my dream school which is very upsetting. Again, it's unfair to have applications due before everyone graduates. I'll even consider myself lucky if I get into a school in a small town in the middle of nowhere.
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You probably will have a chance. You have some pretty good GRE scores. I might have to find a another professions that requires only a Bachelors. That or I might have to go to grad school abroad.
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Is graduate school even possible for me? Will it ever be? This is what I'll be applying to graduate schools with:
Overall GPA: 2.96
Jr/Sr GPA: 3.04
Major GPA: 2.40
Minor GPA: 3.15
GRE Scores: 138V, 143Q, 3.5 Writing.
One Semester of Research in a Lab.
Work Experience and Volunteer Experience interacting with people.
Compelling Letters of Recommendation.
I screwed up undergrad, I know. Besides doing a post bac, how can I get into grad school? Is it possible to get into an unaccredited program? I know an accredited program might be impossible. I'm wanting to go into Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Rehab Counseling, or Professional Counseling. I know some schools have a cutoff of 2.5. But most have a cutoff of 3.0. I have people skills and a lot of experience working with people. Can't they just use that to waive GPA? I did get C's and D's in my major, but that is because of personal reasons. I am not a test taker, which is why I scored badly on the GRE. I also never took a prep course and never had any prep for it.
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Is graduate school even possible for me? Will it ever be? This is what I'll be applying to graduate schools with:
Overall GPA: 2.95
Jr/Sr GPA: 3.04
Major GPA: 2.45
Minor GPA: 3.15
GRE Scores: 138V, 143Q, 3.5 Writing.
One Semester of Research in a Lab.
Work Experience and Volunteer Experience interacting with people.
Compelling Letters of Recommendation.
I screwed up undergrad, I know. Besides doing a post bac, how can I get into grad school? Is it possible to get into an unaccredited program? I know an accredited program might be impossible. I'm wanting to go into Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Rehab Counseling, or Professional Counseling. I know some schools have a cutoff of 2.5. But most have a cutoff of 3.0. I have people skills and a lot of experience working with people. Can't they just use that to waive GPA? I did get C's and D's in my major, but that is because of personal reasons. I am not a test taker, which is why I scored badly on the GRE. I also never took a prep course and never had any prep for it.
The sub-3.0 GPAs ACCEPTANCE thread
in The Lobby
Posted
I had some issues in undergrad. I know the subject very well. I can talk about it to people. But I had some issues that got in the way of me doing well. Depression was one of them as well as having an undiagnosed Learning Disability. But I do not want to go back to undergrad. Undergrad was a nightmare for me. I'm happy that one school allows you to take classes as a nondegree student. I'm fine with that. I can show that I know the topic very well. And if I have to make a presentation in front of a professor who is part of the committee, that could increase my chances. Maybe I can explain in his/her office about what I was going through in undergrad and how I am a changed person and that the low GPA should not matter. To tell you, I thought I was doomed to work at McDonalds or at a grocery store the rest of my life until I found this school that lets you take classes in the program as a nondegree. Now, I can prove myself and show them that I am a hard worker. But still, I'm applying to more Masters Programs, hoping there will be a miracle that I will get a chance to be in a Masters Program. Keep in mind that one school I am applying to this summer allows you to make an appeal. So there is still a chance.