Elmer_Ellsworth

Thanks to everyone for the honest advice! What are the mid-tier programs, would any of you say? Yes, I realize my sights are set (too) high but I named those schools because these are the programs I've heard the most about (friends, etc.). Starmaker: Heh, well yes but geology isn't physics, we know that - I see your field is CompSci. Which schools accepted you? Thanks.

Hi all! Long-time lurker, first time poster. I'm wondering if I'm going to be competitive at any grad program worth it's salt with a GPA hovering around 2.65. To make matters worse, it's not as if I majored in a hard science, engineering, or mathematics. (Real majors: Philosophy and Geology.) There's no excuse, other than being in the "wrong" program for me my first year and learning the hard way what it meant to study (after getting through high school *rarely* doing so). I'm most interested in the following programs but please feel free to comment on my chances at grad school at-large (note: I haven't taken the GRE...is it going to be worth my time, anyway?): Harvard/Yale/Chicago Divinity (M.Div/A.M.) Brown MPH, M.A. History, Classics, Geology WashU, A.M. Philosophy ...To name a few. For what it's worth, I'll list my extracurriculars (broadly speaking): University Judicial Council Club Community Service Coordinator (Elected Position) Active Member of several clubs; award-winning participant of one Writing Instructor & Tutor (Employed through school) Part-time employment during academic semesters (15hrs/wk) - my grade trend increases after finding work my second year Full-time employment during summer months (40hrs/wk) Writing Samples: I've saved my best writing (where I received at least an A mark) and have made further re-visions. Letters of Recommendation: Another source of worry, for me. I attend a large state school in the American Southwest and was obviously not a great student (that isn't to say, however, that I was a *bad* student - I was just lazy my first year and improved every semester). Thus, I never became close with any of my professors or instructors. There is one, though, who said I wrote "the best paper of it's kind that I've seen from an undergraduate." Perhaps she's a lock? I apologize for the verbosity in this first post. I have a lot on my mind, but will any of it matter with such a poor grade-point average? Thanks in advance! ?