Cavum

I am not at the University of Southern California lol... But I have a cousin who goes to UCLA who says the competition is intense between UCLA and USC. Apparently they (the undergrads of USC) placed red soap in a fountain before a fated match up in football? But your advice and story is so very inspiring! Being able to get back on your feet, and just doing it! I do plan on working my butt off! Seriously right now I am looking into the best ways for making up for my first two years at the university. I'm not only going to focus on raising my grades, but hopefully TA for a teacher, do some internships at museums (hopefully at the Smithsonian) and what not. Its just hard as an undergrad in this job market, where everyday you hear about the perils of doing a degree not related to business or the sciences. Literally on yahoo (not the most credible source, I know) every other few days there's an article about the worst paying degrees, best paying degrees, careers with the worst prospects, careers with the best prospects, etc., and I'm just like, GAAAAAAH. I'm just glad my parents don't see these articles, otherwise they would seriously put their feet down with my current carrer choice . But thank you again for your story. It makes me feel better that I am not at a complete loss .

Why do you ask? ... But no, I'm taking about the other USC lol... Why? Did you happen to go to the University of Southern California? I hear its a fantastic school ...

I think that's something important to remember - about the interest. Though I want to immerse myself in history, I also want to immerse myself in languages - just as an interest though. I've been pronounced, by the university, as fluent in Spanish (certainly need to brush up though - four years of studying it doesn't mean I'm fluent T.T I'd love to study Italian and (for personal interest) Korean. I'm not quite sure what periods I am in interested in. I've only ever taken classes that had to do with British History, but I'd love to study (and see if like) French History, Italian History, and Indian History :3. I'm more fascinated with the culture of Korea than anything else - but again, that is a hobby . Thank you for all your help! I am have learned a lot about differentiating interests/hobbies from actual career interests.

I'm relieved that I am not the only one who goes through this. Everyone from my friends to my roommates are all in science majors, and of course, they are all in it for the money. I know a couple of students who changed majors from business to the sciences, but I have yet to hear about any student who has changed majors from, say, a science or business to the humanities. Maybe I should count my lucky stars that I've decided this early on rather than later . And thank you for the luck! I am well aware that job prospects are abysmally low... but I can't even imagine myself working as a secretary in a doctor's office, going over charts and what-not, let alone being an actual doctor .

I want to be just like that! I want to be breathing history, especially the periods that I'm interested in! And thank you for taking the time to help me out! :]

Thank you!

I agree with ZeeMore21 - this is wonderful advice. I am quite happy that I took the time to seriously think about this now, rather than just chug along mindlessly. And thank you for your tips as well! I loved your line: "Make history a part of your life." It's something that I fully intend to do :3

Thank you for your encouragement ZeeMore21! And thank you for such an inspiring story and all the advice! I am happy that all has worked out for you, and I hope that all will work out for me too :3. I am certainly done with my parents pushing me around to do what they want. These last two years were... difficult, to say the least. I want to look forward with fresh face, and will work hard to get where I want to be! People like you certainly give me the confidence that not all hope is lost :3... And just as a side question - what is it like studying after college. And I don't mean by actual studying, but your everyday life? Is it always about studying or do you have to time to yourself, etc?

Thank you for replying lyonessrampant! My history GPA isn't stellar either, but I am *highly* motivated to do well in my upcoming history classes. I have never thought about attending a MA programs - how does that work? What would be some good MA programs for History (or, what would be some good places to look into to find out)? And thank you for such encouragement! I greatly appreciate it! And also, just another question - as a graduate student, how was your 'everyday life?' Besides studying, what does one do as graduate student? I'm quite curious to know! :3

Hello! I am currently an undergraduate at USC. I will be a junior in the coming fall, and I am majoring in History while minoring in Business. I want to go onto grad school for History, and hopefully end up researching for a University of my choice. The thing is, my GPA is abysmal right now - 2.64. I don't have any excuse for it. I tried my hand at the sciences for two years because 1) my parents basically said that if I didn't, they would not help me pay for college and 2) they gave me the worst nightmares of not having any sort of stability in my life. For my parents, no major exists except for Business and Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Etc. I decided to take classes in both majors - and I called it quits this summer after I ended up failing one of my biology classes. I hate Biology. I hate any science, and it's definitely not in my blood (though, stereotypically, it should be). At the end of the Spring Semester this year (when I felt the eminent doom of failing a class), I talked with my advisor. I expressed my interest in getting a Ph.D in history. He basically scoffed and said that my grades are too low and there really is no point in trying. I was depressed after that for a good two months. I mean - does my life end here? What do I do now? I've decided to keep at it. Some how, in some way, I will get into a respectable graduate program. But before that happens, I need to know what to do with my two (may be three, to bring up my grades) years left at USC. Some of my questions are: What is the process of applying to a graduate school, and specifically a graduate program for history? What are somethings that you did to create a top notch CV for the graduate program you applied to? How did you get good recommendations from professors? What was your GPA (if you're will to tell, of course )? What are some activities I can do to show that my interest in history and build up my own CV? What are some of the programs you applied to? Any other tips? I am currently look at the NYU history program, but this is all just speculation unless I start doing well in my classes.