Should I get an MA/MS before PhD?

[sapphose]

My undergrad GPA was 3.3, so not too great but not completely horrible. I was planning to get more research experience for the next couple of years but I’ve been considering masters programs because of my GPA. I’m interested in Clinical Psych and Psych PhD programs, but I know my GPA is definitely not competitive enough for Clinical Psych programs.  Would getting a good GPA in a masters program help my application for a PhD program later on?  Also would retaking psych classes be helpful?

[ilobebrains]

24 minutes ago, sapphose said:

My undergrad GPA was 3.3, so not too great but not completely horrible. I was planning to get more research experience for the next couple of years but I’ve been considering masters programs because of my GPA. I’m interested in Clinical Psych and Psych PhD programs, but I know my GPA is definitely not competitive enough for Clinical Psych programs.  Would getting a good GPA in a masters program help my application for a PhD program later on?  Also would retaking psych classes be helpful?

How does your Major GPA look, assuming you're a Psychology major? 

I had an overall 3.4 GPA, but my college has grade deflation and sends a letter explaining that with the official transcripts. My major GPA was a lot higher (3.7) for Psychology. I think that they would definitely factor in other things as well, like if you did fantastic on the GRE and had great research experience (at least some posters and maybe a publication or two). One of my interviewers asked me why I did so well on the GRE but had a low GPA. Awkwardly, I had to explain the whole grade deflation thing. But that encounter makes me think that perhaps they chose to overlook my low GPA since I did well on the GRE and had strong clinical research experience.  

I don't know that retaking psych classes would be helpful. I feel like that would just be redundant for you... but I'm definitely not an expert. Just my two cents.

[sapphose]

1 hour ago, ilobebrains said:

How does your Major GPA look, assuming you're a Psychology major? 

I had an overall 3.4 GPA, but my college has grade deflation and sends a letter explaining that with the official transcripts. My major GPA was a lot higher (3.7) for Psychology. I think that they would definitely factor in other things as well, like if you did fantastic on the GRE and had great research experience (at least some posters and maybe a publication or two). One of my interviewers asked me why I did so well on the GRE but had a low GPA. Awkwardly, I had to explain the whole grade deflation thing. But that encounter makes me think that perhaps they chose to overlook my low GPA since I did well on the GRE and had strong clinical research experience.  

I don't know that retaking psych classes would be helpful. I feel like that would just be redundant for you... but I'm definitely not an expert. Just my two cents.

So my major is Biopsychology and many of the classes I didn’t do so well in are included in it (bio & ochem).  My major GPA is about the same, probably slightly worse because of it. I haven’t calculated it but I believe my Psych GPA would be around 3.4-3.5.  My GRE was alright at 159 V, 155 Q, 3.5 AWA.  I think it’s an okay score for masters programs but I was planning on retaking if I applied to PhD programs.  I also don’t have a lot of research experience so I’m planning to set aside a couple years for that.

[psychology_student_]

3 hours ago, sapphose said:

So my major is Biopsychology and many of the classes I didn’t do so well in are included in it (bio & ochem).  My major GPA is about the same, probably slightly worse because of it. I haven’t calculated it but I believe my Psych GPA would be around 3.4-3.5.  My GRE was alright at 159 V, 155 Q, 3.5 AWA.  I think it’s an okay score for masters programs but I was planning on retaking if I applied to PhD programs.  I also don’t have a lot of research experience so I’m planning to set aside a couple years for that.

I had a similiar experience of having a Human Bio w/ concentration in Psych undergrad degree. 3.3ish overall GPA. Just got Master's in gen psych last spring and got into a very good phd program this year first time applying.