poor undergraduate GPA

[BnTAcT]

Hey everyone! I am trying to get opinions on my likelihood of getting accepted to Clinical PhD programs and Neuroscience PhD programs with a below average undergraduate GPA (3.2 overall and 3.25 last 60 hours). I worked in a lab for 1.5 years in undergrad and just started a position full time as a project coordinator in a neuroscience lab which is a two year commitment. I have not published yet but have a poster presentation coming up in a few months. My GRE scores were 160Q and 156V. Any advice on raising undergraduate GPA after graduation with other courses outside of doing a masters program? I am planning on applying for the Fall 2021 cycle. Any advice is appreciated!!!

[PsyDuck90]

If you've already graduated, there isn't really a way to change your undergrad GPA. A good masters GPA can overshadow the poor performance in undergrad. Your GRE scores are good, so that helps to balance it out. Just try to grind in that research lab and pump out as many posters/pubs as you can and make sure your LORs and SOP are stellar. 

[BnTAcT]

16 hours ago, PsyDGrad90 said:

If you've already graduated, there isn't really a way to change your undergrad GPA. A good masters GPA can overshadow the poor performance in undergrad. Your GRE scores are good, so that helps to balance it out. Just try to grind in that research lab and pump out as many posters/pubs as you can and make sure your LORs and SOP are stellar. 

Have you heard of doing a graduate certificate to show you can do the coursework while working in another lab?

[lemmabear]

I had a 3.0 GPA from a top 20 school, mediocre GRE scores, and ~4 years of full-time experience as a technician in neuroscience labs. I just got into a Neuroscience PhD program for Fall 2019!!! I've been in your boat for 4 years-- agonizing over my low GPA, but my admittance should show you that anything is possible and that some programs really value strong research experience over perfect academic records!!! There is hope. 

[BnTAcT]

1 hour ago, lemmabear said:

I had a 3.0 GPA from a top 20 school, mediocre GRE scores, and ~4 years of full-time experience as a technician in neuroscience labs. I just got into a Neuroscience PhD program for Fall 2019!!! I've been in your boat for 4 years-- agonizing over my low GPA, but my admittance should show you that anything is possible and that some programs really value strong research experience over perfect academic records!!! There is hope. 

Hi! Did you have any publications or research posters?

[PsyDuck90]

3 hours ago, itsannat said:

Have you heard of doing a graduate certificate to show you can do the coursework while working in another lab?

I personally haven't heard of it, but it may be a thing to explore. Your best bet is to talk to your current mentors and see what they suggest. A graduate certificate wouldn't hurt, but I also don't know how much it would help either.

[nimsaj95]

I had 3.2 GPA with similar GRE scores. I got a lab coordinator position for a year and a half which allowed me to get a lot of experience (2 first author papers, 1 middle author paper, 2 posters). I was worried about getting in, but my current mentor insisted a master's wouldn't be a good idea, it would just cause a ton of debt. His advice and my experience tells me authorship is really the best thing you can do for your application! I got into 2 R1 institutions, and I turned down 3 other interviews. Make sure to have a professor read over your statement too. I went through about 10 versions of my statement before submitting. Good luck!

[Bald Academic]

I'm in the same boat. My GPA is similar to yours. I am currently doing my master's (2 years in Brazil) and striving for a perfect GPA to compensate for the undergraduate GPA. I intend to have at least one paper published in a decent journal to improve my chances.

[presentfancies]

I got into a clinical phd with an undergrad gap of 3.2 and a masters gpa of 3.0 (neither of these in psychology). I did take some undergrad classes from 2016 and 2018 in psychology to show that I can do coursework

[NiT]

On 6/12/2019 at 6:03 PM, lemmabear said:

I had a 3.0 GPA from a top 20 school, mediocre GRE scores, and ~4 years of full-time experience as a technician in neuroscience labs. I just got into a Neuroscience PhD program for Fall 2019!!! I've been in your boat for 4 years-- agonizing over my low GPA, but my admittance should show you that anything is possible and that some programs really value strong research experience over perfect academic records!!! There is hope. 

Hi, could you please tell me what kind/level of PhD program you just got in? I just graduated with a relatively low GPA and now I am facing with a 2-3 years or technician job in Yale. I don't know if I should spend two more years before enrolling in a PhD program. And I worried that I might not get better PhD program after the 2-3 years of technician job.

[Clinapp2017]

3.2 isn't terrible. I would advise taking the Psych GRE to show your knowledge of that subject area (will help balance the good general GRE and this subject vs. a "meh" [but not awful] undergrad GPA). At your new job, start talking NOW with your PI about potential projects in which authorship (ideally 1st to 3rd) is possible. Having 1-2 quality publications under review (or, ideally, in press), as well as associated conference meetings, will honestly be the best way to overcome a low-average GPA.