Clinical Psych undergrad help!!

[BlackSunrise]

Thank you all for reading this. I tried to make it as reader friendly as possible as to not bore you since it might be considered a long post....

 

 I graduated last year with a B.A. in psychology and a International Affairs minor, honors society because my psych GPA was high enough and good research experience (2 years in a neuroscience lab). I bounced around a lot to find my passion and I'm glad I did.

 

I want to go to grad school for clinical psychology and then get a masters in international affairs. Hopefully I'll be able to combine it and work for an NGO, research or abroad improving mental health practices on the clinical level in 3rd world countries, or practice here helping victims of var, torture or asylum victims.

 

That's the background that might help you with my question.

My GPA overall at my 4 year isn't very high, a 3.25, which I know isn't the best for psychology.  BUT my psych GPA is a 3.7 and about 44 credits of psychology classes. The thing is I took about 12 credits of these classes at a community college (6 intro credits and 6 upper level credits) the last remaining credits which are about...90% junior/senior level and 10% sophomore level are at my 4 year.  According to my schools policy all of these classes, even the CC classes appear on my transcript but only the 4 year classes taken at my university give me GPA credit; the others are only 'credit towards graduation'. i still have the classes with the grades on them from my cc on the official transcript.

My questions(s) are this:

 

1. Will grad schools not consider me because of the 3.25? I know its low but I'm not sure if grad schools will take into consideration my psych GPA and the different schools where my classes were held. Since a lot of applications ask for 'major gpa' I'm assuming I can put the 3.7 and since my grades are on my transcript, all of them, they can verify? Is it true though schools do care about your overall gpa, your major GPA in upper level courses is more important? Will that play to my advantage?
2. Will I be able to explain in my application the low gpa? I'm not trying to make an excuse or anything about it, I would just like for them to take note that my psych GPA and my last 2 years at my 4 year were above a 3.5.
3. Do grad schools recalculate GPA?
4. How much of a stickler for 4 years are schools? IE will they not care at all about my CC classes (because I hope they do care!)?

if it matters here are my GRE scores I tried to make up for my sucky major GPA with this.

• QUAN: 163
• VERB: 161
• ANA: 4.5

OTHER INFORMATION

• My recommendations are 1)my neuroscience lab PI for 2 years between 20-30hours a week, 2) a psych professor, and either my international affairs minor professor or one of my 2 internships with IA.
• I have 2 internships through IA under my belt; 1 was a part time internship I've done for 2 years as a researcher for Asylum and Torture Victims and another was through Physicians for Human Rights for 8 weeks as a research intern.
• My IA minor GPA is a 3.7 if that matters.

Thanks so much. I really appreciate any advice or experience you can give me.

[pieceofpie]

The good news is that a lot of grad schools appreciate an upward trend in grades, so you might be ok, but a 3.25 is pretty low.  

 

I wouldn't sat that they're sticklers for 4 years programs. I got in with 27 hours of CC credit, and I've known others that have done the same.

 

When I applied, I only had one school recalculate my GPA, so it does happen. But it may not be in your favor (as it happened with me).

 

I don't know if I would explain the GPA, but that may just be me. You seem have some good research/ internship experience. Maybe talk about how those experiences and the important things you did shaped your research interests.

 

As for what you can do now,y our best bet is probably to gain as much research experience as you can, preferably independent projects that can turn into posters/presentation. 

[BlackSunrise]

okay thanks. I have 1 presentation at our undergrad research symposium at my school. I'll try and get 1 or 2 more and more research

[Knox]

Schools will definitely still consider you. Some schools have cut offs, but that's usually 3.0, and it's just for weeding out unqualified applicants. The other parts of your application will offset the lower GPA. All of the schools that I applied to asked for a cumulative GPA (from all schools attended), major GPA (mine was psych as well), and GPA for your last 60 hours. Psych and upper division GPAs generally carry more weight than overall. Also, if you show an upward trend in grades (freshman year 3.0 to senior year 3.9, etc.) rather than getting progressively lower, that will be to your favor. If you have had struggles in the past, they want to see improvement. 

 

Some schools have a section for you to explain any flaws in your application, or you could address it in your SOP, but I wouldn't. The rest of your application is strong, and I wouldn't waste any time making excuses or justifying low grades. Just play to your strengths. I have a failing grade from my very first semester of undergrad, and even though it was for a legitimate reason, I didn't waste a single breath on it. Just talk about all the awesome things you're doing now, not about the things you did wrong in the past.

 

I don't know much about your questions regarding community college, but most schools will want transcripts from every college attended, including CC. All college courses will be used to calculate a cumulative GPA, but like I said, your junior and senior grades will likely matter the most.

 

Truthfully, I think you have a strong application. GRE scores are good, experience is good, LORs should be good. Clinical programs are insanely competitive, so cram as much research in as you can over the next year, and make sure you're picking schools with a good fit. You'll be fine. Good luck!

[BlackSunrise]

Thanks you guys. one more question. will schools looks down on me for not having a 'clinical' experience. My lab is a neuroscience lab that focuses on depression and the axons that create/fire depression. It's more of a wet neuroscience lab but this lab spurred my interest for clinical. Should i try and change labs and get a clinical lab? Or stay in this current lab for the remainder of the time? I enjoy the lab a lot, I just didn't want that experience to 'hinder' me from other applicants; though I'm guessing a good recon from a medical school lab setting of 2+ years (i might get published on a paper too) can't hurt me? Or does anyone have any other advice?

[pieceofpie]

 Any research experience is better than none, but people who have had more experience in a clinical lab MIGHT have an advantage, partly depending on what they've accomplished.  Can you do both labs at once? 

[juilletmercredi]

1. They'll still consider you.  A 3.25 isn't so low and a 3.7 is an excellent major GPA.

2. You can explain, but there's really no reason to.  You want to spend your application focusing on the positives and the strengths of your application, and not drawing unnecessary attention towards the weaknesses.  The only way I would explain a lowered GPA is if you were sick one semester and that drove down your average, or had a death or serious illness in the family or some other life-changing event.

3. Some do, some don't.

4. Schools will take into account all of the classes you took that are relevant to their program, so your CC classes will count if they are relevant.

 

Also, your lab is very related to clinical psychology research, so if you enjoy it stay where you are!

[BlackSunrise]

@Pie: What i'm thinking is doing the clinical one during the summer at Tufts or Harvard and then continuing my current lab in MD during the semester; that way I can get the summer experience (plus another LoR!) and keep my semester internship.

 

@Jullet: Thanks! I really do enjoy the lab, it's awesome and fun. Thanks everyone!