Super Low GPA - Do I stand a chance?

[SFGiantsFan]

Hi all!

 

I have a bit of a predicament and need some advice...

 

When I first started college back in 2002, I messed up really bad.  I went to community college and changed majors three times (from theater to journalism to communications).  I finished my lower division courses in 2005, but I have a super lower GPA of those 60 lower division transfer courses (a whopping 2.2).  I have just started my final year over college at Washington State University, and have a 2.97 in my major courses.  I knew this semester would be hard, but also that it would be the most important semester of my life, as the MSW programs with see these courses first.  Well, I'm not doing as well as I'd hoped, and after this semester is over, I'm assuming that my major GPA will be 2.82 and my overall GPA (transfer and WSU) will be around 2.4.  I'm so upset! I really want to attend an Online MSW program next Fall (2014) but think my chances now are limited because of my lower grades now (pulling mostly B's but it won't help raise it) and my crappy grades almost 10 years ago.  I took the GRE in August and didn't do as well as I'd planned (I did ok on the verbal, but my math sucked).  Applications for the Fall start in January, so I am starting to stress.

 

I do, however, have some unique aspects to this.  From Fall 2011 to Fall 2012, I did an on-campus certificate program at the local community college for Alcohol and Drug Counseling.  None of these credits (48 total) transfer towards my Bachelors degree, as it was a stand-alone certificate program.  I finished with a GPA of 3.2 in the program.  And since December 2012, I have had 6 months of counseling experience.  I work a 30-hour a week job as a substance abuse counselor, so I will have even more experience when I apply.  I am also doing a 5-month internship (required for me Bachelors degree) starting in January, and I am really hoping to do it with the local Department of Social and Human Services (hoping to shadow a Social Worker). 

 

Given that my overall GPA is well below the 3.0 minimum and my major GPA is a bit below, what do you honestly think my chances are?  Is my short time in the field enough to help off-set the crappy grades?  And does the time gap between my lower division grades and now help at all?  Man, I am super bummed that I couldn't pull higher grades this semester.  I am only halfway through, but pulling A's just isn't possible at this point.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  I'm about ready to give up on this whole MSW thing even before I begin... Please help me feel some sort of hope in this whole process!

 

 

 

[MJL34]

Many grad programs ask you to calculate your GPA based on the final 60 semester credit hours. While that might be similar to your "Major" GPA, it might turn out a little better for you if your grades improved as you progressed. However, the important dose of reality is that Grad School studies will likely be harder than your Undergrad classes -- so if you haven't been able to achieve A or B grades (I believe you said "pulling A's just isn't possible at this point"), you might want to give thought to why you think that performance will change as you pursue an MSW degree. I'm not saying it won't -- but that's the rationale behind the GPA minimums in the first place. Hope that helps.

Edited October 1, 2013 by MJL34

[SFGiantsFan]

Thank you for your blunt honestly! I truly appreciate it!!

 

I guess I will rethink everything at this point.  I just assumed taking less classes would help me once I got to grad school (I'm just trying to finish my undergrad, so I've been taking 5-8 courses each semester to get done in May 2014).  I'm looking for a part-time program.  I pull mostly B's and B-'s (but isn't enough to bring my GPA up because of the fact that I messed up so badly early on). 

 

Thanks again!

[Kristopher]

While there are "less" classes, the workload is usually much more intense and demanding, and requires even more independent learning than undergrad. Not to mention the course load in conjunction with field work. 

[SFGiantsFan]

Oh, I understand that.  My husband is in grad school right now, and my sister-in-law has her MSW from Boston College, so I've talked to her a lot about it.  And I plan on quitting my counseling job once I start, as I'll be done with my hours for licensure (I was using it for more of a stepping-stone anyways).  I knew the field work aspect would make things more challenging.  But taking 8 courses this past summer semester while working as a counselor 30-hours a week really showed me that I have what it takes.  That's why I'm determined to make this work.

 

Thanks for the help!

Edited October 1, 2013 by SFGiantsFan

[Purplescarves]

If you do apply, you have to explain what caused the low GPA in your essay. Not everyone does well in college the first time around. Social work admissions boards tend to be aware of that, but do expect that you self-assess. If you think you're ready, convince them that you're ready and show some evidence of more recent accomplishments.