MS in Experimental Psych

[ahluwam1]

So here's my story:

 

My first two years as an undergrad were bad because I was a biology major and I was suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I had no idea until in my second year and I sought treatment. Since then I have switched to a major in psychology as a junior.

 

So my grades were REALLY bad as a biology major but a lot better as a psych major...if you were to look at my transcript it would be like you are looking at two different people. I am getting my GPA slowly to a 3.0 (it was shot down from my pre-med and bio courses...it should be like a 2.89). I also got involved in internships and research and I am a trained EMT and suicide hotline counselor. In addition, I am involved in the only Health Psych lab on my campus (this is my first semester but we are preparing a manuscript and I am heading my own project next semester). I am also a research assistant this semester at a university medical hospital.  Next semester I will be in another lab. So in total, by the time I graduate I will have been involved in 3 research labs. Both qualitative and quantitative research. 

 

On top of that, I am the Vice President of my EMS organization on campus, and the president and founder of a mental health organization on campus. Next semester I will be doing those two jobs, plus a clinical internship in an Eating Disorders wing.

 

I am applying to MS programs in experimental psychology....do i have a chance? I feel like i show a lot of promise because since my switch and my realization for my love for health psychology I have been doing nothing but research and work. My GREs were not bad...hopefully I am aiming for 159 for both sections...my verbal might be lower and my quant might be higher. 

 

Thanks for any advice in advance!

[PsychGirl1]

I think you need to stress that point in your SOP, and then live with the thought that some people won't review you because of your GPA. Contacting professors you're interested in ahead of time may help, as sometimes they don't even get to review people with super low GPAs- they get filtered out. I'd rock the GRE as much as possible.

 

If you don't get in, I'd take a few night classes at a grad-school level, and show that you can perform well at that level. Plus, it might help the calculation of an "overall GPA", depending what formula each school uses (some ask you about last 2 years, some undergrad, some overall, some all psych-specific classes).

[Lisa44201]

I think you do have a shot at an Experimental MS. Research experience, good GREs, and a good SOP will trump a mediocre GPA, provided your GPA is at least a 3.0.

 

I would recommend not addressing your low GPA in your SOP, unless you can do it in once sentence, with that sentence outlining a transition from pre-med to psych, and that sentence is absolutely crucial to the overall flow of the paper. If all three of those conditions are not met, do not mention it. 

 

Apply to a wide range of programs, don't limit yourself geographically, etc. etc. 

 

(Disclaimer: I failed out of undergrad, was re-admitted several years later with a remarkably low GPA, worked like crazy to graduate with a 3.53 GPA, and got into an Experimental MS. Now working on my PhD. I am familiar with that route.) 

[PsychGirl1]

^ Oops yes, I meant not necessarily addressing your low GPA, but about addressing the career/major change. It will probably help them take more time to see the change in your transcript over time, as opposed to just assessing your overall GPA.