Any chance of admission to MS or MA programs?

[Sphex]

GPA  ~2.4

GRE (estimated based on practice tests, because I'm can't-buy-ramen broke)  170 quant  163 verbal 5 writing
No research experience. None.  No publications. No internships.  Nothing.

I'm about to finish a BS in math, with minors (for all they matter) in psychology and philosophy, at a minor public university in the midwest, after starting my undergrad back in '06.  My background in CS is also somewhat lacking, though I have enough familiarity with the style of thinking typically required and the discrete mathematics employed that a great deal of the material comes to me rather naturally.

 

Frankly, I would be applying directly to cognitive science programs, but I've found roughly zero granting an MS or MA rather than a PhD, and I'm trying to remain at least remotely realistic about my admissions prospects.  As such, I'm predominantly interested in programs doing AI research or granting an optional certificate in cogsci, in order to continue my studies while also demonstrating my fitness for such a doctoral program later.  As for the atrocity that is my undergrad GPA: chronic, debilitating major depression sucks, as does abject poverty.  These have both figured more prominently in my academic career than I'd like to admit or explain.  The good news is that the first of these, at least, is under control for the first time in over a decade.  Any advice regarding where/how/whether I ought to apply would be greatly appreciated, as would any direction as to what I ought to do in order to make graduate study a future possibility if the answer to the "whether" portion is a simple "nope".

[123hardasABC]

I'm gonna give you my honest opinion, but please bear in mind that this is just my opinion.

 

I think you need to take a few years off before thinking of applying to graduate school. A bad undergraduate GPA won't break you (hell, I have one too) as an applicant, however, it doesn't look good when it's paired next to an empty resume. What I recommend is you take a couple of years off and build your resume -- find relevant work, internships, and/or research, etc. If your financial situation eases up, you can take a few graduate courses as a non-matriculated student or get a graduate certificate. Doing well in these classes can show graduate schools that you can handle graduate-level classes. It also doesn't hurt to have graduate school professors vouch for your academic abilities in your letters.

 

What you can do right now before you graduate is maintain good relations with your professors and advisors. You may need them later as letter writers. You can also try to see if there are any professors willing to take you under their wing in their labs/research.

 

I realize I was all over the place in my response... In short, take some time off and work on yourself: get some experience and build a resume....then kick the GRE's ass and get into school. You'll make it. It'll just take some time. Believe me when I say this. I graduated with a bad GPA and I only did slightly above average on my GRE...but I took a year off, worked, did research, volunteered, and cranked out some minor publications. And I'm very hopeful I'll get into graduate school next Fall. 

 

 

 

Anyways, good luck. You got this.

[whtchocla7e]

Anything is possible if you're willing to do the hard work.

I know because I came back from the dead myself, so to speak.

 

You may have to rebuild your academic history a little bit, kind of like a lender may rebuild his or her credit history before applying for a loan.

Take some courses related to the program you want to apply for (maybe some missing prerequisites for example), if you are eligible and do well in them. 

Your most recent academic history is the first thing schools will look at (from my experience).

Do it for yourself. Regain your confidence and prove that you're willing to work hard... to you yourself. The rest will follow.

 

Good luck.