Do graduate schools require you to be perfect?

[Retsi]

Hi guys,

 

I just came down from my second mental break down this week. I figured out that my lowest possible GPA this semester can be a 3.56 GPA (first semester freshmen), which is BARE minimum for many Ph.D Psychology programs. I'm talking with my cousin who also wishes to do the same thing, but there's a lot of doom and gloom and I've been discouraged completely. I've been told and saw records of people who get admitted and they're mostly 3.8 GPA holders.

 

I know I'm more than a grade but it feels like only grade matters. Especially since there are so FEW seats (like what around 6 depending on the program?), I'm becoming hopeless and having a crisis. I already have planned two study abroad trips (one in Canada and the other in Australia) which offer research psychology internships (I already have some research experience with pandas in China back in HS--through a program) and some volunteering experiences. I may be invited to the honors society as well and I'm a member of the student government on campus, but I feel like my minimum GPA will shoot me in the foot.

 

---And I don't even want to know about the GREs right now.

 

Sorry about this messy post I'm just very pessimistic and depressed/lost hope in my future. I will fight for it no matter what, but it feels like there is no REAL way to achieve it. I'm one of those hard-headed people who are determined to get what they want, and this is the first itme I ever felt prevented.

 

When I calm down I'll probably clean this up, and I'd definitely have more clear-minded replies (it's also finals week). I'm posting because I need answers now--I know I just started my semester as well but I have such a disgusting obsession of being perfect. That, if I don't have a 3.7 I feel like a failure because I feel pressured to be perfect.

 

Thanks and sorry.

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

You're a first semester freshman. You have plenty of time to get your GPA up, change your mind twenty times, and get everything in order for an application. Besides which, a 3.5 isn't going to keep you out of grad school if it's balanced with other good things (research experience, clear research goals, letters of recommendation, etc.). The GPA is just one, imperfect measure, and grad schools do not expect you to be perfect. Some grad schools will even make exceptions for sub-3.0 GPAs (in highly competitive Ph.D. programs) IF the candidate has other things going for them.

 

Take it from this former Res Assistant, Tour Guide, and Teacher Assistant (i.e. a lot of experience with freshmen): do as well as you can in school, of course, but do not reduce yourself to numbers. Establish solid relationships with the faculty, take advantage of every opportunity you can, and remember to take a few social breaks for yourself. My first semester was also my lowest - there's a lot of adjustment and learning. 

Edited December 15, 2013 by TakeMyCoffeeBlack

[NoSleepTilBreuckelen]

I completely agree with the above poster. Enjoy your undergraduate career - get to know factuality and peers, don't be afraid to take a class that interests you but isn't in your field , and explore opportunities.

 

And about your GPA, a 3.56 is nothing to worry about. Your first semester in college is hard because you are learning what the school expects from you in terms of writing and projects and time commitment, and this may be very different than high school. Once you're more familiar with what they're looking for from you, that may help boost your GPA.

 

It sounds like you are very conscientious and motivated and thats great, just don't forget to make sure you enjoy the process of being in school. After all if you're going to be applying for a PhD program, you better be sure that you like being in school! 

 

Good luck with finals! 

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

Also, I'd just encourage you to be open to the possibility of falling in love with a different path. You never know! At 18/19 it's difficult to have your whole life planned out. It's good that you're taking the steps now that will set you up for success in what you think you want to do, but keep an open mind. Undergraduate is about becoming an intelligent, well spoken, well read individual.