Minimum GPA for PhD programs in general?

[dmacfour]

I recently graduated with an M.S. in Experimental Psychology (emphasis in human factors). I want to know what my options are, should my job search continue to go poorly. What kind of standard am I going to face given that I already have a graduate degree? My undergrad GPA was 3.12, and my graduate GPA was 3.43. I feel that this restricts my options in terms of funding and quality of school, but honestly have no idea. 

 

What do you guys think?

Edited March 15, 2014 by dmacfour

[green90]

Yeah,it'd be difficult. I'm not sure impossible because I don't have your GRE scores, LORs, SOP, and CV in front of me. You'd really need to be strong in those areas to compensate.

[dmacfour]

Yeah,it'd be difficult. I'm not sure impossible because I don't have your GRE scores, LORs, SOP, and CV in front of me. You'd really need to be strong in those areas to compensate.

Would it be difficult if I was applying to no named state schools?

[Munashi]

This is going to vary by field.  Just because a school sounds like a "no named state school" doesn't mean it isn't going to be a top program in your chosen area of psychology.  Example: in I/O, two of the top ranked PhD programs are at Minnesota State and Michigan State.

 

Supposing that your strategy is to simply apply to lower ranked programs and hope that they'll be less stringent in their admissions... well, sure - you might have better luck getting admitted.  But what about funding?  Lower ranked programs are less likely to fund you fully, or even to fund you at all.  If you are willing or able to take on the debt for that, then it might be okay for you.

 

LIke green90 said, getting a sense of your "chances" is hard with just your GPA.  Do you have anything on your C.V. that might help make up for that?  Lots of publications and/or research experience, for example?

[dmacfour]

This is going to vary by field.  Just because a school sounds like a "no named state school" doesn't mean it isn't going to be a top program in your chosen area of psychology.  Example: in I/O, two of the top ranked PhD programs are at Minnesota State and Michigan State.

 

Supposing that your strategy is to simply apply to lower ranked programs and hope that they'll be less stringent in their admissions... well, sure - you might have better luck getting admitted.  But what about funding?  Lower ranked programs are less likely to fund you fully, or even to fund you at all.  If you are willing or able to take on the debt for that, then it might be okay for you.

 

LIke green90 said, getting a sense of your "chances" is hard with just your GPA.  Do you have anything on your C.V. that might help make up for that?  Lots of publications and/or research experience, for example?

 

I'll have authorship on two or three papers, and a couple years of research experience.

[jakem]

I feel like you'd need some extenuating factors in your SOP to make up for your grades. That, and some really amazing GRE scores.

[HermoineG]

I think you should take a look at http://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/ to get a better sense of accepted/rejected candidate profiles.

[Munashi]

Example: in I/O, two of the top ranked PhD programs are at Minnesota State and Michigan State.

 

 

I need to correct this and the opportunity to edit has long since passed.  U of Minnesota!!!  Not Minnesota State.  Please forgive my sloppiness.

[BeingThere]

I need to correct this and the opportunity to edit has long since passed.  U of Minnesota!!!  Not Minnesota State.  Please forgive my sloppiness.

 

I, for one, knew what you meant, Munashi.