choices, choices

[HemustBeMagic]

I have a small question that maybe you guys could give me some advice on.

 

I have a low GPA. Good GRE scores (i wont bore you with exact numbers, but they are 86%+ in each category). But my GPA at my home school (psych major, sociology minor) is low.  By low I mean will probably be 2.5 ish when I graduate. 2.7 if lucky. No excuses, I had a horrible first year (.5 gpa lol), but have been slowly bringing my GPA up since then. 

 

I have two options: 1 is to take credits my at home university this summer, but I can only take 12. The other is I've been approved to take 18 credits at another 4 year school in the state. The additional school is higher ranked than my home school. The credits transfer over. 

 

If I take the classes at my home school its less credits, but will bring my GPA up.

IF i take them at the other school, its more credits but they just transfer back to my home school, and dont bring my GPA up.

 

BUT SOPHAS recalculates GPA, correct? Though grad school will see my 2.5 they will also see the recalculated gpa, or am I wrong? So my recalculated gpa will include the credits I take somewhere else.

 

My adviser was actually really helpful and told me I should do what I think is best for my future, not what's best for right now, which was surprising. So I'm just glad they are in my corner on this.

 

My other stats are good; volunteer work, research, etc. Its just that damn gpa. 

[katethekitcat]

There are some other, more extensive threads on this forum regarding low GPAs (under 3.0). Check them out for some great advice - there's one specifically for people interested in public health. But the overall consensus is, for a professional degree like an MPH, it's things like volunteer work, employment, and research that mean a lot more.

[soylatte5]

yes/no to the above posters comment.. it really depends on where you want to end up..if you're aiming to go to any school as opposed to a particular, maybe higher ranking, school then gpa does matter because it's part of your first pass through the process. this is the reality.

 

as long as you plan on doing well, it shouldn't matter too much where you plan to gain those credits. taking more credits isn't going to vastly improve your gpa because the credits are all summed up on SOHPAS.  i suggest doing it at your home school because SOPHAS will report your overall gpa from your home school. 

 

https://portal.sophas.org/sophasHelpPages/frequently-asked-questions/the-application-process/verificatio/

[tac0d00d]

Look at my post in the sub 3.0 thread. You will be fine, relax