Undergraduate psych Student needing advice! please help!

[yolo]

Hello all.

 

I've got a few questions.

First let me break it down a little...

 

I'm an undergraduate student studying as a recently declared psych major. I had an incredibly ROUGH first year and a half (my first semester was the Spring '13) here and my GPA is pathetic. (2.1 cum) It was not the work load that crippled my GPA necessarily, it had more to do with the circumstances I was in outside of school, and they pretty much occupied my time for quite a while. I was dealing with a few problems of my own (PTSD, depression) and wasn't able to devote the time I should have to my studies. I was also struggling with the question of why I should even do well/go to grad school if there is no 'meaning' (in a structural/existential sense), and that was another MAJOR reason for my sudden downward spiraling GPA.

 

However, I am doing much, much better, and I have resolved all of those questions and issues that were hindering my success. I have never felt more motivated to do well and practice as a clinical psychologist, especially with the knowledge I have gained from my experiences over the past couple years. I feel that I have learned and lived through a lot, and I know it would be an absolute waste if I did not apply those things I've learned to help other people who may be struggling with similar issues.

 

Of course-- there lies, my GPA. MY 2.1 cumulative GPA. I have already decided that I am going to take an extra year to graduate, so that I can bring it up as high as I possibly can before applying to grad school. My question is, will admissions take one look at my transcript and immediately label me as an "ABSOLUTELY NOT" because of my first few semesters? I plan on getting involved in research next semester, because I know that is an absolute must to even be taken seriously. I'm worried that admissions will see this and immediately think that I am dumb and incapable. Should I immediately cross off the idea of getting into a PhD program? Would I be better off getting a masters first and then applying for the PhD? Any advice on the best route to take? How could I better myself as an applicant without having to do the masters first..? Or do you think I should do a masters first?

 

 

Thank you!

 

 

[when]

I can't speak to the MA first vs. PhD route, as I'm in Canada and here almost all clinical programs have the MA built into the PhD, but maybe a US poster can better advise.

 

As for your GPA, I personally think you could still stand a good chance if you do extremely well in your courses from now on. I don't know how realistic it would be to bring your GPA up to the minimum admission level, but if you could do that, then I don't think your past will be a complete deal-breaker. I say this because, although schools will look at your entire transcript, most of them generally care most about your cumulative GPA and past 2 years of study. If both of these look good, you're still in for a chance. Of course, I would boost the rest of your application in any other way possible, meaning great letters of recommendation, a strong personal statement/statement of purpose, good GREs and decent research experience (with clinical experience in the form of volunteering also being an asset).

 

One word of caution I would give you (based solely on the number one thing that our graduate program administrator said an application should never do, and not my personal opinion) is to not give your own psychological troubles as the reason for your interest in clinical psychology. 

[VulpesZerda]

The way I see it, since you're still an underclassmen, don't decide on Master's or PhD quite yet. Work as hard as you can, and you might be surprised come senior year. If you do research and get lots of As from here on out, you could be considered for a PhD, and you would be a very strong Master's candidate. If you're willing to apply to both, that might be the best idea.