Can I get into graduate school?

[wickie]

Hello everyone,

 

I would like to go to grad school.  I suppose that is easier said than done.  My concern (fear) is that i'm won't be able to get in.  Long story short, I did not have the best regard for school after I graduated high school.  I worked two jobs and the classes that I were taking at a community college didn't mean that much to me.  Sad story I know.  So I received some incompletes and overall it was a shit show.  A few years later I moved and started university full time.  I'm not sure but I fell into neuroscience.  I love it.  For the 3 years I was at uni, I did well.  I received 3.52 gpa, on several posters and abstracts, I learned several bench tops, wrote a research proposal, and attended conferences.  I basically immersed myself while I was there.  I ended up helping a lot of my peers in the program with a lot of the upper level classes.  Additionally, I also received a degree in psychology and was fortunate to be co-author on two published articles in peer reviewed journals.  Anyway I graduated and now work at a CRO as coordinator.  I still would like to attend graduate school for neuroscience but I fear the discretion's in my earlier life will prevent that.  Also, I fear that I might be a little late to party as well.  I'm nearing 30.  Does anyone have there own story that may be similar? hints? tricks? or anything at all?

 

Thank you   

[geographyrocks]

So...good news!

Most graduate schools pay more attention to the last two years of coursework because that is when you tend to get into the higher level classes in your field. 

Most graduate programs have a much older student population than you would think. 

 

I have a story similar to yours.  I started with CC first which due to circumstances (having to work to pay bills) and not following the proper procedures, I have several incompletes on my record.  I got my act together and did all the things you did.  Long story short, those things didn't come up even once.  Even when I sat down with my adviser, he never even mentioned those incompletes.  Sh*t happens and most professors and advisers are aware of that. 

 

So get your butt in gear and go take the GRE test.  Take a couple of practice tests before so you can figure out how much you should study.  And start finding programs that excite you. 

 

Also, I'm 31.  You're not late for anything.

[biisis]

Give it a shot! Please do! It sounds like you'd regret it later if you didn't try. I don't think these are insurmountable problems.

[wickie]

Thank you both for your reply.  I have already contacted a couple labs to see if they were taking students next fall.  And that damn GRE, grrr.  I already took it need to take it again though.  I do appreciate the reassurance.  Sometimes I just need a reminder.  If you guys have any other suggestions about the grad school application process, do tell.

 

again thank you

[biisis]

1 piece of advice re: application process: think of it as a part time job. It takes up a lot of time and seems to never end, but it you sort of mentally budget for it, and spread it out over time, it can almost be sort of exciting.

[Meglet]

I don't have indiscretions in my academic career, although I do have a lot of indecisiveness.  And I'll be 33 in a few weeks, so I'm going with 'it's never too late'.  You'll never know if you don't try.

[smg]

Give it a go.  I'm over 30 with a patchy past and I'm throwing some applications out there.  What is there to lose?  

[Tachiyaku]

Hooray for the over 30 crowd I'm 35 and have been very hesitant about pursuing graduate school because of that. But here I am anyway.

[grad_wannabe]

I love this topic! I'm 30 and have a master's under my belt, throwing my hat in the ring for the PhD.

 

I don't feel at all like it's too late. If anything, I'm grateful that I didn't try to go for the PhD right after undergrad. I'm a completely different person now than I was when I was 22. It's taken me this long to find my passion. I'm REALLY thankful I didn't throw my life into what I THOUGHT I wanted to do at a young age.

[Meglet]

Totally!  I applied to MFA programs in lighting design my senior year.  It's a good thing I ignored the state programs that were chasing me and didn't get into any of the more theoretical programs I wanted, because now I know that I don't want a life in professional theater.  It took me until a year ago to figure out the discipline that combines all my interests and will keep me hooked for a lifetime.