Applying in two different application cycles?

[CBclone]

Hi! Sorry if this is wrong forum, but it seemed the most appropriate to me. First post, hang in there with me please!

 

About a year ago I started toying around with the idea of grad school and about 6 months ago I got pretty serious about it, initially with plans to apply for enrollment in Fall 2016. Why the wait? I was loving my job, my current location, and wanted to continue getting more "real-world" work experience. Well, since then I've started to get burned out on my work environment, I went through/am still recovering from a pretty intense back injury that took me out of work all summer, and the itch to get back to school has been increasing. I am now looking at maybe applying to a school or two for Fall 2015 enrollment and the others on my list for Spring 2016 enrollment.

 

My stats: 2.8 uGPA, about 3.15 last two years. Haven't taken the GRE yet -- I was registered to take the test this month, but then signed up for an EMT course that took over all my free time and had a work conflict that could not be changed on that date, so I rescheduled for April 2015. I had already started studying for the GRE and will re-start my 3-month study plan in January. My uGPA is not that hot, I get it, I know. The good news is that I'm killing it in my EMT course (I'd guess 90%+ average), my first experience remotely academic in four years. And I've gained four years of relevant, valuable work experience in my field with great potential references. My job, however, is physically intensive and I now have a lingering back issue and have had knee issues (possible surgery coming up in the spring) for over 10 years, and need to find a career that is a little less reliable on physically being able to perform. 

 

My undergrad degree is in Kinesiology and I'm looking into Master's programs in Therapeutic Recreation to pursue the CTRS certification and gain formal knowledge of the field in an academic setting, and gaining an understanding of the organizational/administrative side of things. I wish I'd known about TR or attended a school with TR as an undergrad, but alas, I did not but was fortunate enough to do an internship as an undergrad at an organization specializing in TR.

 

Any who, back to the the topic of the post. Is it normal to apply to different schools in different cycles? Some of my schools are reaches (min 3.0 uGPA, some overall, some last two years), others accept as low as 2.5. If I had taken the GRE this month, I would probably be applying to all of them for Fall 2015 but by April most deadlines will have passed. The one I want to apply to for Fall 2015 has a deadline of 7/1 (and does not require the GRE), the spring 2016 programs are either rolling, 10/1, 11/1, or 12/1 (some require GRE). Is it weird to apply for Spring admission? (it is a posted option at all schools) Will I be the oddball out for the class? 

 

Bonus question: I don't have relationships with any professors/instructors from my undergrad institution. I don't have formal research experience, I wasn't involved in academic clubs/orgs (I was working 40+ hours/week), I didn't really stand out either way positive or negative. Some programs require references, some require letters -- and for most, at least one must be "Academic". I have a great relationship with my EMT course instructor and I feel that he can vouch for my ability to succeed in the course, being prepared, studying, helping other students with topics, being involved in simulations, etc. I have study habits now that I wish I'd had in college. Would that be OK? I have great work/career references and connections. Having an "academic" reference seems to be a bit of an issue though.

 

 

Alright, long winded. Sorry about that. Been lurking for a long time, and as I start getting more serious about moving on to the next chapter in life. Thank you all!

[Victoris]

 

Is it normal to apply to different schools in different cycles? Yes

Is it weird to apply for Spring admission? (it is a posted option at all schools) No

Will I be the oddball out for the class? No

 

I have a great relationship with my EMT course instructor and I feel that he can vouch for my ability to succeed in the course, being prepared, studying, helping other students with topics, being involved in simulations, etc. I have study habits now that I wish I'd had in college. Would that be OK? Yes

Edited November 20, 2014 by Victoris