Do I even sound applicable?

[koalalover1]

Okay, so these are my stats. I am going to be a Senior, so I still have two semesters left of classes. I have a Spec Ed minor, with a 4.0 in that right now, 3.61 major GPA, and 3.52 overall. Not amazing, but with what I've been through, I am proud of that. My GRE scores are what freak me out right now.... V146, Q148, W4.5.  I am retaking it in a few days, so hopefully that changes. But I feel like I am not remotely competitive! I guess I'm curious how much the GRE really matters in apps?

I also did track and field for two years at my school, and after I quit I got my GPA up from a 3.3 to a 3.52 (hoping for a 4.0 this semester because I actually see that do able), made Dean's List every semester, and currently have two jobs. One of my jobs is an autism behavioral therapist position. I have job shadowed at two different elementary schools and am hoping to job shadow in a hospital sometime in September. I volunteered as somebody who taught elementary school-aged children Spanish (originally was going to minor in that, but I dropped it because I simply didn't have the time for it... huge regret, but Spec Ed revolves around my job now and what I want to get into more... so I guess I have a little bit of Spanish on my transcript as well). I'm in NSSLHA. My personal statement is revolved around how running made me the person I am and how I don't regret it. I may not have been the smartest in the classroom, but running taught me how to budget time and helped me realize I want to do more toward the field for my future, yada yada.  I also plan on asking my academic advisor and another major teacher that was an online teacher for a letter of rec, a person I job shadowed, my old (collegiate) track coach, and my Stats teacher because the class was rewarding and I got an A in his class.  I am working on the personal letters of recommendation as well.

I know it's early, but I just feel so lost and I really hope I'm going in the right direction!! I am hoping to apply to a bunch of schools in the Midwest!  If anybody has some kind or helpful words or tips, please share!! Criticism is okay, too... I want honesty! I know I'm not the top of the class, but I don't think I am out of the game! I just hope that the Graduate schools think I am worth it (as we all do about ourselves)! Thanks much if you take the time to read this and good luck to all! 

Edited August 23, 2015 by koalalover1

[Puffer Fish]

You definitely sound like you'd have a shot at least somewhere! You have a lot of varied experience that is relevant for the field, plus a good GPA (better than mine, actually...nope, not gonna be jealous...)

 

I think you'll be fine. From what I've seen on this forum and the internet in general, grad applications seem to be half you and half what the department needs. If they aren't looking for someone with your kind of experience this year then you're out. If they are, then you're more likely to be in.

[koalalover1]

You definitely sound like you'd have a shot at least somewhere! You have a lot of varied experience that is relevant for the field, plus a good GPA (better than mine, actually...nope, not gonna be jealous...)

 

I think you'll be fine. From what I've seen on this forum and the internet in general, grad applications seem to be half you and half what the department needs. If they aren't looking for someone with your kind of experience this year then you're out. If they are, then you're more likely to be in.

Thanks so much for the feedback!  That seems like it's very true about the half you half department. I never thought about it like that! I just hope that schools look at relevant experience a little bit at least!! Can't help but be worried, though!   I just know that I chose track and other things that didn't help my GPA, which is what I'm worried about. 

 I also have heard the Midwest can be pretty competitive, but I am looking at applying all of the Wisconsin schools (except Marquette), Indiana State University, Western Illinois, Northern Iowa, Arkansas State, University of South Carolina (last two are not Midwest, but I have family in those areas) and Grand Valley State in Michigan right now! Does anybody have any info on any of these schools??  I've emailed places to find where I could generally fall on the spectrum, but any knowledge from people with the experience of Graduate applications, or who are going through it would be awesome!! I want to get a decent list of schools to be applying to, because I know I'll need the odds to be a little bit more in my favor! 

[Speechie22]

May I ask why you will not be applying to Marquette? 

[koalalover1]

May I ask why you will not be applying to Marquette? 

Nothing against Marquette or anything; I just know I do not have enough money to pay for a private university. Also I've heard Marquette tends to accept people who attended their university's undergraduate program, but I could be wrong on that. That is just what I've heard from people who applied for graduate school from my school last year! 

[koalalover1]

Okay, so these are my stats. I am going to be a Senior, so I still have two semesters left of classes. I have a Spec Ed minor, with a 4.0 in that right now, 3.61 major GPA, and 3.52 overall. Not amazing, but with what I've been through, I am proud of that. My GRE scores are what freak me out right now.... V146, Q148, W4.5.  I am retaking it in a few days, so hopefully that changes. But I feel like I am not remotely competitive! I guess I'm curious how much the GRE really matters in apps?

I also did track and field for two years at my school, and after I quit I got my GPA up from a 3.3 to a 3.52 (hoping for a 4.0 this semester because I actually see that do able), made Dean's List every semester, and currently have two jobs. One of my jobs is an autism behavioral therapist position. I have job shadowed at two different elementary schools and am hoping to job shadow in a hospital sometime in September. I volunteered as somebody who taught elementary school-aged children Spanish (originally was going to minor in that, but I dropped it because I simply didn't have the time for it... huge regret, but Spec Ed revolves around my job now and what I want to get into more... so I guess I have a little bit of Spanish on my transcript as well). I'm in NSSLHA. My personal statement is revolved around how running made me the person I am and how I don't regret it. I may not have been the smartest in the classroom, but running taught me how to budget time and helped me realize I want to do more toward the field for my future, yada yada.  I also plan on asking my academic advisor and another major teacher that was an online teacher for a letter of rec, a person I job shadowed, my old (collegiate) track coach, and my Stats teacher because the class was rewarding and I got an A in his class.  I am working on the personal letters of recommendation as well.

I know it's early, but I just feel so lost and I really hope I'm going in the right direction!! I am hoping to apply to a bunch of schools in the Midwest!  If anybody has some kind or helpful words or tips, please share!! Criticism is okay, too... I want honesty! I know I'm not the top of the class, but I don't think I am out of the game! I just hope that the Graduate schools think I am worth it (as we all do about ourselves)! Thanks much if you take the time to read this and good luck to all! 

I just realized I typed this wrong. My last 60 GPA is 3.61, major is a 3.563, but I still have more classes left, and this is not including fall semester.  I'm nervous because my major GPA is not competitive at all! But I know it will go up.... still nerve wracking! I don't know what much else I can do to improve myself.