Help me please!!!! Low GPA, JD and stressed!!

[Angelicasassy]

Hello,

I am not sure what to do about my applications and am really wondering if I should even apply.

My UGA is below a 3.0, I had bad circumstances my first 2 years but it improved. I took the LSAT and went to law school. Realized right away that law wasn't where I wanted to be but finished. Graduated with abt a 3.0 (Law school grades on a curve and my GPA isn't bad for law school standards but I don't know if the adcoms will know that).

I worked for a year at a nonprofit in the education field. I want to study education policy and history PhD. programs. But I don't know if I even have a shot.

I am taking the GRE in 2 weeks. What should I be aiming for to even have a shot. (I'm not testing that highly).

Also, will the adcoms look at my JD negatively? Should I mention why I want a Ph.D. now, even though I have a JD. Btw, my bachelors is in History.

I am really passionate about the programs I am applying to, but starting to feel depressed about my chances!

[LateAntique]

Hello,

I am not sure what to do about my applications and am really wondering if I should even apply.

My UGA is below a 3.0, I had bad circumstances my first 2 years but it improved. I took the LSAT and went to law school. Realized right away that law wasn't where I wanted to be but finished. Graduated with abt a 3.0 (Law school grades on a curve and my GPA isn't bad for law school standards but I don't know if the adcoms will know that).

I worked for a year at a nonprofit in the education field. I want to study education policy and history PhD. programs. But I don't know if I even have a shot.

I am taking the GRE in 2 weeks. What should I be aiming for to even have a shot. (I'm not testing that highly).

Also, will the adcoms look at my JD negatively? Should I mention why I want a Ph.D. now, even though I have a JD. Btw, my bachelors is in History.

I am really passionate about the programs I am applying to, but starting to feel depressed about my chances!

I don't know anything about your particular field, so take this with a grain of salt. I don't think your JD would be a detriment to getting into a doctoral program. I don't think anyone thinks law school is easy. I think you've got a neat story that you can work to your advantage when you're explaining why you want to do what you want to do. 'Passion' is nice, but everyone's passionate - I would try to cast the shift in positive lights. Somehow factor in some experience over the course of the year working for the non-profit that helped you to realize what it is that you want to do in their program.

Where are you applying? Have you spoken with any professors there? Have you spoken with any graduate students at these institutions?

This process makes just about everyone depressed and stressed, so you aren't alone. The big two things to consider are: 1) What is the worst case scenario in this whole process? 2) How likely is that scenario to play out?

I don't know all the ins and the outs of your situation, but I can at least tell you that your worst case scenario involves you still having a law degree and that's not too shabby at all.

[Angelicasassy]

I don't know anything about your particular field, so take this with a grain of salt. I don't think your JD would be a detriment to getting into a doctoral program. I don't think anyone thinks law school is easy. I think you've got a neat story that you can work to your advantage when you're explaining why you want to do what you want to do. 'Passion' is nice, but everyone's passionate - I would try to cast the shift in positive lights. Somehow factor in some experience over the course of the year working for the non-profit that helped you to realize what it is that you want to do in their program.

Where are you applying? Have you spoken with any professors there? Have you spoken with any graduate students at these institutions?

This process makes just about everyone depressed and stressed, so you aren't alone. The big two things to consider are: 1) What is the worst case scenario in this whole process? 2) How likely is that scenario to play out?

I don't know all the ins and the outs of your situation, but I can at least tell you that your worst case scenario involves you still having a law degree and that's not too shabby at all.

Hey, thanks! I emailed my number 1 school and corresponded with the head of the program but he gave me no real facts, all he kept saying was apply, we are always looking for good candidates. I haven't emailed other schools because I am not sure what I would say. And I didn't even know I could speak to current graduate students- none of the schools I am applying to seem to have much info about the program at all.

BTW, if the SOP just says 2-3 pages but no font size, do you think I could use a 10-11 font, or just stick with 12? lol, my SOP is already at 3 pages and I haven't really addressed how my current job has helped me realize what I want to do and study.

[LateAntique]

Hey, thanks! I emailed my number 1 school and corresponded with the head of the program but he gave me no real facts, all he kept saying was apply, we are always looking for good candidates. I haven't emailed other schools because I am not sure what I would say. And I didn't even know I could speak to current graduate students- none of the schools I am applying to seem to have much info about the program at all.

BTW, if the SOP just says 2-3 pages but no font size, do you think I could use a 10-11 font, or just stick with 12? lol, my SOP is already at 3 pages and I haven't really addressed how my current job has helped me realize what I want to do and study.

If you're at 3 pages single-spaced at 10-11 font and you haven't written a biography already I would be surprised. I'd stick with 12pt and stay within the page limit.

[Angelicasassy]

If you're at 3 pages single-spaced at 10-11 font and you haven't written a biography already I would be surprised. I'd stick with 12pt and stay within the page limit.

Lol, it's double-spaced. Same thing though?