Hi all,
I just wanted to share a little bit of my experience in the hope that it will encourage others to not give up. I graduated 8 years ago with a GPA barely above 3.0. I thought I was doomed! For many years, I was upset that I didn't have the means to cope with an experience that had impacted my coursework during freshman/sophomore year. Eventually, I realized I couldn't let a piece of paper dictate the rest of my life and I became involved in causes that deeply interested me (a foster home in Mexico, mentorship program for at-risk youth, social service org. through my church, etc). I'm sure these experiences helped my application but I knew I needed hard stats to prove I could succeed in graduate school. I worked hard in my Prereqs and became a physiology tutor for 2 semesters. My GRE score wasn't SUPER high but it helped make-up for my mediocre GPA. If you have a low GPA, the GRE is your friend! Use it to your advantage
Get great LORs. Also, find schools where you're a competitive candidate. I applied to one other school and I received an invitation to interview. I was almost certain I'd be going there until I received my acceptance to CSUDH.
Here are my stats:
Major: International Relations
Overall GPA: 3.06 (OTCAS was 3.28)
Pre-Req GPA: 4.0
GRE: 163 V 155 Q 4.5 AWA
Volunteer: Physiology tutor, Big Brother Big Sisters, trips to foster home in Mexico, language partner in Chile.
LORs: Anatomy/Physiology professor, supervisor, and OT.
Current job: behavioral aide
Essay: I didn't focus on my bad grades or try to come up with excuses. I highlighted my strengths to prove that I could become a successful OT.
Good luck everyone!
I just wanted to share a little bit of my experience in the hope that it will encourage others to not give up. I graduated 8 years ago with a GPA barely above 3.0. I thought I was doomed! For many years, I was upset that I didn't have the means to cope with an experience that had impacted my coursework during freshman/sophomore year. Eventually, I realized I couldn't let a piece of paper dictate the rest of my life and I became involved in causes that deeply interested me (a foster home in Mexico, mentorship program for at-risk youth, social service org. through my church, etc). I'm sure these experiences helped my application but I knew I needed hard stats to prove I could succeed in graduate school. I worked hard in my Prereqs and became a physiology tutor for 2 semesters. My GRE score wasn't SUPER high but it helped make-up for my mediocre GPA. If you have a low GPA, the GRE is your friend! Use it to your advantage
Get great LORs. Also, find schools where you're a competitive candidate. I applied to one other school and I received an invitation to interview. I was almost certain I'd be going there until I received my acceptance to CSUDH.Here are my stats:
Major: International Relations
Overall GPA: 3.06 (OTCAS was 3.28)
Pre-Req GPA: 4.0
GRE: 163 V 155 Q 4.5 AWA
Volunteer: Physiology tutor, Big Brother Big Sisters, trips to foster home in Mexico, language partner in Chile.
LORs: Anatomy/Physiology professor, supervisor, and OT.
Current job: behavioral aide
Essay: I didn't focus on my bad grades or try to come up with excuses. I highlighted my strengths to prove that I could become a successful OT.
Good luck everyone!
