Grad School for B students

[Evelet]

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What are graduate school options for those of us who have a modest GPA(3.0 - 3.4) who want to pursue a Ph.D/Psy.D without hashing out $100K for a professional school to obtain one?

 

[erg923]

What are graduate school options for those of us who have a modest GPA(3.0 - 3.4) who want to pursue a Ph.D/Psy.D without hashing out $100K for a professional school to obtain one?

To kick ass on the GRE, have stellar rec letters, and get good research experience.

 

[DrivenDoctoress]

I agree with Erg... you'll really need to beef up on all of those other areas. I had a friend with a 2.9 GPA but over 1400 on the old GRE and good experience on research teams, as well as really well thought out essays that addressed his low GPA... he ended up still being competitive for good university Ph.D. programs without having to consider the professional school route. (Not that professional schools are a bad choice for everyone, of course!)

 

[nika751]

I have a ~3.3 and three interviews lined up for this month. All are for fully funded PhD school psychology programs. I took two years off after undergrad and worked with special needs kids. My GRE scores were quite high (well above the averages for the schools) and in my essays I took the time to explain my two semester of low grades. I think anything is possible but you have to play to your strengths. If your GPA is low try having extra research or experience in the field. If you have little research experience try having strong recommendations and high GRE scores. Think about what would make you stand out as an applicant.

 

[spafticus]

I have a 3.2 overall and received a few invites for fully funded Clinical PhD programs. I do have 2 years post bacc research experience and ~1400 on the GRE. Like others mentioned, kick ass on the GRE and get some research experience, focus on fit and I think you'll be fine.

Now, if you also have a low major GPA then I suggest you go the Masters route to show that you are capable of graduate level psych work.

Best of luck!

 

[busybusybusy]

Maybe looking in to an MA/MS program to get a higher GPA/show you can do graduate work. There are funded Master's programs or if you had to pay for one atleast it wouldn't be as much as paying for a doc program.

 

[mintyfreshh]

Maybe looking in to an MA/MS program to get a higher GPA/show you can do graduate work.

I went this route and I think it was extremely helpful (if it won't put you in too much debt). Undergrad GPA was 3.0, but my graduate GPA was 3.9. Plus, doing my masters gave me 2 additional years of research experience plus posters and a publication.

 

[erg923]

Should one test the waters out by applying to graduate programs before going into a masters?

It's your money...not mine.

 

[terrybug]

I see questions like this on here all the time and I can't help but wonder if people think grad school is somehow easier than undergrad? I mean... if you struggled/did okay through college, why seek an even more intensive academic experience? It's like more of the same for another 4-7 years... why do that to yourself?

 

[deliciousgoose]

What are graduate school options for those of us who have a modest GPA(3.0 - 3.4) who want to pursue a Ph.D/Psy.D without hashing out $100K for a professional school to obtain one?

I mostly agree with what has been said thus far, but what is your psychology GPA?

 

[DrivenDoctoress]

I see questions like this on here all the time and I can't help but wonder if people think grad school is somehow easier than undergrad? I mean... if you struggled/did okay through college, why seek an even more intensive academic experience? It's like more of the same for another 4-7 years... why do that to yourself?

I understand where you're coming from here, but I tend to disagree. The friend I listed above is brilliant, but for a variety of reasons didn't have the best undergraduate experience, but was stellar in graduate school. My GPA was good in undergrad 3.75, but throughout my Ph.D. it's been perfect. For some individuals I would bet that the specialized nature along with the added focus on applied skills graduate school can be significantly easier, or just generally a better fit for their learning style. I found that undergrad was more rote memorization learning but graduate training was more process/applied science oriented. 🙂 I don't think it's an even comparison, and that's why programs evaluate applicants on more than just GPA. Just my .02.

 

[nika751]

you could apply to both doctoral and masters if you are unsure of your chances

 

[Veit]

I see questions like this on here all the time and I can't help but wonder if people think grad school is somehow easier than undergrad? I mean... if you struggled/did okay through college, why seek an even more intensive academic experience? It's like more of the same for another 4-7 years... why do that to yourself?

Frankly, I'm not expecting to take five semesters of Japanese in graduate school. My overall GPA was a 3.38, because while I loved learning the language, I am really bad at it. It also pulled my psych GPA down to about the same level; it turns out that having to study two to three hours of foreign-language material every night leaves little time to really bone up for other exams. There are tons of circumstances in which someone's GPA could not line up with their potential, at least in the field in which they are applying. You might be assuming that a low GPA means either a poor work ethic or stupidity, but this isn't the case.

 

[deliciousgoose]

Frankly, I'm not expecting to take five semesters of Japanese in graduate school. My overall GPA was a 3.38, because while I loved learning the language, I am really bad at it. It also pulled my psych GPA down to about the same level; it turns out that having to study two to three hours of foreign-language material every night leaves little time to really bone up for other exams. There are tons of circumstances in which someone's GPA could not line up with their potential, at least in the field in which they are applying. You might be assuming that a low GPA means either a poor work ethic or stupidity, but this isn't the case.

Just to expand on this point, my overall GPA was similar because I started out in several different fields that I absolutely hated, and had a severe health problem interfere with my school work. Once I switched programs to Psych, which I loved, I did not receive a mark below a 3.7/4 in 2 1/2 years.

I think it is really myopic to assume that because someone doesn't have an absolutely stellar CGPA they aren't suited for graduate-level work. Many people I know who are currently in graduate school and thriving, albeit not for psych, had ~3.3 CGPAs in undergrad. In many cases this is because 100- and 200-level courses are boring and often comprised of rote memorization and regurgitation. In the 300+-level courses these students excelled. These nuances are completely hidden if you only look at CGPA.

 

[nika751]

In many cases this is because 100- and 200-level courses are boring and often comprised of rote memorization and regurgitation. In the 300+-level courses these students excelled. These nuances are completely hidden if you only look at CGPA.

*raises hand*

This was so me. I also had a lot of family issues going on that have now been resolved. My psych GPA stayed a 3.9 though.

 

[dramaqueen616]

I agree with Veit as I had a similar experience with required foreign language classes bringing my overall GPA down. Additionally, I worked full time to support myself and as a result came out of undergrad with no student debt. GPA often does not tell the full story. I got an MA and it turned around my whole application and the caliber of program I could expect to attend. I would highly recommend it.