I'm kind of embarrassed to talk about this, but I've attended quite a large number of schools throughout my undergraduate career. 6 schools, in fact. Most of these schools I attended for 12 or fewer credits- I was dealing with an undiagnosed chronic physical illness, which I've now totally overcome, but which was disabling at the time.
I didn't know what I was dealing with then so I kept trying to push through school and having to withdraw from classes/schools and re-enroll somewhere else. One school I attended for just one class while I was in high school, two schools I left because I lost my merit aid after medical withdrawal and could no longer afford them, and one school I left because it was an online school and I wanted to take classes in person. I then transferred to my local community college, and transferred to a state school from there.
I'm doing much better now, have brought my total GPA up to 3.52 (with a strong upward trend), and have a 4.0 GPA in my major (psychology). I know I should have just gone straight to community college after leaving my first institution, but I can't undi that mistake. I'm studying hard for the GRE's and I trust that my recommenders will be able to provide strong recommendations for me. I have research experience and will have presented at one or two conferences by the time I'm applying. I know that my GPA could be better, but what I'm mostly worried about is the large amount of transfers on my transcript.
How should I deal with this? Should I mention in my personal statement that I was dealing with chronic illness and have overcome it? I'm worried that admissions committees will think I'm oversharing, but I feel that something as weird as 6 undergraduate institutions requires an explanation. I'm hoping this won't disqualify me from PhD programs, since I really love research in psychology and would do anything to pursue it further. I'm really scared though.
If I don't get in anywhere, does it make sense for me to enroll in a Master's program, since my primary issue is with my undergrad transcripts? Or should I just get more research experience and re-apply.
Let me know if this belongs in the WAMC thread. Thanks so much for your advice.
I didn't know what I was dealing with then so I kept trying to push through school and having to withdraw from classes/schools and re-enroll somewhere else. One school I attended for just one class while I was in high school, two schools I left because I lost my merit aid after medical withdrawal and could no longer afford them, and one school I left because it was an online school and I wanted to take classes in person. I then transferred to my local community college, and transferred to a state school from there.
I'm doing much better now, have brought my total GPA up to 3.52 (with a strong upward trend), and have a 4.0 GPA in my major (psychology). I know I should have just gone straight to community college after leaving my first institution, but I can't undi that mistake. I'm studying hard for the GRE's and I trust that my recommenders will be able to provide strong recommendations for me. I have research experience and will have presented at one or two conferences by the time I'm applying. I know that my GPA could be better, but what I'm mostly worried about is the large amount of transfers on my transcript.
How should I deal with this? Should I mention in my personal statement that I was dealing with chronic illness and have overcome it? I'm worried that admissions committees will think I'm oversharing, but I feel that something as weird as 6 undergraduate institutions requires an explanation. I'm hoping this won't disqualify me from PhD programs, since I really love research in psychology and would do anything to pursue it further. I'm really scared though.
If I don't get in anywhere, does it make sense for me to enroll in a Master's program, since my primary issue is with my undergrad transcripts? Or should I just get more research experience and re-apply.
Let me know if this belongs in the WAMC thread. Thanks so much for your advice.
