Question about poor Undergrad Transcript

[NYCTherapist]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I have a question about undergraduate transcripts...I am in the process of applying to PsyD & PhD programs for clinical psychology for the Fall of 2010...

I have a Masters in Social Work from NYU (GPA 3.62)
I have one publication and another couple manuscripts under review
I am currently working on an exciting research protocol as co-researcher and will get 2nd authorship on any publications and 1st authorship on the manualized therapy curriculum that is being produced as part of the research
I have extensive clinical experience (including a prior position as a clinical director of a day treatment program)
I have very good letters of recommendation
I have teaching experience
I plan on (hopefully) annihilating the GREs in a couple months
I am a candidate in a psychoanalytic institute
I co-founded a state-wide coalition on social work licensing issues that has lobbied albany extensively and effected immense changes

BUT

My undergraduate academic transcript is a disaster...my GPA is a 3.2...and there are a lot of bad things on there, F's, Withdraws, etc...and in Psychology courses too...Many of my psych courses were B's and A's but some had to be re-taken...obviously it is not because I couldn't do the work but rather due to an extremely difficult time period in my life...I guess my questions are:

How much will this destroy my chances?

Should I address this in my SOP & if yes, how?

Thoughtful and helpful responses appreciated.....

 

[FadedC]

I had this issue as well, but worse. My undergrad GPA was 2.79 (though it was 10 years ago and not in psych). Everything else was really solid with a psychology masters GPA of 3.8, good research experience, GREs over 1500. Though from the sound of things your backround is even more impressive.

I can't say how my undergrad GPA effected things. I didn't do so well with clinical PhD programs, however this may have been because I was only applying around NYC and none of the programs there really fit my research focus. I did however get interviews at PsyD and School psych programs without any problem and ended up going to one of them.

So I'd say you've got a pretty solid chance too, and you may even do better then I did.

 

[deadmau5]

i think you are a good applicant. obviously you are a little older and you have gained a lot of experience. your graduate GPA trumps your undergraduate marks.

if one were to average them out, it makes for a pretty good average.

 

[Jon4PsyD]

Since when is a 3.2 GPA a "disaster"...?.?
It sounds like you did very well in graduate school and have loads of experience. If a program is going to make you pay for your past (and not even a disasterous one at that) then you don't want to go there anyway.

You'll do well in the application process.

Jon

 

[NYCTherapist]

Thanks for the kind words everyone...I guess reading the threads on here started to scare me a lot...I think a 3.2 is pretty good but not compared to people with 3.6-4.0 undergrad GPA...I am actually glad that I ended up going the route I did because I think now I am better prepared (emotionally, academically, & clinically) to take on a doctoral level program. Thanks for the feedback...it's much appreciated and I will definitely update when/if I get in somewhere!

FadedC....your stats sound really impressive! Which program are you at in NYC, maybe I will see you there next year??!!

Deadmau5....That's what I was *hoping* but it's nice to have that confirmed from someone who's been through the process

Jon4PsyD....thanks for the encouragement! Like I said, I don't think it's a disaster per se, but I was worried that's what doctoral programs would view it as...what PsyD program are you currently enrolled in? Hopefully I will be joining the ranks in a year!

 

[NYCTherapist]

One more question:

DO you think I need to address this in my statement of purpose/letter of intent somehow? Regarding the low Undergrad GPA??? Perhaps one sentence or two?

How would I phrase that?

Any advice is appreciated!!

 

[numbereight]

One more question:

DO you think I need to address this in my statement of purpose/letter of intent somehow? Regarding the low Undergrad GPA??? Perhaps one sentence or two?

How would I phrase that?

Any advice is appreciated!!

you want to hear about a real undergraduate GPA disaster... 2.3! that is no typo my friend 🙂

the director of a top psych program told me that it was crucial that I explain my UG GPA in my SOP. naturally in my case it is. i have some work to do in that regard. considering how to say: "schoolwork was a distant third to rugby, parties, and chasing girls", the honest answer. or dressing up some morsel of truth about how i was a gifted student who never had to study a minute until high school and as a result lacked the study habits i needed to suceed in college.. blah blah.. makes me want to choke on my words no matter what.

you? not so much i think. i say a sentence or two would be helpful, but no more than that. you will be competing with people who have high UG gpa's so it could be helpful to explain why yours isnt so high. but you will also have much better qualifications in general than most other applicants.

then again perhaps you shouldn't take advice from someone with a 2.3 😉

best of luck

 

[KillerDiller]

I think you should explain your low undergrad GPA in your SOP. I agree that you shouldn't dwell on it, but at least include a couple sentences about going through a difficult time, etc. If you feel comfortable being more specific than that, you can, but you don't need to be.

You have good qualifications, as others have said. However, if you have the opportunity to address a weak point in your application, why wouldn't you take it? You will be up against other very qualified applicants in this process, so it's best to put yourself in the best light possible and answer any hesitations the admissions committee might have.

 

[Jon4PsyD]

NYC,

You're welcome! I'm actually not in a PsyD program, I am in a PhD program (in your area). It's just that in undergrad before I went for my Master's I joined this message board, and at that time I believed I wanted to pursue a Psy.D. I am not one of the anti-PsyD people on this board though, as I think it's a great degree but the funding of a Ph.D. is very important to a poor grad student like myself! I don't think you can change your username on here, or can you? If not I'm stuck with it I guess 🙂

Anyway.... I would address it in a line or two at the most. You can speak about how much you grew academically in graduate school and professionally with all of your experience and phrase it that way, as opposed to making the lower undergrad GPA the centerpiece of the sentence. I feel like programs are going to be more curious about your switch from SW to the discipline of Clinical Psychology. I'm sure you have a good reason for doing so, and I think they will care much more about that than your undergraduate GPA. (just my opinion)

Hope this helped....

 

[NYCTherapist]

You guys are awesome. Seriously, I am so glad I found this forum....thank you all for the really helpful suggestions.

Numbereight: I love that! I think rugby & girls are waaay good reasons to not be studying!! And advice from a 2.3 is welcome! 🙂

KillerDiller: nice advice...thanks!

Jon4PsyD: Yeah, tell me about it....currently our marriage is like a PhD program -- fully funded by the good graces of other people (our parents!), hubby is in residency starting fellowship in july 2010 and i'm contemplating PhD/PsyD's ha ha ha we will be broke for years!

Thanks again everyone for all the help!