Hi, I graduated class of 2014 with a BS in Psychology with minors in biology and chemistry from a moderately competitive college. Like a fair number of people here life stuff happened (family stuff/pretty destructive long-term relationship) and I just tanked it my junior year and couldn’t really get it back together. Basically just super burnt out/depressed and stopped going to class for the most part for like six months, probably should have taken a semester off.
My cumulative GPA is pretty much a flat 3.0, I researched for two years in neuroscience but ultimately never published, shadowed physicians about 200 hours , did some volunteer work fundraising for a program that promotes literacy in children’s homes, worked as an academic counselor/TA for a summer program for high schoolers to gain college credit in a pre-psychiatry program, worked as a tutor for students at all levels and then eventually worked as a clinician and instructor for two companies that specifically focused on creating/implementing flexible learning programs for children with developmental disabilities. I had some seasonal jobs as well, though I doubt they’re of note for applications.
I just took the GRE for the first time and I made a 166v and a 164q. I don’t have my writing score yet, but I’m relatively confident I made at least a 4.5 - 5. I also don’t think I was at the top of my game for quant and I could probably bring it up to a 167-169 if I took it again in a month or so, and maybe a could improve for writing or verbal slightly. I’m taking biochemistry in the spring at a local four year college (not necessarily for the application, as it’s kind of too late to count, but for myself. I’ve reviewed prerequisite material thoroughly). I think I’ll have decent letters of recommendation from professors who at least know who I am as an individual and for whom I took upper level courses and did well with.
I still feel a little nervous and like I’m peeking out of the hole I dug for myself junior year, and I’m not sure how bad my GPA is going to look during the admissions process. Part of me hopes to get into any decent or better MPH program, try to prove that I can do better than I did my last two years of undergrad, which I truly believe I can, and then move on to further education. I have put all my major social stressors to rest in this past year, so I would love any advice or perspective anyone could give me to move forward with.
1.) Is my application too weak to apply to a broad range of schools? I’m kind of intimidated about the whole thing at the moment and right now I’m planning on applying to all the programs I have state residency in (Texas), Tulane/Minnesota schools (family), and I tentatively would like to apply to schools within a 2 hour drive/train ride of New York City if they seem feasible.
2.) Should I explain why my grades dropped if the reason is… frankly, social stress/depression? I became the legal guardian of a younger sibling with developmental disabilities, a bunch of people died, etc. Everyone has stuff happen and I feel like it’s just me making excuses.
3.) Should I take the GRE again if I think I can do better but it would probably be a net gain of like 3-5 points? Honestly, I feel really bad about my GPA and wish the GRE counted for more.
4.) I have an expired license as a Certified Nursing Assistant that I could renew in the upcoming months if I wanted to spend a little time on it. Would it be a worthwhile addition to my application?
A thank you to everyone who went through all that text!