<p>I recently graduated with a 2.8 cumulative gpa. my major gpa was a 3.0. I failed chemistry and math. I know excuses don't matter in the professional world but I was having some huge family/legal issues and relationship issues all at the same time that distracted me from my schooling. I currently still work at the university I graduated from as a research aide (temp) and am quite proficient in GIS and computers, even though my BS degree is in natural resources. </p>
<p>So my question is, is it even possible for me to go to graduate school? I took the GRE and got in the 51 percentile for verbal, 44 in quantitative, and 48 in analytical writing. I don't feel like these are good scores at all. </p>
<p>The other question is should I even try to go to graduate school or should I try to hone my computer/GIS skills more through free online ed and/or certification programs?</p>
<p>Thanks for any advice. It is much appreciated.</p>
<p>You did not indicate a major, so my advice is very general. A 2.8 GPA, 3.0 major GPA is right around the bottom limit for grad school admissions, and for some fields may not be realistic at all. If you are shifting fields, that may make things even more difficult. I think it is possible for you to get accepted, but barring some exceptional research or other qualifications you will be looking at the lowest tiers of grad programs and will probably be looking at paying your own way.</p>
<p>Why do you want to do this? Knowing your motivation and intent may result in some superior advice.</p>
<p>"even though my BS degree is in natural resources. "</p>
<p>Ideally I would like to try for a masters in ecology but also plan to apply to horticulture and crop science. </p>
<p>So basically you think I should apply to the nearest fast food establishment because 1) my chances for grad school are essentially nill and 2) you think it’s too hard to change fields?</p>
<p>I am a co-author on several papers that are soon to be published (hopefully). Some from my department I work in, and also some US Forest Service publications. So I like to think that I am at least average when it comes to the natural resources realm. Ideally I would love to use my GIS skills to create distribution/spread models for species.</p>
<p>I would like to restate my last question: would it be beneficial to me to pursue online ed or certificate programs for GIS and/or programming vs. going to grad school?</p>
You had indicated your undergraduate field, but not your actual graduate aspirations. It would seem to me that you are not planning on that big a jump.</p>
<p>
Not being insulting, never suggested fast food - you asked an opinion, I gave one.</p>
<p>
They are not good, looking at your GPA and GRE. Sorry. They are not nil, but they simply are not good and I would not bet the farm on this route.</p>
<p>
I think changing fields generally makes it harder - in your case it does not appear to be a big enough switch that I would be concerned, but I am not familiar with your field of endeavor to know for sure.</p>
<p>
That is something you had not mentioned and that will help. Are they published in peer-reviewed journals? Do they present original research? Are you working on these papers with PhD’s, preferably professors? Co-authoring papers helps, but how much it helps can vary a lot.</p>
<p>
Isn’t this a better question for your employer? It seems to be an employment question as to which is more marketable, and not really a direct grad school question. Developing workplace skills always helps at least a little. Grad degrees usually help a lot or not at all, depending on the position. Maybe someone else can give you more info than I can.</p>
<p>Are you looking at masters programs to rise in your current field/job or to switch to something tangential?</p>
<p>First, there’s no reason to get defensive, cosmicfish is giving you a perfectly good opinion. You have a very low gpa and very very low GRE scores (usually if you’re low on one, the other will help you a little). While it can’t hurt to apply to schools, it’s unlikely you’d get in without an exceptional research proposal or publications that indicate you do excellent, independent experimental design, work and writing. You said you’re a coauthor - are you a first author/shared first authorship, or are you down the line a ways? With your stats, it’s unlikely that a 2nd or 3rd authorship will change things from no to yes, that’s just how it is.
Also, going from natural resources to ecology is not a change of field, it’s absolutely within the same realm and I’m sure that a huge number of ecology masters had similar undergrad degrees. In my experience, people going for a masters in ecology, forestry, etc. tend to be older and have a good deal of field experience (we’re talking like, 10 years in forestry services, non-profits, etc.). Different schools and programs will value different things, so you need to do your research and find the school(s) that fit what you have to offer. Either that or go out and get a job in the field, get more independent experience, and then apply again when things like gpa become less important in the face of your practical applications.</p>
<p>Well, what do you intend to do? We can’t answer the question of whether you should go to graduate school if we don’t know what your goals are. Do you intend to go for an MS or a PhD? Do you want to teach, do research, be a professor? Do most people who do the kinds of jobs you want to do have an MS or a PhD instead of just a BS? If you think you’ll hit a wall when trying to get jobs in your field, and that belief is supported by empirical evidence (i.e. everyone above a certain level in your desired career field has a higher degree) then you should go to grad school.</p>
<p>It seems like you graduated quite recently. The best way to distance yourself from a below-average GPA is to get some work experience. Try to get a job in your field - continue working as a research aide unless you dislike it, in which case move to another job. Retake the GRE, because you are right that those scores are not good. Since you work at the university, see if you can take some graduate-level classes in your area for free or at a discounted price. After about 2 or 3 years, then apply to grad school.</p>
<p>Thanks all. If you read my posts it says I would like to get a masters degree in ecology and use my GIS skills to create distribution models of invasive plants or other spp. </p>
<p>I would like to rise in my field and become a professor eventually (I know huge dream). I will be a lead author on one and 2nd author on 3 more papers. It seems the people who have given me the chance to write these papers believe I am capable so I don’t want to just change directions completely. </p>
<p>I think I will just do like juillet says and work for a while. Maybe apply to some technician jobs.I’ll definitely retake the GRE and try again. I think the main issue is I have recently graduated and still have yet to decide what I want to do now. Thanks again all.</p>