This will not be a short thread so prepare yourself for some reading.
I am a 22 year old recent grad from UNC Charlotte with a B.S in Psychology aiming to go to Grad School (in NC?) for either Clinical Psychology, Counseling or Clinical Social Work. I can’t do anything with a psychology bachelor’s (at least I’ve found nothing so far in my city as far as jobs go). Almost everything in the mental health/psychology field requires either a Master’s of some sort OR if they do accept a Bachelor’s degree, they want you to have like 8 years of experience (no exaggeration there).
All of the schools I want to apply to for my graduate education states that a 3.0 GPA is required, which is the standard for most. My problem is not that I was some lazy or party crazy undergrad student. I have suffered from various mental health issues such as severe anxiety, depression, ADHD, and even an eating disorder my sophomore year. The various medications I was prescribed also had an impact on my grades as they sometimes made me so sick or sleepy or made symptoms worse. Sometimes I couldn’t even get up for class on those meds. I even passed out in one of my classes due to my health. I was able to take a small break during one semester but i couldn’t stay out any longer because it would have affected my scholarships and financial aid. However, during this time, I was able to recuperate and find coping mechanisms and a medication routine that worked for me and was able to come back my Junior year ready.
(Summary of my Grades. Can skip if you want)
My 1st two years at UNCC were absolutely horrendous (grade wise). Freshman year Fall 2012 I made a B, B, A, D in Spanish II, and an F in Geology. The next semester i made 3 C’s and two W’s. Sophomore year Fall 2013 I made 2 B’s and 2 C’s because I found a good medication for my depression and anxiety BUT then the very next semester I was hit with an eating disorder (side affect of said medicine that I didn’t even realize I had until it was too late). This semester I made a D, C, W, and an F. So this is when I took a small break for the Fall 2014 semester and only took two classes, gaining an A and a C in Statistics which I am proud of b/c I am not proficient in math at all. So I come back, last semester of my Junior year feeling so much better that I make all B’s in my 4 classes. Then Senior year Fall 2015 I made 2 A’s and 2 B’s, and one C in Research Methods (statistics). Spring 2016 I made 2 A’s and 2 B’s. Summer 2016 I made 2 A’s. And my final year I made 3 A’s and one W b/c my advisor told me to drop that class.
I did so well at approving my grades i was even granted another scholarship given to students who show “tremendous academic growth”
All of my professors and advisors told me not to worry about my GPA, especially since I had a good reason for my slip in grades. They also told me it was a good look to have such a drastic change in my transcript from worse, to better, to great. But how the heck am I supposed to even apply to these schools if when they see my GPA it doesn’t meet the requirements? Will they even look? Will they care about my shift in grades on my transcript? One professor told me I could briefly mention my issues in my statement letters or have it mentioned in my letters of recommendation. And that being a psych major, it could really help since my personal issues could be used to demonstrate that I had special insight into the things I would be studying or something like that. But I’m afraid it would be looked at as weak or that I’m trying to make excuses.
Am I just worrying over nothing or am I not going to be able to get into grad school like I fear. I really want to continue my education. I love learning and I hate that my issues have ruined my GPA like this. Is there any way around the GPA requirement?
Thank you for your time