<p>I am in a real dilemma here. I am appying to social psychology Ph.D program, but I am not sure if my GPA is good enough. I spent 4 years majoring in physics and got a GPA of 2.90, I then spent 2 years majoring in psychology and got a 4.0 for those 2 years. So my overall GPA is like a 3.20. With a 3.9 in my major.
My GRE score is V:670 Q:750 W:4.0.
I got some pretty good letters of recommedation from big name professors and have 2 years of research experience.
So do I still have any chance at getting into top programs despite my inconsistent acadmeic record? BecauseI did jump from a 2.90 to 4.0.....but that was in 6 years of undergrad study.
My top choices are: Harvard, Penn, UCSB, and UTexas at Austin. What would the admission officers think when they see my record? On my personal statement, I am trying to sell them the fact that I am a different person now than when I got that 2.9.</p>
<p>Your situation is not uncommon. Many students find their paths after a first major for which they were perhaps unsuited (or at least in which they were uninterested).</p>
<p>Just deal with this head on in your SOP, drawing attention to your successes after you found your academic niche.</p>
<p>I guess I just want to get into the admission officers' heads a lot being a psych major, lol. I want to know how likely they will overlook my bad physics grade. Afterall, I am competing against people with true 4.0 GPAs</p>
<p>^
That guy must have really great people skills. Getting into Stanford with <3.0 and 1 academic rec? Doesn't seem incredibly likely.</p>
<p>responding to questions with anecdotal evidence is never a good idea. Yes, Im sure a select few students got into top PhD programs with low GPA's, but they are definitely exceptions to the rule. As a rule of thumb, PhD programs want students who have demonstrated academic excellence. So even if a friend of a friend of a friend got into Berkeley with a 3.1, chances are not good that you will too.
In MA programs, Im sure this is very different. The median GPA for alot of top MBA's or top MPA/MPP's is often 3.3-3.5, but these programs demand several years of work experience. Most PhD programs I know of at my university (a middle of the road Canadian school with no international prestige) wont even allow you to apply for most PhD programs with less than a 3.3 in either UG or an MA program.</p>
<p>I dont want to be a wet blanket, obviously, but the fact remains that PhD programs are usually competitive and thus take students with excellent academic credentials.</p>
<p>Outside of my GPA, my other credentials are either excellent or at least competitive. So is it likely that admission officers will overlook my poor physics grades (which has nothing to do with psychology)?</p>
<p>I think you're going to be a borderline case. Which means they'll argue about you for a while. Apply to less competitive programs to increase your chances. All four of the programs you listed, Harvard, Penn, UCSB, and Austin, are at the top of the psychology food chain. You should apply still but make sure to apply to some less-well-thought of state schools.</p>
<p>to the OP: yes, you do have a chance to get into top 10 schools, even moreso if you come from a top school. This isn't like applying to undergrad. Keep in mind that these aren't "admissions officers" making the decisions--they are professors. They are looking for people to work in their labs. They'll see the high GRE scores and the fact you majored in physics and did ok (B avg. isn't too bad) and think you are a smart guy. They really only care about your performance in psychology, though. And don't worry, they won't extrapolate your performance in physics to conclude you are not a potential star in psychology.</p>
<p>So don't worry about it.</p>
<p>I've heard stories that for admissions to top schools, although the stated requirement for GPA is 3.0, if you don't have at least a 3.4 or 3.5, they will just throw your application out without ever looking at the rest of your credentials.</p>
<p>Then again, a friend told me a rumor that if you apply to a top school with a 2.0 GPA, the admissions people will use your application as toilet paper. O_o</p>
<p>Sounds itchy.</p>
<p>I'm the guy who got into Stanford with a less-than-stellar GPA (<a href="http://www-psych.stanford.edu/%7Eamiawake/how)%5B/url%5D">http://www-psych.stanford.edu/~amiawake/how)</a>. Your situation does sound unusual, especially given the switch in majors - unusual in a godo way, that is. :-)</p>
<p>It sounds like You have lots of research experience (hopefully in a field related to your interests). You have good recommendations. You've proved yourself to be serious about psychology, after realizing that another field isn't for You. It all makes sense, and it's an interesting story, too.</p>
<p>If You know what You're interested in studying, and if You can locate people that You want to work with (to be your advisors), I'd recommend that You get in touch with them. Don't assume they'll overlook You - especially if You have an interesting story and compelling ideas for research. Don't think about yourself as a 2.9 GPA person - your physics GPA is just about irrelevant. Let them know You as a person, and see if You would be a match. </p>
<p>The website I put up gives ideas for this process (letters I sent, etc.). It's really possible. I think a lot of amazing applicants scare themselves out of applying to good schools (I know I was very close to not applying to Stanford), and everybody loses as a result. Feel free to get in touch if You'd like to talk about this more.</p>
<p>And good luck! :-)</p>
<ul>
<li>Eran</li>
</ul>
<p>That was certainly a pretty amazing story. For those who don't know, Stanford is the #1 ranked place in the nation (and probably the world) to study psychology. How did you even get pass the initial screening process, btw? And what's your GRE score? Is it close to 1600 or something?</p>
<p>There is <em>no</em> "initial screening." That's exactly the point. If a faculty member is interested enough in your application, they will look for it. As far as I know (and I was on the admissions committee a couple of years ago, although things may have changed), nobody gets cut without having anyone see their application. There are no minimum scores (GRE, GPA). The personal statement carries a big weight, as do the recommendations.</p>
<p>My personal statement, my correspondence with some professors, and my GRE scores are all on the website.</p>
<ul>
<li>Eran</li>
</ul>
<p>One thing I've heard is that people with slightly weird profiles/stats can actually have a better shot at top schools than mid-level ones if their other credentials are excellent, because, as eranmagen said, a lot of top schools don't have "initial screening", while some of the mid-level ones do.</p>
<p>To the OP: If you want top schools, I'd say go for top schools, but have a real backup plan, such as applications to relevant jobs. If you got a relevant job in a lab or something, you could even try again in a couple of years and have better luck.</p>
<p>"How I Got Into the Stanford Psychology Ph.D. Program"</p>
<p>Wow... that's pretty sweet... Psychology Ph.D. program in Stanford..</p>
<p>Now don't get carried away by the halo effect.....the psychology program at Stanford sits at the top mostly for its faculty (Bandura, Zajonc, Shepard, Maccoby, Steele, Zimbardo, Dweck, Flavell, et al.) I'm not convinced it's better than say Yale, Michigan or Columbia for wanna-be top researchers/faculty (grad students.) It just doesn't seem, as far as I can currently tell, to translate its success to top placement for its grads [sorry Eran].</p>
<p>This story is really inspiring. I am really really motivated after reading this.
I have a Masters but my GPA is not more than 3. I want to get into a top PhD program in Political Science. I have four years of research experience, three of which inside Afghanistan and one in a developed country. I do have some publications but they are more geared towards policy makers than academics. I need to take my GRE. Would you have any advice on whether I am being realistic in aiming for top schools? Can I make up for my low GPA? I do not want to aim low, but I also want to be realistic.</p>