<p>Hi everyone,
As stated, I messed up pretty badly when I first went to college in 2003 after high school. I took several years off, went to community college and have since transferred to my current state school in Pennsylvania. I am graduating in May and am applying to grad schools currently. Since I have been at my current school I have a 3.8, a research assistant position (unpaid but still), publications, I'm writing an honors thesis, have several relevant internships, an award etc. etc. (no need to ramble about my whole resume). However I am concerned that no matter how well I am doing now my past will prevent me from getting into a good grad program. Ideally I would like to get into a direct to PhD program but I'm applying to a variety of Masters and PhDs at some big name schools and some that have good programs but are not as well known. I'm trying to be realistic but I have to admit that my dream schools (I have two in mind) are pretty much top ten schools...
Any thoughts or advice?
Thanks bunches!</p>
<p>Based on the information you provide, that first year likely will have no bearing, to speak of. You should make a point of addressing it in your personal statements - describe how you overcame your initial academic difficulties and have grown from them and become a solid student. Many (and I mean MANY) people have done the same and earned PhDs from top-notch programs. Don’t listen to me, though; I only work as an admissions counselor in a graduate school…</p>
<p>I appreciate your feedback however my advisor flat out said to me that I will only be able to get into another state school at best. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I really have my heart set on two particular schools (no not Harvard or Princeton but close). I am also concerned about getting a masters first and applying again for a PhD because of funding…I have a bit of student loan debt already. I’m applying to 12 schools so hopefully something will work out.</p>
<p>Your first school was 10 years ago, and you have since proven yourself to be a successful student. The first transcripts will still be in your application, but will be much less relevant than your current academic accomplishments, research experience, publications, etc. Your recommendations will carry quite a bit of weight as well, which should all be current and not from 2003. Your advisor may or may not have connections at the schools you’re applying to, and so may or may not have a realistic idea of your chances for admission. The only thing you can do is try and apply, and have a variety of reaches and “safeties” (though difficult to gauge at the graduate level) in your list of applications. That’s better than regretting not applying to your top schools, if you can afford it.</p>
<p>Thanks for your response. I am going to apply to 12 schools like I mentioned even if that’s a little over kill. I guess I’m just wondering what I should do if I get into a masters program at a more well known school and a phd at a lesser known school…I suppose it will all come down to funding. I know people say it doesn’t always guarantee you a job (I’m in the humanities) if you get your degree from a Ivy League or top ten school but I can’t help but notice that all of the schools I’ve researched and my current school, all the tenure track professors come from said ivy/top ten schools. Doesn’t leave much hope for the rest of us…</p>
<p>There’s been a saying that you won’t teach at a school as good as or better than the one you attended. There are always exceptions to the rule (e.g., if you’re a rising star with influential publications and/or solid connections/work relationships), but the better the program you can get into (in terms of its influence in your field, success of faculty in producing quality research, etc.), the more options it may produce after graduation. If there is a significant difference in the professional outcomes of students graduating from the masters program as compared with the PhD, I might consider the masters program first to build my CV. Look at where recent graduates end up after graduating from both programs, not necessarily where the professors are from.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the response. That seems like a practical way to go about making decisions if I (hopefully) get more than one acceptance. </p>
<p>On another note, all my advisors have encouraged me to email faculty in my intended field at schools I am applying to. I’ve found several people with whom I would love to work with but I have to admit I am nervous about emailing them. Mostly because I don’t really know what to say…</p>
<p>Any thoughts?</p>
<p>You should go right for a PhD program if that is your ultimate goal. Most schools will pay attention to your most recent academic record but if you apply to highly selective programs, it is always a low probability. Consider some less selective schools which you would bee happy to attend. This usually means a faculty member whose research is interesting to you. Getting a good job after graduation is often most dependent on your thesis advisor. My PhD students have never had a problem getting positions even if my university is not a top 20 program.</p>
<p>Getting in touch with a prospective advisor had to be done carefully. Do your homework by looking carefully at the professor’s Web page and read some of the publications. Is you are very specific in your questions when you make initial email contact, you are more likely to get an answer. Many of us get a lot of emails and we really can’t respond to the generic ones.</p>
<p>Thanks xray…I feel sheepish asking this but any suggestions on what types of specific questions to ask?</p>
<p>Your advisor’s statement makes me wary that he knows what he’s talking about. In my field, “state schools” are some of the top-ranked schools - Michigan, UW-Madison and Minnesota are ranked right up there with Princeton, Yale, and Stanford, so an advisor telling a psychology student that they would get into a “state school at best” would be confusing indeed.</p>
<p>Besides, I would be hard-pressed to believe that a student with a 3.8, significant research experience, publications, relevant internships, etc. would be turned down from programs because of mistakes made over 10 years ago. Your performance when you were 18 has little to no bearing on your performance now that you are 28 or 29, and most people are going to assume that the way you will do in grad school will be more based upon how you performed in the last 4-5 years. They’re not going to completely ignore your most recent 4 years to focus on something that happened 10 years ago, not if they make any sense.</p>
<p>Thanks julliet. The state schools I was referring to are Penn state, U Maryland and U Delaware. And even though I would not be upset by any means going to any of those schools, there are others on my list that I am really hoping for. I am inclined to agree with you that mistakes from 10 years ago won’t hold much bearing it’s just that I have to send in 3 transcripts, one of which is horrid, the other simply has two withdrawals and nothing else, (both of these are from the early 2000s though) and the other one is good but is from the CC that I went to in order to transfer to my current school…and then my current transcript which is excellent (not bragging, just being honest).</p>
<p>On another note, can you give me suggestions about what to ask a potential professor I want to work with? I’m really nervous about emailing them 
</p>
<p>You’ll want to briefly introduce yourself and express your interest in their lab, but you’ll want to have some substance to your e-mail that may help the professor remember your name favorably. You’re not going to provide them with a novel idea, but you want to show that you’re familiar with their work. Be sure to read up on their current publications. Jot down questions or thoughtful insights you have as you read. You might be curious about their recent study and what they feel the implications may be for _<strong><em>. Maybe this ties into research you’ve done previously. Maybe you’d like to know their thoughts on </em></strong>. </p>
<p>No one here can tell you exactly what to ask. You don’t want a pre-made template that the professor has received a hundred times before.</p>