<p>Could I get into a Masters program from a no-namer college with this low of a GPA and then do really well in that Masters program to have a chance of being accepted to a PhD program? Perhaps I might be able to do something special like starting and developing a popular blog / website related to my field to distinguish myself to have a chance of being admitted to a top PhD program?</p>
<p>What do you want to DO?</p>
<p>Sometimes, you have to be brutally frank in your self-assessments. Are you a go-getter, do you have the endurance to spend hours and hours on academic work and research, can you live on a pittance for x more years? And, have you shown yourself you can achieve the grades in college coursework in your major that suggest you have a talent there? And a commitment? All for slim job prospects at a college level?</p>
<p>Why is your gpa low? Did you crap out in a few pre-med classes and then discover history, now get A’s? That would make a difference. What bothers me is you don’t seem to have ideas past “grad school.” You are supposed to have somewhat focused interests in that academic field. Identifiable interests that you could, eg, note here. And, certainly, that would make you attractive to grad profs. </p>
<p>In a prior thread, OP said “general US history.” No, you have to have a better idea than that. You could continue taking classes at a cc, if that’s it. At a no-name masters program, the serious stumbling block is developing the depth and getting the level of mentoring to attract attention by a top PhD program. </p>
<p>This feels so trolly. Could you start a blog??? Sheesh, they’ve got them- and, except for those where profs and actual researchers are the community, they are considered silly. What’s a think tank? Go google. Show initiative, enery and follow-through. Life skills.</p>
<p>I apologize to other posters if I seem annoyed. But this whole thread is about low energy and lofty hopes. If OP is a junior, he needs to get activated, pronto.</p>
<p>I didn’t say general US history. </p>
<p>I have privacy too I can’t just tell my concentration.</p>
<p>I realize time has passed but 10-13-11: <a href=“Btw,%20I’m%20interested%20in%20general%20U.S.%20History”>i</a>. *</p>
<p>If you have the finances to indulge yourself, I say, go for it. If this is about your future, you have to get activated. What do your current profs have to say? That’s so key. But, with all the general questions you pose, I just have the reaction that you are just asking here, not pursuing in your real life.</p>
<p>Most of us on this thread have college kids. We know there are ups and downs. But, to the victor, belong the spoils. At a certain point, it’s not about “I want.” It’s about what you produce- whether it’s googling for info, finding mentors, achieving the gpa and research required, if you are driven to study history. Or, letting career services offer ideas. You can get a masters and get a hs teaching job or work in ancillary fields. But, you have to take the reins.</p>
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<p>It’s apparent from the above that you haven’t done the basic research and had in-depth talk with your Professors about what it takes to get into a topflight PhD program…or more importantly, whether you can/should. </p>
<p>Popular blog/website to distinguish yourself for a top PhD program?? </p>
<p>Considering I’ve encountered many academics/grad students who use the term “journalism” pejoratively to even describe serious field-related books/publications targeting the popular audience…I’d doubt doing a popular blog/website will get you very far. Unless you’re planning to do it in the field of communications…and even then…I’m not so sure. </p>
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<p>Agreed. The impression he’s conveying on this board is one I sincerely hope he doesn’t project during his job interviews. Some employers I’ve had would not only have thought the above, but also feel OP is a bit lazy and unwilling to do the basic legwork that they felt should be expected without any prompting. </p>
<p>Heck, some of my freshman high school teachers would have seriously gotten on his case about it…and that was towards 12-14 year old HS freshmen…not college juniors/seniors.</p>
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<p>Does it work against you in that they ask you “what have you been doing in this period of time.” and if you say “I was looking for job, or I took a year off” do they see that negatively?</p>
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No, I did not say that. It was another person here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/1224733-history-phd-really-worth.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/1224733-history-phd-really-worth.html</a></p>
<p>I havent read every post, but if the increased GPA is due to retaking classes, many law schools and employers will “recompute” and put back in the grade from the first time the class was taken.</p>
<p>Right now I’m attending 5th year but thinking of dropping out and graduating. I would have about a few months of no-employment gap if I just drop out and declare graduation. </p>
<p>Do companies like to hire straight out of college or only a couple months out of college? Or could I still get an entry level job as long as I write a good cover letter even if I am unemployed after graduation for 6, 8, 12 months or more.</p>
<p>The longer you are unemployed, the steeper the climb to your first job will be.</p>
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<p>For these jobs would they not hire you if you were not employed after graduation for X amount of months?</p>
<p>I’m trying to explain that this is a matter of increasing odds, not a “hire or not hire” question. The longer you are unemployed, the longer your odds of being hired will get. This is true in pretty much every industry. You should try and minimize the time you spend out of school and out of a job. Why wouldn’t you start searching for a job right away if you graduate sooner?</p>
<p>i would start searching right away but I’m not sure if I will get a job. I would have several months of gap after graduation if I dropped this semester but if I stay I would be a fresh graduate so that gives me more time to apply for jobs without piling up months after month of unemployment after graduation.</p>
<p>If you are ready to graduate, I wouldn’t pay for another semester of school just to shield you from the job market. Unless school is costing you next to nothing.</p>
<p>what if the school IS costing me next to nothing. Would the advantages be great enough to take extra semester?</p>
<p>These aren’t questions that have answers!</p>
<p>How am I supposed to make a decision. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Considering- get off the internet.</p>
<p>You need to make a decision by figuring out what you’re good at and what you like to do and then what is an employable skill… and then going out and getting a job.</p>
<p>Any job is better than sitting in your room ruminating on coulda shoulda woulda. Yes, you’d have more options (not necessarily better options, but more options) with a 3.9 GPA. But that’s not you.</p>
<p>So stop looking back and move forward.</p>
<p>so the question is is it feasible to get a job after so many months after graduation? I get the feeling maybe if you don’t get a job within 2 months of graduation your chance decreases significantly? or is that just in my imagination.</p>