Low GPA advice for seeking PhD

Graduate School
1

<p>First off, I searched the forum and did not find any topics similar to my situation. If I missed any comparable discussions, sorry in advance. </p>

<p>I have decided I want to attend graduate school in either Sociology or Anthropology. Right now I am not exactly sure which would better fit my goals. Unfortunately, when I was in college as an undergrad double majoring in Anthropology and History, I did not have the same academic goals, and my GPA suffered, resulting in a 2.9 overall and 2.75 in my last two years. I didn't talk to any professors either, so I certainly don't have any leads for letters of recommendation. Combine this with the 3.0 required by most graduate schools, and obviously, I need take a slightly different approach to furthering my studies. And before anyone asks, yes I can do the work at a high level. That wasn't the problem. I will not have another GPA fiasco, so please don't suggest that I cannot do the work. </p>

<p>I figure that I have two options. I can either attend an extension program such as Harvard's program and get a Masters in Extension Studies, or I can apply to a school which will let me get a second bachelor's degree. </p>

<p>My concern with the extension school option is that I do not know how graduate programs committees would view such a degree, be it from Harvard or somewhere else. While Harvard's extension school sounds like an excellent program, and I have read reports of a few people getting into top graduate schools from that program, I am slightly apprehensive about my chances to move on. </p>

<p>The second bachelor's plan is interesting, and it does look like there are some relatively decent schools which offer them. However, it is a very expensive option. I also don't know how grad schools would judge me having a second bachelor's. For all I know, the Harvard Extension plan could be just as good, and in that case, I would save money and time. </p>

<p>Does anyone have any insight on which direction would be viewed the best by PhD programs? I am interested in the top programs, but I am also realistic with the chances. Shoot for the stars, land on the moon. I am confident I can make it to a good PhD program, I just need guidance on the best path that I should take to get there. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Have you consider a masters program? MA programs don’t have super strict benchmark, especially if other parts of the application are particularly strong.</p>

3

<p>your situation is quite similar to mine.</p>

4

<p>First off, I would like to commend you on your resilience; it would be so easy to whine in this situation and lower your goals. After undergrad, I didn’t feel like I would be a great candidate for graduate schools, with relatively low gpa, unimpressive research experience, mediocre recommendations etc. So I worked as a tech for a few years while taking courses as a “non degree” student. These courses didn’t really matter when I started grad school (aside from providing me with unique knowledge and experience) but they assuaged the fears of admission committees that I would be unable to perform academically as a graduate student. Perhaps you might be able to work part time for a professor on their research project and take a class a semester independent of any degree program.</p>

5

<p>This topic comes up in this forum rather frequently. Your situation is not unusual.</p>

<p>There is no secret cure. Your options probably fall into three basic categories. (1) Apply based on your current credentials. (2) Acquire some additional credentials through “non-traditional” means. (3) Acquire additional credentials through traditional means.</p>

<p>The “best” path for <em>you</em> is not necessarily the one with the greatest odds of success, where success is defined as being accepted to a PhD program. All three are risky. There is no formula that you can follow which will assure that you’re ultimately admitted.</p>

<p>(1) May have the lowest odds of success, but you’ll only be out $100-$150 per app. after taking into account the costs of fees/transcripts/test scores/etc. Of course, you’ll probably want to apply to more schools than someone with stonger credentials might.</p>

<p>(2) Would be something along the lines of finding a job that would put you into contact with PhDs in your chosen field, and/or taking non-degree course work in the field. This will mean an investment of at least a couple of years and maybe some significant opportunity costs. Given that social scientists themselves are not highly compensated and that academics have grad students as research assistants, you may need to essentially volunteer somewhere to get this sort of experience. Any course work that you take will certainly cost money as well as time.</p>

<p>(3) Will quite likely require you to take a couple of years off from work and pay tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and fees. If you go the 2nd undergrad route, instead of the terminal MA, the cost in time and tuition could be double.</p>

<p>The odds of success are probably inversely realted to the costs of the approach that you take. Though, in any case the odds are probably not that good. PhD programs generally have very low acceptance rates and they draw applicants from around the world. Currently, applications may be unusually high and tight budgets are probably squeezing the number of available positions.</p>

<p>Then, of couse, you should probably consider the real likelihood of not completing a program even if you’re admitted and the career prospects if you do. Those are both subjects for other threads and they been discussed in this forum frequently.</p>

<p>The one thing that you should be very wary of is taking out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans, regardless of what path you choose. If going the 2nd undergrad route is going to leave you under $40K+ in student loan debt in return for a second social science undergrad degree, it seems reckless.</p>