<p>I know it is a little early -- I am only a sophomore right now, but I have screwed up royally in school. I go to one of the 7 sisters and I'm a soc major. The first semester of my freshman year, I did not care about school at all because I completely hated it. This ended up in a 2.550 GPA. I noticed that I had screwed up and I took a course over winter break to boost my GPA a little. It was an intense course in which I did ethnographic research to discover disparities amongst people from different economic classes on campus. I got an A and I was able to bring my GPA to a 2.667. In the spring, I started doing volunteer work (aka getting involved in the community) and I was able to get a B+ (3.33) average in my classes and bring my overall GPA to a 2.933. My volunteer work is all humanitarian work that deals with people (specifically, children) that are socio-economically disadvantaged and I am still continuing to do it. </p>
<p>This semester, I had to drop a class because I was pretty much failing, but I am sure that I will get at least a 3.33 (probably higher -- 3.33 is lowest) by the end of the semester with the rest of my 14 credits. </p>
<p>As I want to go to an MA/phD program (a professor has recommended UChicago, but I don't have the stats right now), I do have research lined up for the fall (prob. having to do with socio-economics) semester of my junior year. I already have close connections to 2 of the faculty members in my department. One of them is trying to get me in touch with yet another, so that my junior year research will actually happen junior year. I also have another project that I will be working on throughout the entire course of my senior year, in order to graduate with honors (a 3.0 and a research project is required for honors). In the summer after my sophomore year, I will [hopefully] be doing even more research, but it will not be tied into my socio-economic interests. In the spring semester of my junior year, I will not be able to do research (well, domesticly), because I will be abroad.</p>
<p>So, I know a screwed up, and I know it might be a little early to start thinking about all of this, but i just want some advice as to what I should do for the rest of my 2.5 years at school. I dont want to continue screwing up its not at all fun.
What should I do in order to make it possible for me to eventually get into an ma/phD program ? I am thinking about taking a year off after undergrad in order to get some field-work experience in sociology. I will apply to an ma/phD program afterwards, so I still have some time. I just want to know if I am on the right track
and also, if my 2.5 really screwed me over.</p>
<p>You will need at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA for admission to most graduate programs. (Some will even require a 3.5.) </p>
<p>But you are indeed on the right track. Your high GPA in the major will be a plus. Keep that up. </p>
<p>And do keep in mind that grad admissions like to see improvement over time. You can address this (briefly) in your SOP. </p>
<p>Best wishes to you.</p>
<p>If you keep your GPA at least 3.3 (preferably, as Prof X says, 3.5 by application time), do well on the GRE, and have excellent letters, research experiences, etc. - programs will overlook your previous GPA. Lots of people screw up freshman year (or longer). What the programs will see is a person who screwed up early, but has consistently done better and has sought out other opportunities. Don't worry - just keep doing what you're doing.</p>
<p>I am sure I can get it up to 3.5 by application time. It was just that one semester where I royally screwed up. This semester, I am taking 14 credits and I am getting anywhere between a 3.3 and a 3.7 as a GPA. It really just depends on my finals, as I haven't really received any grades yet. My major GPA will be a 3.8ish by the end of the fall semester.. </p>
<p>So, if I were to bring it up to, say, a 3.5 this semester, then take a course over winter break and get another 4.0 in it, and bring it (my semester) up to a 3.8 or 3.9 in the spring, that would not be frowned upon? </p>
<p>My one qualm is that I will be going abroad for one semester in my junior year and my school doesn't count our abroad GPA towards our overall requirement. Would I simply request a transcript with my grades from that institution and submit it as part of a GPA? </p>
<p>Also, as I did screw up freshman year, I do not plan to apply to graduate school until after having gained some work (2 years-ish?) experience in the field. Is that frowned upon, or is that also a good idea? </p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>In grad admissions, we are not going to pay much attention to your semester-by-semester GPA. Your cumulative GPA and your major GPA are the numbers we do look at.</p>
<p>Also, in graduate applications, all transcripts must be submitted, including those from institutions other than your primary undergrad institution. However, it would be up to you whether or not to figure that GPA into your self-reported cumulative GPA. As you state, your school's policy is NOT to include study abroad, but various grad admissions programs will likely have different approaches to this. In any event, they'll figure out your cumulative and major GPA using their own methods.</p>
<p>In answer to your other q, in sociology, work experience is not necessary. If you do work, do get a job that bears directly upon your field of research interest. That could indeed boost your application, and could possibly give you something substantial to write about in your SOP. </p>
<p>But honestly, I think you are worrying way too much about your freshman year's impact on your overall application package. Relax. Really.
(I know, easier said than done.)</p>