<p>I attended a major state university for my undergraduate degree, where I ultimately received a BA in Sociology. </p>
<p>My first two years I performed poorly, my GPA lingered at about a 2.1 to 2.3. There are a couple reasons for this…</p>
<p>1) A genuine lack of interest in what I was studying. I started as a Telecomm major, which I really wasn’t interested in. </p>
<p>2) My father died a month before I started college. I was lost at the time, thinking about that situation and my priority wasn’t my schoolwork, and I was okay with just passing. </p>
<p>I did notice though, that I did well and loved studying for my integrated humanities and social science courses, the general courses that everyone has to take. This caused me to take an introductory Sociology course at the end of my second year, and I switched my major to it as well.</p>
<p>I got grades of 3.5’s and 3.0’s in my Sociology courses, and ultimately finished my undergraduate career in 2005 with a low cumulative of 2.55 and a major GPA of 3.0,
My grades did trend upward the last two years. I should also state that I was experiencing mild depression throughout my undergraduate career due to the aforementioned circumstance as well as other personal dilemmas. </p>
<p>Fast forward to now:
I currently work on research project at a tier 1; top 12 university for two P.I.’s whose research sits at the intersection of psychiatry, sociology and policy. I’ve been on staff for a year and a half and I work primarily in an administrative capacity but I’ve gotten a chance to see how research is done first hand.
I’ve also matriculated as a non-degree seeking undergrad student here and taken several classes and maintained a 3.5 GPA here. </p>
<p>I’ve taken the GRE once, my verbal score was solid but my Q and A weren’t what I need them to be. I‘ll probably need to take it again.</p>
<p>I’m want to apply to Ph.D programs in Sociology, I’m not aiming to get into any of the best schools but I would like to go somewhere and get fully funded and be able to get a decent job either in the academe or in the public or private sector, as long as the positions are aligned with my academic interests which generally are Sex & Gender, Race& Ethnicity and Religion.</p>
<p>With my background, how picky can I afford to be about what schools I apply to? I’m looking at a lot of mid-level schools and some schools that aren’t ranked at all, as well as two top 25 programs that have professors whose interests overlap with mine. </p>
<p>MA?
Mother wants me to apply to a Masters program here through the University which I have a very good shot at getting into. I’ve spoken to someone on the admissions committee about my undergrad grades and my progress since. </p>
<p>Cons: It’s strictly a policy program which I’m not overly excited about. And it would also entail working in the same administrative capacity for another two years while completing it.
Pros: It’s a solid degree in policy which would put me ahead of some others in terms of gov’t, think tank work. Also, there is a huge discount for university staff – essentially a very cheap masters degree.</p>
<p>The MA program also has rolling admissions, so I could start it anytime. Whereas the PhD programs mostly only accept fall applicants (there are a few exceptions to this).</p>
<p>Advice? Thanks.</p>