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<li> Assuming you are aiming at top programs, you will be competing against students who tried–and succeeded–for their entire collegiate careers. You will have to come up with demonstrable evidence in the form of an excellent application/statement of interests, strong recommendations, etc. that can convince schools that you are now focused, tapping into the raw potential that got you into a place like Carleton, and worth a spot in the program. What research/internship/etc. experiences can you call upon to help you make your case? Who is going to write a letter for you?</li>
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<p>I understand that students sometimes find themselves academically later on in life, and I know of plenty of students with GPAs in the 3.0-3.5 range who have gone on to do excellent work in all types of graduate programs. I don’t know you and am not qualified to comment on your actual academic potential and that’s not my intention here. However, you have to think about things from the perspective of the professors in the program–why should they accommodate you over someone who has an exceptional record of performance, as represented by a strong GPA, over four years? It is YOUR job to convince them that they should. It is not their job to be sympathetic to your case. </p>
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<li><p>As I understand law admissions, they are largely driven by your UGPA and LSAT, so you would have to do very well on the LSAT to receive consideration at top schools. I don’t dare speculate on the particulars of graduate school in either journalism or psych, as I’ve never advised or written for a student pursuing those degrees, but I imagine that the general situation of there being many applicants from excellent schools with excellent four-year records still applies. (I’m happy to be corrected by someone with more experience, however.)</p></li>
<li><p>I remain concerned by your lack of focus–psychology, law and journalism are all very different degrees. Why do you want a graduate degree? How will it help you with your career objectives? What sort of debt do you imagine taking on for this degree, and how do you plan to pay off that debt? You owe it to yourself to consider these questions, and I don’t think that you will be able to put together an application that will persuade top programs to give you a look over people with 3.6s and 3.7s unless you can answer them.</p></li>
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