<p>Hello, CC! First post here, long time lurker. Here's stats about me:</p>
<p>-2.5 GPA (planning to change this)
-10! Ws.
-2 courses taken in my major which is Philosophy, so thankfully I haven't bombed my upper division courses yet
-At a CCC right now, transfering to a CSU pretty soon (i hope)</p>
<p>So what happens if I:
-Increase my GPA
-Get very nice letters
-Great GRE</p>
<p>I'm guessing that if i do get lucky enough to get into a PHD program, I'm going to have to pay. I think that terminal MA programs are more likely to take me, but that's just a guess. I'm pretty sure most of those MA programs will make me pay (not willing to do that at the moment). Those 10 Ws sure will hurt me. Will I most likely pay given that I shape up in my undergrad career? </p>
<p>Assuming that if I get straight A's from this day forward, and my GPA isn't all that great, do you think a minor (I might get one in cognitive science, but do grad schools want to see diversity? i do want to study philosophy of mind) will help my chances?</p>
<p>Be blunt with me, please. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>… ya. How bluntly do you want? straight out? or just simple “no chance kiddo?”</p>
<p>To be honest, you’re chances do not look good. If you wanted to have a great chance, I would recommend retaking some of those courses that really hurt your GPA. I don’t know what is good for cog sci, but I do know that for engineering grad school one needs at least a 3.2 to have any shot. </p>
<p>What will give you the best chances are:</p>
<p>-Ace’ing the rest of your career
-Retaking a few of your really bad courses to replace those grades
-Good GRE’s
-Great letters of recommendation (this can trump everything if it comes from a very respected person)
-Get publications or examples of your potential to succeed in graduate school</p>
<p>The last two will make the most difference. Focus on those.</p>
<p>so my ‘no chance’ will turn into a great chance if i retake courses where i slacked? wouldn’t they look at my transcript and say “this person has 10ws and retook courses” so wouldn’t that not help at all?</p>
<p>Also note that my major GPA will most likely look different from my cumulative GPA because i’ve only taken 2 classes in my major.</p>
<p>I’d also look into taking grad courses and doing well in those too.</p>
<p>If you get mostly As and A-s in the second half of your undergraduate career, then it will significantly strengthen your application. For PhD programs, however, you are talking about two extremely competitive fields, philosophy and cognitive science. You have to start doing research in your intended field NOW. And given your GPA, you might have better results if you also spend a year after graduation doing research in the field. Especially if you choose philosophy, an honor thesis will help you – but with your current GPA, your department might not allow you to do it. Prove to everyone that you’re much better than your first two year grades suggest.</p>