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GPA isn't high enough for graduate school?
20/f
I'm graduating this December.
I'm panicking. Because I just had a talk with my sister and her friend... And I feel a bit discouraged now because my GPA isn't high enough for graduate school. Not even for a particular school which needs a 3.0 to consider me getting into their program.
I was thinking about taking a year off to focus on myself health wise and etc, but they thought that was a bad idea too because I should "stay ahead" and that "they made that mistake too" and they regretted it. & now, I don't know what I will do or where my career will end up taking me.
But even then they said it doesn't matter how long if I take off for school before graduate school because they'll only look at my GRE score and my GPA score first before considering me... And they even said it'd be helpless if I don't make a 3.0...
And I considered the whole year situation because I already made a B on one of my tests in one of my classes... Which is like 20% of my grade that doesn't hand out extra credit and I had to make straight A's to be able to make that 3.0
I'm not sure what to do at this point. I feel discouraged and now I'm not sure if I should even work hard to even make good grades at this point if I can't even get into graduate school. And even then... Would my GPA be locked in after I graduate?
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Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Colleges & Universities?
First, don't listen to what other people think or experience. Listen to what you think is right for you. To counter your sister and her friend I give you my brother in-law. He took a year of before going to grad school. He now has a Masters in Physics and a PHD in Nuclear Physics. He also had a full time job while working on his PHD. So as you can see things are different for each individual person. So do what you feel is right for you.
As for Grad school and your GPA. Is there only one school that offers the course you want to take in Grad school? While this is possible I doubt it. I believe this is the school you wish to attend and there is nothing wrong with that.
Contact the admissions office and talk to one of the admissions officers. Every school does have its requirements but they are also realistic. Given today's economy many courses are going unfilled. It may be possible to get into the course you want with a lower GPA especially if you can demonstrate a higher GPA for your final year in undergraduate school. So keep your grades up.
If you do take a year off there may be something you can do to raise your GPA or raise your standing in their eyes while you are taking time off. As the admissions officer about this if need be.
A good friend of mine was in a similar position. He had always wanted to be a doctor. He wasted his high school years, and well lets just say college wasn't any better. So being a doctor just wasn't in his future. He became a firefighter/EMT. Then the fire department trained him to be a paramedic. Once he had his paramedic license and practiced for a few years he was accepted to nursing school. He practiced as a nurse for five years and applied for a bridge program for medical school and was accepted. He is now in his first year of residency to be an Emergency Physician.
What this story should be telling you is; if you want something bad enough you will find away. My friend wanted to be a doctor and now he is. Instead of 7 years of school he went through 10 or 11 plus training and working in a very dangerous profession to realize his dream.
My advice to you is to get the facts for yourself. Maybe you do not get to go to the school of your choice. If the career of your choice is available from another school find out. As I said get the facts for yourself then map out a way to get to where your goals are. My friend did it and so can you.
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