Grad School Concern

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I'm really struggling in a class right now, I'm a junior and am worried about getting anything below a B in it. The rest of my grades this semester should all be A's. All the courses I've taken have been A's except for one B+.

It's too late to drop the class and my big concern is that a grad school would see something below a B sticking out on a transcript. It wouldn't really affect my GPA though...I'd still be able to get a 3.9 or higher.

Is this a legit concern? I'm looking to go into research psychology, BTW, and need to go to a school near me since it would be impossible for me to move at this point in time due to my condition (I need my support network).

A 3.9 with one dropped grade is still an outstanding GPA, I wouldn't worry about it. However, if you plan on going into a research branch, you should see if you can get involved in some undergraduate research. I've read about Ph.D. programs that will reject a pristine GPA with no research experience in favor of a merely "good" GPA with research experience. It depends on the particular program.

I was planning on finding one this summer, so perhaps that will work? The one I'm looking at is affiliated with my top choice school.

Also, I've never taken Calculus, does that hurt me?

while GPA is the "major concern" Cs are frowned upon and are usually requested that you retake the course. especially since, at this point, all the classes you take are "your major" and should all be relevant to your area of specialty.

you in a MS or PHD program?

I think I may have been a little unclear here...

I'm still in an undergrad program and I want to get into grad school so I can get a master's and then a PhD.

Just to clear things up...I do know that C's are "failing" in grad school.

With a 3.9 your could probably go straight to the PhD program.

3.9 is an excellent GPA, I wouldn't worry about it. Grad schools look at the whole package--research experience, GPA, standardized tests, etc. For example, I suck at standardized tests and some people told me I wouldn't get into grad school because of it, but I still got in due to my GPA and research experience (I am guessing). So, go and get some research experience. What are of psych do you want to go into? If you do something quantitative, not having calc will hurt you, but I don't think it matters for clinical psych, etc. Have you taken a basic stat course? Some programs require it. I was in your shoes not so long ago, so feel free to PM if you have more questions.

I wouldn't worry about it either. A 3.9 GPA is really good. I had a 3.96 in undergrad. If I had to do it again, I probably would have gotten some research experience in undergrad. I did a one year professional oriented master's program after undergrad and then when on into my current Ph.D. program at Penn State. I've been here since fall 2004. I'll be finishing within the next couple of years.

Typically, the top grad schools I believe require at least a 3.5 or 3.6 GPA most of the time. From there they'll look at your essay, your GRE scores, any relevant extracurriculars, any research experience you may have, the 3 recommendations, and what you filled out on the application. I would make sure you have established relationships with at least 3 professors (or maybe say 2 professors and an employer) as the recommendations can play a large role in acceptance. I have no doubt that one of my recommendations was a large part of why I got into the Ph.D. program here at Penn State.

Scott

I'm in the middle of grad school (four semesters to go) with an eye towards a PhD. I have a 4.0, but my advisor told me that the program I want to get into is very competitive and I'm going to have to have a paper published AND find a faculty member to take me on. Which brings me to your quote. Establishing relationships is very hard. I fear I will not be able to maintain good enough relationships with my professors as well as find one in an area I'm interested in. In other words, I worry that my aspie social skills will keep me from my dream of having a PhD.

what's your program of study, out of curiosity? I wouldn't let one prof color your perception. Have you talked to any other profs about getting into grad school and your chances? When I was applying for grad schools, I had a number of profs telling me my chances are zero because my GREs aren't perfect enough, I don't have a specific enough area of research, etc. etc., and guess what?! I ended up being accepted by most places I applied to. There are some very negative people out there, and I wouldn't let them bring you down. I have absolutely no social skills, yet I found that getting along with profs is easier than with my peers. Just talk about their research and show your enthusiasm, and they would love you.

I'm doing my last year of grad school, getting a master's in community and public health nursing. Getting a PhD in nursing is very competitive because there is a lack of faculty to sponsor PhD students. The reason is economic: in the US and most industrialized countries, there is a huge nursing shortage, and nurses who work in hospitals can expect to make almost $100,000 a year. Whereas your typical Associate Professor makes much less than that. So if you're a nurse, do you go for the money or do you teach? Most go for the money.

Anyway, about the relationships. I'm good at making relationships, but not good at sustaining them. I've had my advisor for a year now, and stress out that she'll not like me at some point in the future because I eventually sabotage many relationships.

I impressed the hell out of my grad program when I applied with a 3.83. I think you're probably fine. They even waived my out-of-state tuition fee.