I attended The University of Texas at Austin and majored in Economics (specialization in Latin American Economies) and Spanish. I will begin my second year of teaching high school Spanish this fall; however, I am trying to find a way to attend grad school next fall and study in some type of foreign policy program. My overall GPA was quite poor - a 2.6 to be exact, but I was quite ill and spent the greater part of my last 1.5 years of school in and out of the hospital, only to have heart surgery the summer after graduation. My question is this : what can I do to combat my poor GPA in order to gain entrance into a decent grad program?
2006-07-30 11:54:49 · 5 answers · asked by Jim R 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
- High GRE score
- Second language skills
- International travel / work experience
- Work experience in your field of study
- Reference letters from past professors
- Reference letter from a doctor saying it's a miracle you even managed to graduate
- Volunteer experience in your field of study
2006-07-30 15:15:25 · answer #1 · answered by Jetgirly 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The GRE is important, but you should have at least some introductory courses in two other languages under your belt... If I were you, I'd take a couple extra quarters to get strait 'A' quality work done on "grad level courses" or undergraduate course work that will relate to the higher degree you intend to pursue... your academic skills will need to be unquestionably honed. Good Luck & "Keep your nose to the grindstone!"
2006-07-30 12:04:26 · answer #2 · answered by cherodman4u 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do well on your GRE's. Point to your performance when the sky was not falling. Get a job in your field of interest (including internship with federal politician in your state (Austin ??Sen. Daggert). Find a school that will accept you, do well and transfer.
Good luck!
2006-07-30 12:04:53 · answer #3 · answered by DrB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
send a letter with your application explaining why your grades were so bad... not gauranteed to help, but it can't hurt (sometimes schools encourage these kind of letters). also, if you do really well on your entrance exams and get really good recommendation letters, they will be more likely to be forgiving on bad undergraduate performance.
2006-07-30 11:59:01 · answer #4 · answered by Karen H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do well on your GRE.
2006-07-30 11:56:59 · answer #5 · answered by puma 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋