Going for a Master's Degree!?

Question

Okay, so I'm looking at getting a Master's degree yet it seems like nobody wants to know about anything, but your cumulative GPA as an undergrad. My undergrad GPA was not great and I barely got through. Is it possible to get accepted to a Master's program with a low GPA? or am I stuck for life regardless of a successful career work experience?

Answer 1

No--you're not stuck. But it will take some work to get around the problem. Here's how:

First, pick a decent school in your area (but NOT a "name" school). Then, using your undergraduate crecord, start taking undergraduate classes in the same area you want to do your master's in (if you want the masters in the same area as your bachelors, pick a closely related area). Take a semester to get back used to the classroom routine--but MAKE SURE you earn "A"s. And get to know your instructors. Not full-time, BTW--a couple of courses are enough.
Also (and you can do this at the same time--find out which grad school tests are required/accepted (the most common is called the GRE--its essentially an advanced bersion of the SAT). Take a prep course for the GRE (or whatever)-there are online tutoring courses as well as classes available--and take the exam (GRE or whatever).

I know--this is a lot of work. But if you get a decent grad exam score and show the professors in the school you want to go to that you can/will do the work-and they know YOU as a student--they will let you in. Bear in mind--at most universities the school does not make admissions decisions for graduate school--the departments do that. So if you apply--and can hand a couple of letters of recommendation to the Department Director of Graduate Studies from his fellow faculty members--it's pretty much a done deal.

BTW--you may even beable to get credit for those undergrad classes for your graduate work. To do this, the courses have to have a undergrad/grad mixed classification (grad students usually do some extra work in such classes). If you take this kind of class--and can get away with taking it as a graduate-status class--you can get some credit for your masters coursework (uslually the limit is two courses, but every little bit helps!). Even if you cant work this loophole, you're well advised to take such advanced undergrad courses--they are harder, but will impress professors all the more for that.

PS--It's a good idea to be up front with your professors about this. Visit them (during their office hours) and tell them straight out you are angling to get into their grad program. If you show them you are going to be a good student, they'll help and advise you).

Good luck.

Answer 2

No, your GPA does not always determine whether you are accepted into a program, but it *IS* the first thing that admissions will look at.
The best thing you have going for you, as you said, is your real world experience. But even that counts for nothing if people don't know about it. So, you need to find some way of getting a foot in the door, meeting the admissions director face-to-face. Don't be afraid to be persistant. If you made mistakes in your school days as far as not extending yourself where your work was concerned, own up to it. Stress how working in your chosen field has changed your perspective and how you now have the life skills neessary to succeed in a school environment.
Be persistant! Don't take no for an answer. Let them know you are really serious about what you want to do.
Good luck!

Answer 3

It depends on what you consider low. Most Grad schools require a 3.0 while some will let it slide at 2.7. It also depends on what your GRE or MAT scores are also. If you have a low GPA but a high GRE then most Grad schools will accept you. Take a look at the Gradschools.com.
http://www.gradschools.com
Find the school(s) that you are interested in and contact them about what you can do to improve you chances. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

once you bypass decrease back to college for a masters degree, you're taking greater stepped forward training on your container of learn. It enables you to complements your expertise and abilities in that distinctive section. Having a masters degree isn't needed, in spite of the indisputable fact that it rather is nice to have while you're desirous to get a job someplace the place there are in basic terms some open spots. commonly, companies and companies will hire the individuals with the perfect education. wish my answer enables.

Answer 5

I was able to get into a Master's program with a less than stellar GPA from my undergrad. (Then I graduated suma *** laude with my Master's!)
Look for some online schools...I went to Jones International University...www.jiu.edu
Good luck!