Hello everyone,
I’d like to ask a question and I don’t mind at all if you are all completely honest with me, don’t sugarcoat any answers please. I’ve never been a conscientious student at all, I often never studied or did homework in high school, and ended up with a 3.0. I’ve always been gifted in academics; I got a 31 on my ACT without any studying. I think a combination of inherent laziness and my rather laissez-faire parents probably are the root cause. I went to college at a relatively difficult school (definitely not Ivy League), and honestly, it kicked my ass the first semester. I dropped two courses and received 2 Fs and a D in the other three. There wasn’t any issue with the course being too difficult, it was much more of an issue of me not showing up. In my second semester I did better after transferring back to my state college, but definitely still not optimal. I ended with a 2.5 with one dropped course. (All dropped courses were “marked” by the way, “marked” meaning they were dropped well after the grace period deadline). The only reason I got a 2.5 was because of a bet with my parents, so I did the bare minimum. The reason I’m asking this is because my dream job has always been to be a clinical psychologist. I’m extremely extroverted and want to find out what makes people tick. My hardest class last semester was a psychology class and ironically I did the best in it. I’ve gone through the intro course, and I still love the subject, even the “boring” material intrigues me. In order to be a clinical psychologist, however, I would have to first be accepted into a graduate program, and then actually complete the said graduate program. I understand how difficult that would be, especially someone like myself who often forgets things and has unusually low levels of stress about school work. So, after I just word vomited all of the context at all of you, my question is: can I still possibly be accepted to a graduate program? I’m a realistic person and I know that I can’t get a doctorate at UCLA, per say. I wouldn’t mind receiving a doctorate in clinical psychology at any university, I have no concern for the prestige at this point. I also understand that I would have to get a 4.0 the rest of college, which I am absolutely ready to do. I have been too damn lazy and I have no excuses this time around. I didn’t have any motivation in school, but I have found that in myself. I even think that I could explain how I found motivation to continue school, if only the graduate school would give me the chance to have an interview.
Thanks for any potential help everyone.
Yes you can get into grad school. But you first need to pull yourself together, and start developing the study habits that you need to get through college. The tutoring center at your college can help you do that. So can the counseling center. Both of those probably are functioning remotely right now, which means that you can use your laptop to contact them from the comfort of your own sofa.
Meanwhile, take a look at the pattern of your grades in HS. Were they 3.0 across the board, or were they a scattering of 4.0 grades in things that caught your fancy, and 2.0 (or worse) in things that weren’t interesting? If that was the case, then talk with the counseling center about formal screening for ADHD and Executive function issues. Learning good compensation strategies can make a huge difference.
I know of at least one person who blew off college, dropped out, and, after a few years, went back, finished their BA, then went on to finish a PhD.
Everybody grows up at their own rate, and just because it is considered “normal” to follow the trajectory of finishing high school at 18, going directly to college, etc, doesn’t mean that everybody matures at that rate.
First, figure out whether you are ready to get down and work really hard, or maybe you should take a year to get your head together. If you are ready and you think that you can do really well, finish the next three years with good grades, and then do an MA in psychology at a good university, to see whether you would rather do research, work as a psychologist, or both. With a MA which all looks good, you will have a larger selection of grads schools, as well as a better idea as to what you want.
In any case, good luck!!
Thank you for this. You’re right, I need to develop a plan to have a place to study. More than anything I need a strict schedule that accommodates for both school and what I like to do in my off-time. I’ll visit the counseling center, my grades in high school were most definitely scattered in respect to what I was interested in.