I really need some help?

Transfer Students
1

As my title discusses, I really am in some desperate need of help right now.

To provide some sort of background here as I know questions will arise, here it is. I graduated high school in 2011, went to a local community college wherein I had a GPA that was almost a 4.0. Two years later, I transferred to my dream school & began there in fall of 2013. And I’ve been there since. Unfortunately, I was battling an eating disorder most of my college career up until pretty much last year and my grades severely suffered because of this. Since I’ve gotten better, my grades have improved dramatically. My GPA absolutely tanked to a 1.something my first semester after I transferred… I think this was coupled with “culture shock” as I came from the honors program at my CC & was in classes of ten students. That fall after I transferred most all of my classes were 100-200+ students and I absolutely perished. Long story short… it’s taken almost 4 years to barely repair my GPA and I’m still not at the bare minimum GPA for graduate school in one university i’m interested in, which is a 2.5. It’s pathetic and I’m absolutely devastated. I know the reason why my grades went downhill, and I’m not that person anymore. Long story short, my goal now is to get into graduate school so I can get my MSW. This ABSOLUTELY HAS TO HAPPEN and I refuse to give up.

I am planning on applying to my current schools grad program, as well as another school locally I express interest in. My questions lie here… If I don’t get in… & this will sound crazy…but I really want to “redo” what was supposed to be my last 2 (but ended up being 4) of my bachelors degree. I don’t care what it costs, so leave that factor aside - I can take out a loan if it means achieving my dreams. How does this work? Has anyone else done this? I’ve heard of people getting a second bachelors degree, but that’s not what’d I’d be doing here as I’m still without my degree. Let’s say I apply to these two schools for grad school and don’t get in. Can I apply to just be a transfer student instead for my other local school (not the one I have been attending, obviously)? Or would they say “no” again, because I couldn’t get in for my masters? I was planning on applying with only my CC transcript (so two years worth of undergrad), which obviously I couldn’t use to get my masters, so then they would know I’ve had more education in between… would this seem “sketchy” ? Should I still bother applying for my masters?

I can think of no other way to “redo” my GPA so that I could have a clean slate… I wish this wasn’t the case, but I can’t fix a GPA and I can’t get into a grad school program with a minimum 2.5 GPA or a 3.0. Would they think I was ridiculous for even applying in the first place? I know the other school I am interested in (which is where I would go to redo my last two bachelors years) does admit graduate students on a “provisional basis” but I don’t know if I’m supposed to ask for them to do this for me? Or if I’m only considered and not supposed to suggest they do this for me - that they would do it on their own.

Thank you to anyone who replies.

2

ugrad2016, I’m glad you are doing better and on an upward trend. Realistically, you have a difficult road ahead, but I feel it’s still possible…you would need to persevere, though. People do bring themselves up out of difficult times, health problems, etc, and achieve success in life. That is what becoming a MSW is about, right? Helping others work out the puzzles of their own particular situations in order to find their way?

You will have to submit transcripts from every school (post high-school) you have taken classes in, though. That part is not negotiable. So keep up the good work to bring the GPA up as much as humanly possible while still staying healthy.

What have your grades been since you have gotten your eating disorder under control? A very strong upward trend could help, as well as a mentor/professor/work supervisor who believes in your ability and motivation, who could write a strong recommendation. Getting counseling (if you haven’t already) to make sure you have really resolved the eating disorder is important. I would imagine it would affect you in some ways for a while, so it’s good to have support.

I can’t say what your chances are for either of these graduate programs are right now, or the chance to transfer. There are so many factors: the selectivity of the schools, how much better your grades are now than they were, and what GRE scores you might get (assuming you have not taken those. Any school that would consider you with a very weak GPA would probably need to know your background story, how things have changed, and evidence that you are going to maintain these improvements.

You have been in school for a long time. I am wondering if it would be a good idea for you to simply graduate as soon as you can and do some work as strongly related to social work as possible, either as a job (if you can find a related job in some kind of social services) or in volunteer work for a year or two with vulnerable populations. If possible during this time, take classes relate to social work part-time that would continue to show your commitment to high grades (counseling psychology, sociology, even statistics) if you haven’t taken these yet. I know I was able to take both undergraduate and graduate classes as a non-traditional student between college and grad school (years apart.)

Have you ever thought about applying to work as an AmeriCorps volunteer? Such work might give you a break from school, give you some experience and skills, while finding out if a helping profession is a good fit, and also strengthen your eventual application to a MSW program. It would also give you more distance from the experience of your eating disorder. I think that (as a former social worker myself) your own story of overcoming an eating disorder and personal/academic difficulties could become a compelling part of your application, a strength you could offer to others facing challenges.

Do you think you could ask for informational interviews with social workers and/or social work faculty at your school for advice?..just a thought.

If you continue with this goal, you will simply have to be persistent with your upward trend (in terms of continuing academics, meaningful work and personal qualities) in order to demonstrate that you are a fitting candidate. GRE scores will likely be important too, so don’t forget to study for those over time if you are serious. I can’t say how long it would take, but whenever you are discouraged, remind yourself that life is not a sprint, but a marathon :slight_smile:

3

Thank you for your thoughtful response - I appreciate this very much.

I understand one has to submit all transcripts post high school for a masters, but why would I have to do so to “redo” my bachelors? I thought I would be able to submit only my CC transcript as I had done after completing my associates, just as someone would when applying to schools for the first time, no? I know plenty of people get a second bachelors to obtain a new GPA and they don’t submit their old transcripts, correct? This would make no sense if they were trying to repair their grades.

Unfortunately, GRE scores are not required for either MSW programs I am applying to… so I do not have that leverage. I had also started what I thought would be a career after last semester (when I was supposed to graduate) and hated it, and had such a revelation that I needed to pursue a further academic career. I can’t envision myself working at this time and not going to school now when it is still fresh in my mind. Especially at 24 years old… I’m not looking to go back to school at near 30. Everyone I know who “took a break” to work after graduation is going back…giving up all they had worked so hard for - including their own home, and I’m not ready for that. I don’t see the benefit of it in the long run of my life.

Has anyone reading this gone for a second bachelors degree? Please let me know if so. I really want to read someone else’s (hopefully inspiring) story. Should I not even bother applying for my masters and do this instead? Obviously, if I got into grad school I would choose that route a thousand times over, but I don’t want to ruin my chances either way, so that’s why I’m so lost.

Thank you again.