Graduate School & Me...

Hello everyone,

I am a current, non-traditionally aged undergraduate at a top research
university. I graduate at the end of this year and plan to apply to
graduate school majoring in Economics. I want some advice, and am
wondering what people think of my situation.

After high school I left the good old US of A for Europe where I
studied German as a foreign language and worked part time in the
afternoon. After about a year of that I moved back to the US where I
got a decent job and worked. When I turned 22 I decided I wanted more
out of life so I began to attend a community college where I took about

12 credits a semester in the evening while working full time during the

day. Due to the adversity that comes with balancing a full time job and

school and a major car accident I ended up having to withdrawal from a
good number of classes while there. Two semesters total were withdrawn
and I had another class here and there that I had to get a W in as
well. After about four years of dealing with school and work I finally
finished about 50 credits. I was admitted into the Honors Program at my

CC and took five Honors Classes. I did well and transfered with just
over a 3.8 GPA, deans list a few times, the Honors Roll and I had the
honors classes done. More less rosy except for the Ws. I also had one F

which I repeated and got an A in the second time around. Now I stress,
that the Ws and the F I got were all work and medical related, not me
being lazy.

I'm now 27 years old. A couple of years ago I transfered to my current
institution. I currently attend a top research university where I take
(once again) about 12 credits a semester while working full-time, 40
hours a week as a manager. My first semester here was a disaster. My
mom got breast cancer and I was having trouble with my job. I missed
the withdrawal date and received three Fs. The next semester I repeated

the classes and got high marks. I am now in my senior year and have
about a 3.6+GPA. I have taken some challenging classes, no
basket-weaving here. I am an econ major, so that speaks for itself. I
had to repeat two other classes which I got Cs in also due to work and
I have one W, and got As the second time around.

More less, it has been a long journey. One that has taken me abroad and

kept me very busy. Through the adversity I have become a stronger more
confident person.

My questions are:

1. I want to apply to grad school. Most likely a MA in Econ or another
social science. Although my GPAs are strong and I have taken many
challenging classes, I still have all those Ws on my transcripts and
the Fs all of which I have repeated. I plan to include in my letter to
the admissions boards a concise explanation of what happened. How much
do you think the Ws and repeated Fs will count against me although I
have a strong GPA and was working fulltime? I know there are other
things they look at as well (GRE, letters of rec, etc.)

2. I have an option here at my current institution to apply to an
accelerated MA program where I could start taking grad level classes
before I finish my BA. Do you think I have a shot?

3. I'd like to go on to a PhD after my MA. Even after I finish an MA,
do you think the Ws and repeated Fs will count much against me?
(Remember my GPAs are strong, but I have those damn Ws and Fs!)

More less, all my questions boil down to; how much will the Ws and
repeated Fs hurt my chances at getting into a good grad school even
with overall high GPAs and classes? Do you think they may take the fact

that I was working full-time into consideration?

My overall goal in life is to teach.

I'll add other questions to the thread as I think of them.

Thanks to all!
"Wana-Be" Grad Student

On 7 Nov 2005 03:37:57 -0800, "Wana-Be Grad Student"
<jzarwel.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:

>Hello everyone,
>
>I am a current, non-traditionally aged undergraduate at a top research
>university. I graduate at the end of this year and plan to apply to
>graduate school majoring in Economics. I want some advice, and am
>wondering what people think of my situation.
>
>After high school I left the good old US of A for Europe where I
>studied German as a foreign language and worked part time in the
>afternoon. After about a year of that I moved back to the US where I
>got a decent job and worked. When I turned 22 I decided I wanted more
>out of life so I began to attend a community college where I took about
>
>12 credits a semester in the evening while working full time during the
>
>day. Due to the adversity that comes with balancing a full time job and
>
>school and a major car accident I ended up having to withdrawal from a
>good number of classes while there. Two semesters total were withdrawn
>and I had another class here and there that I had to get a W in as
>well. After about four years of dealing with school and work I finally
>finished about 50 credits. I was admitted into the Honors Program at my
>
>CC and took five Honors Classes. I did well and transfered with just
>over a 3.8 GPA, deans list a few times, the Honors Roll and I had the
>honors classes done. More less rosy except for the Ws. I also had one F
>
>which I repeated and got an A in the second time around. Now I stress,
>that the Ws and the F I got were all work and medical related, not me
>being lazy.
>
>I'm now 27 years old. A couple of years ago I transfered to my current
>institution. I currently attend a top research university where I take
>(once again) about 12 credits a semester while working full-time, 40
>hours a week as a manager. My first semester here was a disaster. My
>mom got breast cancer and I was having trouble with my job. I missed
>the withdrawal date and received three Fs. The next semester I repeated
>
>the classes and got high marks. I am now in my senior year and have
>about a 3.6+GPA. I have taken some challenging classes, no
>basket-weaving here. I am an econ major, so that speaks for itself. I
>had to repeat two other classes which I got Cs in also due to work and
>I have one W, and got As the second time around.
>
>More less, it has been a long journey. One that has taken me abroad and
>
>kept me very busy. Through the adversity I have become a stronger more
>confident person.
>
>My questions are:
>
>1. I want to apply to grad school. Most likely a MA in Econ or another
>social science. Although my GPAs are strong and I have taken many
>challenging classes, I still have all those Ws on my transcripts and
>the Fs all of which I have repeated. I plan to include in my letter to
>the admissions boards a concise explanation of what happened. How much
>do you think the Ws and repeated Fs will count against me although I
>have a strong GPA and was working fulltime? I know there are other
>things they look at as well (GRE, letters of rec, etc.)
>
>2. I have an option here at my current institution to apply to an
>accelerated MA program where I could start taking grad level classes
>before I finish my BA. Do you think I have a shot?
>
>3. I'd like to go on to a PhD after my MA. Even after I finish an MA,
>do you think the Ws and repeated Fs will count much against me?
>(Remember my GPAs are strong, but I have those damn Ws and Fs!)
>
>More less, all my questions boil down to; how much will the Ws and
>repeated Fs hurt my chances at getting into a good grad school even
>with overall high GPAs and classes? Do you think they may take the fact
>
>that I was working full-time into consideration?
>
>My overall goal in life is to teach.
>
>I'll add other questions to the thread as I think of them.
>
>Thanks to all!
>"Wana-Be" Grad Student

First if you're in the econ department at a major research university,
walk into their graduate admissions office and ask them these
questions. Similarly, pick two econ professors you respect and have
the conversation with them.

Second, in economics an MA degree is not a step toward a PhD (in the
United States). Many academic economists do not have an MA.

Third, your grades are a real problem. If your current institution
will let you go on to a Masters, do so. And be sure to get a straight
A average in the graduate econ courses. You may well have to repeat
these courses elsewhere (your grade history may cost you a year), but
this is your opportunity to prove you can now handle the academics.

Fourth, take a practice GRE. The math GRE score is critical to getting
into econ programs.

-Dick Startz
----------------------
Richard Startz RichardStartz.DeleteThis@comcast.net
Lundberg Startz Associates