I've enjoyed browsing the site for awhile now; wanted to bring a q of my own: I earned a BA in Political Science back in 2004. I graduated with a GPA of 2.0--enjoyed sports and the social side of college way too much. However, after college, I got squared away by the Navy, completed a foreign language course at the Defense Language Institute (3.3 GPA), and I'm now looking to pursue a MA/MS in Criminal Justice/Security Management. My biggest issue--with a 2.-nothing from undergrad, though it's been near 5 years ago now, I'm DQ'ed right away from most all grad programs...I'm primarily interested in online courses, due to my schedule, but it's difficult to find schools willing to work with my GPA. I've thought about transferring my undergrad credits and picking up a second BA to help myself out, but Tuition Assistance won't cover equal-level degrees. Do you know of any schools that might factor in my 3.3 GPA from DLI, in arguably a more difficult field and setting than my BA degree, and somehow allow that to diminish the negative effect of my undergrad GPA? I understand NA-schools are an option (Columbia Southern and AJU are two I've considered), but do you know of any RA-schools that might work with my GPA's? Thanks. It's a long post, but I wanted to appeal to the 'Knowledgeables' here...
Most schools have a conditional admission, a non degree seeking admisssion, and will use some combination of a GRE and undergraduate to determine admission. Troy: http://www.troy.edu/ecampus/programs/mscj.htm "2. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale) or a 3.0 grade point average on the last 30 semester hours. All hours attempted in the term in which the 30 semester hours were reached will be used to calculate the grade point average. All transcripts from all colleges or universities attended are required. AND 3. Have an acceptable score on the appropriate entrance exam (GRE 850– verbal plus quantitative, MAT 385 or 33). Conditional Admission Students not satisfying the requirements stated in “A (2 and or 3)” above may be conditionally admitted to the program. Students with a baccalaureate degree from an unaccredited or otherwise accredited institution should see Unaccredited or Otherwise Accredited Student Admission. Students thus admitted must complete nine semester hours with a “B” or better average. After completion of the first nine semester hours with a “B” or better average, a student will be granted unconditional admission. Students not satisfying conditional admission requirements will be dropped from the program for one calendar year, after which time the student must petition for readmission." Troy is military friendly. I would apply (or better yet call, and talk candidly to someone) and see what they say. They can advise on the DLI course and its applicability.
Hi have you considered AMU/APU? They have good programs in security management as well as a criminal justice program. They are decently priced and cater to those working in LE, security and the military.
Kevin is correct. I think Regis allows that for their graduate business programs but not sure about other degrees. Makana, though, has the best idea. APUS is one of the cheaper options and works well with military folk. A lot of the instructors are military. I just finished up 9 extra grad-level Finance credits with them and they are very user-friedndly. http://www.amu.apus.edu/Admissions/graduate.htm No minimum GPA required. You may even get some grad credit for military training...not many places do that.
Most schools will look favorably on applicants with low undergraduate GPAs who are committed enough to build a strong "alternate transcript" that addresses weaknesses in their applications. Suppose, for the sake of argument, that you were looking to take your two point nothing and get into an MBA program. If you were to take a year and take courses that will clearly demonstrate your ability to succeed in an MBA program, such as Calculus, Principles of Accounting, Introduction to Marketing, Introduction to Management, etc., etc., then that would be looked upon very favorably. If you earned a second bachelor's degree in business, that would be looked upon extremely favorably. Courses that aren't related to your intended field of study (say, a military language school) will help, but not as much as relevant courses. I know this isn't the advice you want to hear, but (most) graduate schools want to admit people that they know have the ability to complete their programs. Right now you have a cumulative GPA around 2.25, assuming your language course was 30 hours in length. That doesn't go very far towards convincing an admissions committee you have what it takes. Investing in yourself by taking the time to complete a rigorous alternate transcript (preferably with a 4.0) will show schools that you're serious about this. Take heart - there are a lot of people on this board with advanced degrees who strayed on their academic paths. I should know, because I'm one of them. I got kicked out of my first undergraduate school, was admitted to a distance learning program with conditions so severe that I was technically on academic probation until the semester before I graduated, and I ended up in a great MBA program that was paid for by my employer. I had to work really hard to make up for my mistakes, and in fact had to put off b-school for a year myself, but I got there in the end. You will, too. Best of luck!
Salve Regina University will work with you. They will let you sign up for three courses on a non-matriculated basis and if you average at least a B, they'll admit you to a certificate or masters degree program. They do offer a Masters of Science in Management with an administration of justice concentration, however I see that not all of those courses are offered through DL. You could take the generic MSM and take all the ADJ courses which are available. The program is very flexible and the price is good at $380 per credit. They seem to cater to the military, quite a few students are either in the military or retired. http://www.salve.edu/programs_esalve/ http://www.salve.edu/graduatestudies/programs/mgt/
I have known several people who have done just what Fortunato has suggested and it's worked quite well for them. If you choose the right courses then the credits will transfer right in and it won't even mean any lost time. (Note - many grad schools limit the number of transfer credits they'll allow). Good luck.
Thanks alot all, appreciate the responses. I've checked AMU and they do offer quite a few programs of interest. I'll give Troy a call tomorrow, though I'd hardly heard of Salve Regina...Sounds like they might be worth a look as well. Thanks again!
I can certainly relate to the discussion - I majored in fraternity and party and graduated with a 2.25 GPA in communications. A few years later I decided to earn an MBA from the University of Akron, an AACSB accredited institution. I enrolled in 12 credits of undergraduate courses first, then applied to the MBA program. I was admitted under probation, which took a year to remove. I graduated with a 3.6 GPA - and was a member of an honorary management fraternity. As others have stated, be very candid in your conversation with the representatives of the business school - you are not the first, nor will you be the last to apply to grad school with less then perfect credentials. Good luck! Shawn
I can also relate. I took having fun more seriously than studying when I earned my bachelor's degree. I graduated with a 3.19 but that was only because straight A's in ROTC brought up my GPA. I went on to earn a master's degree with a 3.57 GPA and I currently have a 4.00 GPA with one course to go for a second master's degree. I was also admitted into a really good school for a PhD program.
George Washington University? Awesome school! Congratulations! Are you choking on the tuition???? Pug
I just wanted to encourage you and tell you to give it your all. You will find a way if you are persistent. (I doubt you would need or benefit from a second BA degree, since there are so many MA programs that allow you to take classes without enrolling or give you conditional acceptance) All the best to you!!
Thanks and yes I am choking on the tuition. $995 per semester hour for 54 semester hours. Luckily books are included.
Whew!!! $995 per credit hour! UMBC is $712 per hour and I was grateful that the price also included books!
$995 per hour is outrageous in my opinion, but my wife gave me the green light and I make enough teaching online to pay for it, so why not.
I am happy with the extra income that I earn from part-time teaching. My employer paid for all by $5000 of my MBA and in the two years I've been teaching I've made that back five times already. (And this totally ignores the pyschological gratification and the boost to my full-time career.) Your ROI on the PhD should be similar, even at those rates, and you've obviously analized it based on your individual circumstances. Speaking for myself, I want a doctorate that will pay for itself but I also wish to earn it to complete a personal goal which I've had since childhood.
I considered the ROI as well. The DSc program I was in at DSU is a very good program, but, for obtaining teaching jobs in general, I believe there will be more of an ROI with a PhD from GWU compared to a DSc from DSU. Don't get me wrong about DSU: I would highly recommend DSU to anyone interested in a DSc in information systems. DSU is an excellent school and offers a rigorous doctoral program.
I forgot to mention. My wife was very excited for me when I was accepted into the program that she bought me a GW t-shirt. Now that she invested in a GW t-shirt, I'm in too deep financially and have no choice but to go with the program.
Also, IMHO, many schools when hiring faculty frown upon having multiple degrees from the same school (Educational incest). Best of luck at GWU. Shawn
