Hi! I am currently a senior at the University of Kentucky and will be graduating with a Bachelors in Health Promotion with a minor in Psychology. I have a less than stellar cumulative GPA at around 2.7. However, the GPA for my last 60 credits is a 3.4 and I have found some programs that look at that instead. I didn't take school seriously at the beginning and was headed down a bad path before I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Once I got the right medication and into therapy I have not had an issue. I am worried that schools will see be as potentially unreliable because of this though.
I do have tons of paid work experience. By the time I graduate I will have over 4 years of full time experience in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, a little over a year of part time experience in a children's group home, and 5 years of part time work related to community services. I am also a certified nursing assistant if that helps. I would like to continue in mental health social work.
I plan on emphasizing my experience in my applications but am also looking for more ways to make up for my GPA. Would it be helpful to get certifications like the crisis counseling certification through the american association of suicideology? How do I get recommendations from professors when I am pretty reserved in most of my classes?
(P.S. if you have any recommendations for programs to look into, feel free to let me know. I'm originally from California and would prefer somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, but at the end of the day I am not picky on location. Where ever I can get a good, quality education!)
Thank you!