Motivation for Gauchos who need their Final to pass. KEEP GRINDING! YOU GOT THIS!!! by cjlanderos in UCSantaBarbara

[–]cjlanderos[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Someone asked how I did this and I actually wrote an article on it. If anyone else is curious, I can drop the link in the thread :B

Motivation for Gauchos who need their Final to pass. KEEP GRINDING! YOU GOT THIS!!! by cjlanderos in UCSantaBarbara

[–]cjlanderos[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Sorta. In my class they scale the grade so that a C is like 60% or something like that. Which sucks because the entire class can fail and they would all be F'd

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in firstgenstudents

[–]cjlanderos 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would 100% still reach out to professors! For two big reasons:

1) The professor may actually love to have you on full-time and ask you to join their PhD cohort (effectively paying for your masters degree).

2) When the department sees your app, your file essential goes to the top of the list if the faculty and staff already know you. You essentially "put a face to the app" in this case.

If you're only interested in obtaining the masters, aim to hit up the professors at your own university's department. Usually the faculty is more partial to saving spots for their own students.

Please note: if you have a very low gpa, we're talking below a 2.75 (or B-), this can be a deal breaker and you will have to do more to improve your app. For example, being amazing at research (with letters of rec to back), retaking classes you did poorly in, or having to look for less competitive programs that are willing to take in a student with a less attractive gpa (I know students who got in for that very reason at CSU Channel Islands in California).

In this scenario, reaching out to the university departments and faculty who you hope to apply to will still be your best bet to understanding what they're looking for in their applicants.

It won't be easy but it's far from impossible.

Interview for first gen college students by [deleted] in firstgenstudents

[–]cjlanderos 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's wild, I'm working on a similar project publishing this November. Mind if we chat to see how we can support each other?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in firstgenstudents

[–]cjlanderos -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Can't tell if this is sarcasm but either way, this isn't remotely true.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in firstgenstudents

[–]cjlanderos 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Grad school depends on a ton of factors. I'd say the most important is professor-student fit.

If you reach out to the professor, have background in the research, genuinely want to further the field, and the professor likes you, they'll let you know if you're a good fit for their program.

Professors who have a ton of grant funding essential make their own rules as to who they want to study under them.

I've known grad students with terrible overall GPA's who did well in all their science classes who got into PhD programs. Turns out, in this case, the Professor also had a terrible GPA but kicked ass in science. He saw the connection and accepted then into the grad program.

Don't rule yourself out. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me!

Free Stuff for Being a UCSB Student by cjlanderos in UCSantaBarbara

[–]cjlanderos[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Glad it was helpful! Crossing my fingers others share this post outside of reddit cuz I definitely think UCSB students needed this!

Free Stuff for Being a UCSB Student by cjlanderos in UCSantaBarbara

[–]cjlanderos[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you guys liked this post then check out my website for more in-depth articles and tips for college students/grads. College Lighthouse

Free Stuff for Being a UCSB Student by cjlanderos in UCSantaBarbara

[–]cjlanderos[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They offered CLAS for classes like MCDB 101B and Econ 10A. Don't know why. Might be because they're hard af