Taking Non-Degree Graduate Level Courses ...

nomoreneveragain

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As a means to show boost my Grad School Application?

Long Story Short, I graduated with a 2.5 GPA, a few F's, W's ... had a semester when I was in Probation.

I want to get a MA/MS in International Affairs but the admissions requirements seems steep for folks with 3.6 GPA's. I've been doing some light GRE studying, I can handle the GRE.

I'm going to send some emails to GTown & American and ask them about taking classes as a non-degree student. I figure If I can 2 A's, get a letter of Rec from a Prof ... I can have chance.

I work in IT, I hate this shyt I don't plan on being in a server room for the next 25 years.
 

newarkhiphop

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As a means to show boost my Grad School Application?

Long Story Short, I graduated with a 2.5 GPA, a few F's, W's ... had a semester when I was in Probation.

I want to get a MA/MS in International Affairs but the admissions requirements seems steep for folks with 3.6 GPA's. I've been doing some light GRE studying, I can handle the GRE.

I'm going to send some emails to GTown & American and ask them about taking classes as a non-degree student. I figure If I can 2 A's, get a letter of Rec from a Prof ... I can have chance.

I work in IT, I hate this shyt I don't plan on being in a server room for the next 25 years.


:myman: thats all you need fam
 

ill

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I be fukkin wit that coursera shyt. fukk a tuition. :skip:

Thats great for personal knowledge but IRL it doesn't count for very much yet. I think it will in the future as more education goes online. Once they can make those classes accredited then you will be good. Props to you for learning though.

OP - everything helps. Just make sure its worth the money. I'd also recommend accredited classes outside of universities. I'm not sure about your major but in finance you can take a lot of additional courses. I was a finance major and ended up taking some Investment Banking courses which were taught by a guy from a prominent business school. His recommendation would've gotten me into that MBA program if i pursued it.
 

Takerstani

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Can you go in under conditional admission? My position was worst than yours and worked out very well.
 

Richard Wright

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As a means to show boost my Grad School Application?

Long Story Short, I graduated with a 2.5 GPA, a few F's, W's ... had a semester when I was in Probation.

I want to get a MA/MS in International Affairs but the admissions requirements seems steep for folks with 3.6 GPA's. I've been doing some light GRE studying, I can handle the GRE.

I'm going to send some emails to GTown & American and ask them about taking classes as a non-degree student. I figure If I can 2 A's, get a letter of Rec from a Prof ... I can have chance.

I work in IT, I hate this shyt I don't plan on being in a server room for the next 25 years.

A masters in international affairs is like paying 50k for unemployment benefits. If the admission reqs are that high its because they have enough applicants that meet them to reject most of the applicants that meet them. Youre better off doing another BS or applying to a shyttier school.
 

Takerstani

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Isn't that if your still in school?

How did you apply and get accepted?

No, I graduated (BA) from somewhere else. I just applied regular and they let me in with a low g.p.a. under conditional. I'd apply and talk to the department head and/or adviser for the department you're program is in. Let them know your intentions and that you'll prove yourself if allowed the opportunity. I've found that a lot of decisions are at the discretion of the department head who may double as adviser, depending on your program.

If you're turned down, still communicate with them. If you pass a couple of courses (on your own) with high grades, they could expedite the process for you.
 

filial_piety

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I will not lie to you....Gtown and American are TOP IR programs and very competitive. A 2.5 just simply isn't going to cut it. To get in with that GPA you better have had saved a small country from starvation or something.
You will probably need relevent work experience (i.e. Peace Corps, NGO work) to offset the difference along with a very compelling SOP and recommendations.

Oh BTW, American U now has an online masters in IR...so it may be a little less competitive to get into that program.
 

nomoreneveragain

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I will not lie to you....Gtown and American are TOP IR programs and very competitive. A 2.5 just simply isn't going to cut it. To get in with that GPA you better have had saved a small country from starvation or something.
You will probably need relevent work experience (i.e. Peace Corps, NGO work) to offset the difference along with a very compelling SOP and recommendations.

Oh BTW, American U now has an online masters in IR...so it may be a little less competitive to get into that program.

I was planing to to take 2 courses in the Spring at American U's School of International Service, than take 2 more in fall. Or just take all 4 courses in the Spring (I don't know if I can manage it while working). Each Class is just once a week from 8-11 so I can take a Class on M, T, W and TH. Hopefully I can get 4 A's or at least 3.6 GPA. Show that I can handle the curriculum, that my undergrad was aberration.

Add that Transcript + 2.5 Undergrad GPA ... get some LOR's from the Professors from American.

Apply to American (If I get accepted my Credits Transfer over), Gtown, maybe 2 more A schools and than a bunch of B schools for the Fall of 15.

Sounds irrational but I'm betting 18Grand on myself to get in. There's that risk that I'll get the grades but still get shutout. I'll talk to one SIS admissions adviser 1st and see if it's worth it or not.

Right now I can't even get into a B school.
 

filial_piety

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I was planing to to take 2 courses in the Spring at American U's School of International Service, than take 2 more in fall. Or just take all 4 courses in the Spring (I don't know if I can manage it while working). Each Class is just once a week from 8-11 so I can take a Class on M, T, W and TH. Hopefully I can get 4 A's or at least 3.6 GPA. Show that I can handle the curriculum, that my undergrad was aberration.

Add that Transcript + 2.5 Undergrad GPA ... get some LOR's from the Professors from American.

Apply to American (If I get accepted my Credits Transfer over), Gtown, maybe 2 more A schools and than a bunch of B schools for the Fall of 15.

Sounds irrational but I'm betting 18Grand on myself to get in. There's that risk that I'll get the grades but still get shutout. I'll talk to one SIS admissions adviser 1st and see if it's worth it or not.

Right now I can't even get into a B school.

Well I hope it works out for you, but yeah I would definitely just speak with one of their advisors and be straight up about everything in regards to what you want to do. Investing 18k for a few classes based on a probability is a huge gamble.
 
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