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Bad college GPA haunting anyone else?
I've never been an excellent student. EVER. I struggled a lot with several learning disabilities, ADD and general laziness, and I'll be the first to admit my lackluster educational past. I managed to make it to college and graduate (and have a lot of fun along the way), but my GPA is a little below 2.5. At the time I didn't really care because I figured that no one cared about your GPA after you graduated.
Now that I've been out in the real world for a while, I have decided that I would like to make a career change and go back to school to be a teacher. I realize the irony, but I think I would make an excellent teacher for various reasons. I'm extremely disappointed to discover that all of the Master's and alternative degree programs in my area require a college GPA that is much higher than mine. I'm currently taking some community college classes to raise my GPA (and getting A's!), but it will take a LOT of classes to raise my GPA to the required 3.0.
No real point of this post, just wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions or could commiserate. I really wish I had made more of an effort, and I'm upset that my bad decisions from 10+ years ago can still impact my life so greatly. Any advice? Anyone been there?
Re: Bad college GPA haunting anyone else?
I haven't been there, but my H has. He wanted to go back to school for his master's in teaching as well, but also didn't have a stellar undergrad GPA. He ended up choosing to complete a second bachelor's as a way around this. He's doing wonderfully (it's amazing what kind of perspective you gain on education 10 years later, isn't it?) and plans to get his master's after graduating in December of '11.
Maybe a second bachelor's is an option for you? Since most of his prerequisites transferred, it's taking him approximately as long as his master's would - and he will be certified to teach at the end.
HTH!
January 2, 2010
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Everybody thinks that going back into teaching is such an easy thing.......
As a teacher, can I just say that thing one.....there's a reason schools require high GPAs to be a teacher. We are expected to be good students and lifelong students in order to be good teachers.
Thing two....you yourself have stated that you are lazy. I understand your learning disabilities....good for you for moving past them and getting through college...seriously...that is something to be proud of.
However, if you have admitted laziness in college, than teaching is not for you. Unless you are willing to work 16-18 hour days and keep up with all your students' work, please....don't bother. People think teaching is just a fun little thing that takes up your time and you get summers off.....well....it isn't. It is full time work that requires the most dedicated people. During the school year, we work constantly. In the summer, we are required to take college classes and continue our own education. If you didn't do well in college the first time....you might want to think twice about teaching.
I am sorry if this sounds like a rant. It isn't meant to be nasty. I am just sick of people thinking that my chosen profession is a 'nice little back up plan' and I got called an overpaid babysitter today, so I'm a little bitter.
It isn't that your low GPA is haunting you......its that teachers are held to a much higher standard.
Huh????? Everything you listed above is what all professions are required to do. Other professions work constantly 12 months out of the year and continue their education throughout the year. This is with no time off. People complain about teachers b/c you are acting like you are a martyr. Many professions do what you just named and work year round.
A much higher standard than what? Many graduate programs do require a minimum GPA of 3.0 or even higher. So yes, it's her GPA holding her back. And like Jan8 said, most of what you posted is what people have to do at their jobs all year round. It's not exclusive to teaching. Also, I don't believe many teachers work 16 - 18 hour days, I just don't. Yes they work hard and probably work more than 8hrs a day, but 16-18 is purely a major exaggeration. Also, the OP admitted being lazy in college, that doesn't mean she's lazy now. She has most likely built up the work ethic and now knows what she wants to do unlike years back when she was in college. You can be upset that some people seem to think teaching is easy (though the OP didn't imply that) but you don't have to come off as a martyr.
OP, i'm sorry you're going through this now. Hopefully the teaching program sees the progress you've made now with the classes you've been taking and gives you a chance.
Oh, FFS.
I am a teacher. I'm an excellent and very successful teacher. I had a crappy GPA in college. I'm very smart but I was completely directionless in college. I didn't know what I wanted to do and wasn't all that interested in most of my college classes.
Now, I am over halfway done with my masters in admin (and have a 4.0, tyvm) and am in a presitigous science program focusing on constructivist education. My students have won awards for their achievement in science.
Oh, and a ton of people work a lot of hours. My DH (IT) used to work at least that much and my sister (CPA, auditor for an O&G company) works that much.
Honestly, if you are working 16-18 hours a day, you have extremely poor time management. I do not work that much and I am a fantastic teacher. I teach 7 seperate classes, am in 2 graduate programs, am a mentor teacher, am a member of SBDM, am the team leader, and the science lead for my campus so I certainly have more than the average load.
There is really no need to be such a Debbie Downer. That kind of attitude gives teachers a bad name.
Laci, have you contacted any of the programs? Some of them may be willing to work with you on their requirements.
I agree. I don't think the OP implied that teaching was easy. Quite the opposite. She seems to be well aware that this will require a lot of work and is willing to try. Applause for that. It's not an easy thing to change bad habits.
I've looked into several Master's degree programs for education. I also didn't have a stellar GPA, not bad, but not good. I've talked to the advisors and they have all said that "Yes, grades matter, but we also realize that stuff happens."
They said that there was a ton of other factors into being accepted into the program, including your GRE, your references, your goals and your interviews. They may decide to accept you and choose to start you on academic probation to prove that you are willing and able to make the commitment to schooling.
My advice is to talk to the dean of the program-get them to know who you are now.
Big ditto to this. As a teacher myself, I agree with the above posters that you're either using ridiculous hyperbole about your working hours (16-18 hour days on a regular basis? Unless you're a first year teacher with 4+ preps, I doubt you really work this much) or you have really poor time management skills. Yes, teaching is more than just a job for those who want summers off, but it's neither the most difficult job in the world, nor the most often maligned.
And FWIW, I teach two AP classes, three on-level classes, am vertical team leader, campus grant leader, and still manage to get 90% of my work done during the school day.
OP, I think with your background you might make an excellent teacher, especially for students who struggle with learning disabilities. Best of luck to you!
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Teachers are martyrs?
I teach 1st grade at an inner-city school.
I have 32 students in my class. They are 6 & 7 years old. Some do not know the full alphabet. Some do not even know how to write their last name. ALL of them are living below the poverty line. Many of them wear the same uniform each day because they don't have access to laundry, or funds for new uniforms. 4 students are special education, and a handful more are on their way to being labeled. 24 are English Language Learners. Some have severe emotional/behavioral issues. I teach all subjects- reading, writing, math, science, ESL, spelling, phonics... and get 45 minutes to plan, grade, contact parents, meet with my teammates, etc. each day. Not enough time. In the age of NCLB I face intense pressures to get every child to certain standards, no excuses.
I love my job and I do not want to seem like I am complaining- but I do not have a cush job.
(This is not directed at the OP, rather at the poster who criticized teachers for saying they are martyrs...)
Welcome to teaching?
Seriously, did you even read where actual teachers were agreeing with her? Nobody said that our job is cushy, just that you are being ridiculous.
Actually she said that particular teacher is acting like a martyr (and I agree) and implied that SOME others are as well. I also agree with that.
Look, I'm a professor at a teaching college, so I consider myself a teacher first, researcher second. First generation college students, victims of NCLB, etc. etc. etc.
But here's the deal. No one shot at me today like they would have if I was in the military or a police officer. No one me exposed me to potentially deadly diseases (like a nurse or doctor might have experienced.) I didn't have to make the decision to commute a life sentence or put the needle in a condemned prisoner's arm. I wasn't in charge of making sure a rocket would land on the moon instead of exploding on impact. I wasn't required to dismantle a meth lab. I didn't have to make a decision that would impact the financial future of the entire country. I also didn't have to carry heavy things, be exposed to hazardous chemicals for minimum wage, or scrub toilets.
I realize that teachers like us had a role to play in all of those people's careers. BUT really, compared to what a lot of people do, my gig is pretty cushy. I put in a solid 7 hours worth of work today, half of which was at home, in my pajamas while the TV was on in the background. I get a reasonable wage for my labor and my benefits are great. My job is well respected within my community---after all, everyone has memories of a favorite teacher. I get to do a job I LOVE to do, which, in and of itself, is a luxury. Even the challenges I face are pretty interesting and intellectually stimulating, and I have great colleagues who help me find creative solutions.
So, no, not all teachers are martyrs. I'd argue in fact that the majority aren't. But I have to question why the ones who do have a martyr complex are in the profession in the first place.
As someone who is aspiring to teach, it is disheartening to hear what some of you other teachers out there are saying.
I feel as though some of you teachers need to reassess why you are in the teaching profession...summer off or not..being a "cushy" postion, whatever..that kind of stuff shouldn't matter. You are dealing with young, impressionable minds on a daily basis and if your reason for teaching is not because you have a passion for educating the youth of today then maybe you should find another career.
OP, I would try what some PP's said--talk to some of the different programs and look into the other criteria for acceptance. Since you are trying to go back to school after 10 years, a lot of programs will definitely take that into consideration and see it as a plus. Someone who is willing to go back to school after a long break obviously has the ambition to do well, even if their previous school scores do not indicate so.
OP, I too was a terrible student and quite lost as to what I wanted to do. Finally I landed in a master's program and actually started out on probation because of my substandard undergrad and GRE scores! All ended well and what was surprising is that I did better in grad school than my other schooling as the course content and type of program was a better fit for my strengths. I kick butt at projects but do horribly in tests.
I looked in to several PhD programs, took the entrance exams for business school, vet school and pharmacy. Did horribly and finally realized that school is just NOT for me. I'm a big proponent of leveraging your strengths and setting yourself up for success. Are you truly up for returning to school?
If you are set on being a teacher than going back to school is your only option. But I wanted to share my experience and let you know, from one bad student to another, there are other ways to build your career. I worked up in my career, and am still continuing to do so by gaining experience and skills in project management.
I hope you find success in your teaching degree program that I found in my master's program. Or in what ever you choose to do.
Ugh, I can't stand teachers who act as martyrs! I don't believe for a second that most teachers work 16-18 hours a day. Ridiculous! I work about 9 hours a day on average and I have great test scores and my students are successful. I think that teachers who say they work that much (even in their first year) must either have a lot of preps or poor time management.
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Woah! I had no idea teaching was such a hot issue. Sorry!
First off, I know teaching isn't a walk in the park, and I'm not expecting it to be. I know teachers work long hours for little reward, and I'm not interested in the job because I think it will be "fun" or because I will have the summers off. I'm interested in the job because I think I was meant to do more than sit at a desk every day (I want a job where I can make a difference... I know it sounds cliche' but it's true. I hope to work in a high need school, and yes, I know it will be very challenging). I know a lot of people who are teachers, and I even spent a week (of my hard earned vacation time) shadowing a teacher in a high need inner city school to make sure this is a career I am truly committed to. I know teachers work long hours. I'm currently an Event Planner, so at least that's something that I am used to. I'm sure I'm in for more than I can currently imagine, but luckily I'm stubborn so I'm confident I can stick it out and weather any storm.
Thank you everyone for your advice! I've been in touch with someone in the administration of an alternative degree program, who is very helpful (alternative degree would be my dream route). They are aware of my past grades and are trying to work with me, but unfortunately there are a lot of qualified applicants (most with better GPA's than me).
I'm also in the process of getting in touch with the Deans of a few Master's programs in the area so hopefully that will pan out. Thank you to the poster that suggested a second Bachelors! That is a great idea that I need to look into further!
So thank you everyone! I'll keep you updated. I am lucky enough to have great test scores (might have been a bad student once upon a time, but I've always been a good test taker) and wonderful recommendations so hopefully they will balance out my lackluster GPA. I even started volunteering for the school district that I'm interested in working in, in hopes that it might up my chances (and it feels good to help them out if I can't go the teacher route). Hopefully they see how committed I am to this.
Thanks again for your support. I was feeling down in the dumps yesterday but your replies really made me feel much more optimistic. Thanks!
For a teacher, your reading comprehension skills suck. She said she struggled with laziness in college. Nowhere in her post did she suggest teaching is cush. WTF?
This response seems to have nothing to do with the OP.
Not a single teacher out there slacked off in college at any point, was lazy at times, or puts in less than 16 hour days? I'm calling BS. I know too many teachers really really well to not call BS. And apparently the other teachers on here felt the same.
Lots of people have second careers. I knew a lot of people in law school who were in their 30s and 40s and wanted to be a lawyer. I didn't get mad b/c they were treating it as a "backup plan." Peoples' plans in life change. Get over it.
OP, if you don't succeed in getting into a program at first, don't give up. You can always go to school non-degree and do well in your beginning classes. I had a lackluster undergrad career (great in major, only okay out of major), and I am now into my second semester of education grad school and I have a 4.0. I did really well on my teaching exams and did a semester non-degree at another school. I have had to work to do it, but I'm now in my ideal program and doing really well.
Do well on your entrance/teacher exams and just be prepared to keep trying. You will get in somewhere and be happier when you're in a career path that thrills you! It's amazing how easy it is to stay motivated to work hard when you love the subject and know how great the reward (a teaching license/master's degree) will be.
My second career was teaching, so I can vouch for that...and I didn't go into teaching for the summers off.
I know you stated that you didn't mean to be nasty beth, but it does come off that way. I'd like to think that you were taking out your bad day on the OP. It sounds to me that the OP is willing to work really hard now and I applaud her. As a former Special Education teacher, I say you go girl.
As for the 16-18 hours a day? I have to agree with the other teachers. What the heck are you doing working that many hours? It shouldn't be.
Ha! Your grammar sucks, too.
Anything you can achieve through hard work, you could also just buy.
This post has such excellent potential
3 of my best friends are teachers. All of them are teachers for the right reasons (ie desire to make a difference, good educators, intelligent, etc). However, they also ALL agree that being a teacher IS one of the cushiest jobs in the world precisely because of the schedule. They have calculated themselves that they work about 65-75% as much as the average employee, for average to above average wages. ( In Ontario, teaching pay is very good). Yes, you have long days...for about 8-9 months a year. When you factor in the summer, weekends, holidays, etc off - its a pretty sweet gig. Of course there are long days and ungrateful students - welcome to working! As a real estate agent, I have long days and ungrateful clients. But you know what? I made the choice to do this job. If your job is really that hard or demanding, do something else. The same goes for those who think they can teach. Really? Do it, then!
Um, thanks for your opinion?
ETA: I really find this to be so rude and ignorant. I'd hardly call having weekends off "cushy." While you might make plenty in Ontario as a teacher, you don't make plenty everywhere. Just because I have summers off (and unpaid), my job is not cushy. I work very hard. I know what a cushy job is, as my DH has the ultimate cush job. He makes 5x what I do (literally), works 40 hours a week MAX, and can work from home whenever he feels like it. He doesn't spend his entire day rushing and goes out to a nice lunch every single day. THAT is a cushy job. Teaching, while it is certainly NOT the most difficult job in the world, is very demanding for the pay and is not cushy in the slightest. That's as ridiculous as someone trying to claim that it's insanely difficult and requires 16-18 hour days.
I said that my friends, who are teachers here, called their OWN JOBS cushy. The teachers themselves did. Now, here their summers are paid after you are hired full-time (which you aren't for the first few years, usually) so when you are being paid for three months of not working, that is cushy.
If your job is so much harder than DHs for less money, why don't you go into his field?
We all choose our jobs. Sure, there are ups & downs, but at the end of the day, the choice is ours. I'm sorry if I came across as rude, that honestly wasn't my intention. But if a job is that bad (or good); people are free to leave.
um, WTF? Where did you see me bitching about my job? No where. I don't give a *** what I make (hell, we pay more in taxes every year than I make; I most definitely choose to work as we do not need my income), I'm just pointing out that my job isn't as cushy as you seem to think. The summers off are great but we do work hard for the rest of the year. Given that teachers in the U.S. (and most of the posters here are in the U.S.) are NOT paid for the summer, your claim that teaching is cushy because of summers off is, well, moot.
Oh, and thanks for SHOUTING AT ME.
Not everyone has it as good as your friends. I hope you understand that it kind of rubs the wrong way when people who don't know what you do or for how little you do it, tell you how cushy your job is and how well paid you are.
Teaching is actually the fourth or fifth field in which I've worked. I can honestly say it's by far the hardest I've ever had to work for the least amount of pay. And certainly not the cushiest job I've had. Turnover is very high where I work and I understand why.
I absolutely love it but please allow for the fact that not everyone has the same experience as your friends.
They may get their paycheck in the summer, but that's most likely because they chose to spread out their checks over 12 months. In the US, we get paid for 190 days, So even though you get Christmas break and summers off, you don't get paid for it. Pay is SC is okay, not great, but I know I'd get paid more in a job where I work year round. But I couldn't imagine having any other job.
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FWIW, I am a teacher and I did well in college (4.0). When I interviewed for jobs I was asked at every single interview how I would be able to relate to struggling students since learning hasn't been a problem thus far. Just to give you some perspective - districts and grad programs may find your learning struggles helpful because you CAN relate to struggling students.
Also, I work hard and I hate when people assume my job is easy, but in the end I get paid a decent salary, I work half the days of the year and I deal with kids instead of jerkish grownups. I coach, so I work long hours, but my husband works a 24 hour hospital shift every third day - it's all about perspective