Applying to colleges without motivation to continue education

Some quick background--I'm a senior in undergraduate college, (hopefully!) graduating this May. My GPA is decent but not great, I don't have really any extracurriculars, and I don't have work experience in psychology, only in my other major (sociology), but I want to go to graduate school for psychology.

I missed a few deadlines for applying to schools that I was very interested in, and the schools that are left are very selective. I had thought about taking a year off, but I cannot afford it and there's nowhere for me to live during that time that I could stay in and get a decent paying job to save up while paying off tons of student loans from undergrad.

I don't want to stay in school now, but I'm almost positive that if I don't do it now, I won't be able to get myself to go back once I'm done. I'm not motivated enough to do all those applications again, I don't think I would stay in touch with enough people to get good recommendations, and I wouldn't have the money for it, so this is my best bet this year, I think.

However, I'm not sure if it'd be worth it to go to a school I'm not in love with. I'm tired of moving every year and would like to find a place I could be for a few years at least, but all of the schools I'm applying to this year are in the same city because those were the only ones I was interested in that I didn't miss the deadline for. I don't know that I want to go to this city; I would have much preferred the one I missed deadlines for, but I can't do anything about that this year.

Basically, I don't know what I'm thinking or doing, and I'm not sure if it's reasonable for me to hope that I can get into at least one of these selective schools and not feel like I'm settling. I settled into my current school and I really regret it, so I don't want to do the same thing again, but I don't know what to do because my options don't look great from this point. Advice of any sort would be great and really appreciated! Thanks for reading

I think that if you can't motivate yourself to apply on time then you're definitely not motivated enough to be in grad school.

I understand how you are feeling. It's hard to be motivated when you see your only path as going to a school that you don't think is your 'ideal' school. But think about it this way - What will waiting get you? Will your situation have changed or will you be right back in your same scenario a year from now, if you take a year off? I settled for a school that I didn't really want to go to because I saw it as my means to an end. My chances of transferring the following year to one of the schools that I really wanted to go to was going to be better if I applied having some credits under my belt, even if it wasn't at the school I had hoped for.

If I were, and if you have the money to afford the application fee, I would apply to the selective school(s) that you want to go to. In my opinion, college admissions are really a mixed bag - you never know what spot the school is looking to fill, what talent they hope to represent within their student body, etc. You won't know if you don't try, so I say go for it.

I think it's always best to apply. The worst that can happen is that you don't get accepted. If you don't apply you won't be going to school anyhow. If you do apply and do get accepted you don't have to go if you don't want to. On the other hand if you don't apply, and later wish you had, you lost a whole year.

Applying is kind of a pain, but basically all you need is your application, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and essay. Taking the GRE is the worst part, sign up now. The transcripts are easy to get because you are still on campus. Likewise with the letters of recommendation, but you have to check in politely with your professors to make sure they get sent by the deadline. The sooner you ask them the better.

If you don't go to school it's ok. Make sure though that you either get a job or an internship which will help you with your career goal (including applying for school next year). Do an unpaid internship or volunteer work if you have to. This is the time to do that sort of thing. I would think volunteering at a hospital, shelter, or that sort of thing would look good on a Psychology application.

You can also take classes next year part time. If you get good grades it could help immensely. Remember it's the fall classes (and summer if you do that) that count because you apply around Christmas. That's only one semester.

Starting now, you could ditch all of the classes that you don't like, or that are hard for you, and take only those that you really like or will do well at. Take only from professors that you like, and that like you. Only take as many classes as necessary. That way, even if it takes you another year to graduate your GPA will improve and your graduate applications will look better. Sometimes you have to take certain classes, but maximize your interest. It's really great to work on your weaknesses, and you should do that eventually, but there are times when it's best to focus on your strengths as well.

Leaving school is not the correct option. You can join some activities of your interest so that you stay happy and joyful towards life.

I had 4 years off between undergrad and grad. The timing and results were appropriate for me.

I think the real "answer" is . . . is that there is no singular right answer. There are many paths, even ones that we could never foresee but stumble onto. Ones that seem so correct but turn out disappointing or limiting. Ones that we initially regret, or ones that life & circumstances shoves us kicking & screaming down, but they end up being the best thing ever. While we often think in terms of only A or B, there are also C & D all the way through double-Z. So, try to keep that in the back of your mind while you are sorting through things.

What if you apply now for the schools you really wanted and get a job next year?