HELP! Can I still get into graduate school?

I will be graduating this fall with my B.S. in international finance. My GPA is 2.5. I know, it is the worst. I still want to go to graduate school though. I do not want to go to the best school but I also do not want to end up in a weak school either. I was actually considering University of Arizona. Anyways, I am 22 yrs old. I do not want to make up an excuse for my GPA but I did work full time throughout my entire Bachelors career while also going to school full time. I already have 3 years of experience working for a major bank as a loan officer. I know that is something many recent undergrades lack. What do you guys think?? What can I do to get in? How do you see my situation?

Public Comments

1. The best thing you can do, in my opinion, is try to land a really stellar intership to prove that you have what it takes. Then, write the best applications for grad school that you've ever thought possible. Hire someone to edit it if need be. Perform some sort of original research or develop an original and needed proposal. It's definitely possible for you to still get a master's, but you've set yourself up for an uphill battle. It's not hopeless, but you do need to be ready to put a whole lot of work into proving that you deserve a spot at their school.
2. You should ask yourself why you want to go to grad school? A lot of people go right after college because they feel like they have to, they don't know what else to do or are afraid of going out into the world. The best advice is to take at least a semester off and figure out what path you want to take and what you want to do. It is very important trust me. If you work at someplace in your field during that time off you may get a better perspective and the experience can help you get into the school you want. You may want to talk to those going to the grad school you want to go- current students or alumni. See how they liked it and what it took for them to get in. Good luck.
3. i dont get it... why are u starting to work hard NOW? i mean... i hope u get in.... but... 2.5? thats barely a pass... and like the first person said, ur gonna havta work and pay for all the stuff u slack off on.... or else ur gonna be screwed...
4. When applying for Grad school, focus on our strong points, your previous work experience, your ability to work full time while going to school. Get great references, people who will play up your strong points.Good Luck to you.
5. I agree with Blue Octagon. So what if you have 5GPA. All you can do is prove that you can really study. But can you really put that into practice. Having real life hands on experiece is seriously very important and I feel that you already have a headstart over your peers, even for those that did better than you. Now go for that internship and do your best.
6. Apply, and write a good letter and do a good interview. Use the art of rhetoric.