Can I get into graduate school with a transcript from h**l?

Question

here is my history:

i went to a college for a semester to major in spanish and education. i transferred to another college (my current one) where i started a degree in english and education. after finishing most of the program i decided not to major in education. my last semester in the education program i failed out of the education classes (2 w, 1 b, 1 d, 1 f) then i transferred to another college to start an engineering degree but had to drop chem and calc and got an f in biology. i transferred back to my old college and am graduating with a degree in engineering and english. i have since retaken all the science and math classes i have failed, but not the education classes. 2007 was a very bad year for me as i was working full-time at a horrible job and a family member got cancer. plus i transferred to a school without having any idea how hard the math and science classes would be. i want to go to grad school but i am afraid my transcript looks horrible. my total college transcripts gpa will be 3.0, my gpa for my alumni school will be 3.2 and my engineering major gpa will be 3.4.... any suggestions for graduate school? do you think i could get in? how would you describe the bad grades in a letter of intent without seeming like you are trying to make excuses. i can handle life. i just had a very bad year.

i have some applied experience mostly from projects in class where we worked with local gov and corps. i can get good letters of recommendation. i have no research work, though i might do some next spring (while i wait for fall, fall only acceptance). also i would still have to take 2 more prereq classes for this program in spring. how would i write all this in a letter of intent?

sorry if this is not very coherent... i am very stressed about this issue!

Answer 1

My undergrad experience was somewhat similar, and here's how I handled it.  I got recommendations from people who could write about my capability and the difficulties I had had over the years.  The most important for me was a prof I had had as a freshman who had become a friend, and who could say, from the perspective of someone who had known me throughout, that I was always capable, but had gone through some unusual circustances which were no longer an issue.  I should add that he was one of the people who gave me a low grade when I took his class.  That way, I didn't have to say anything about my poor earlier performance as I wrote my letter of intent.

There's no guarantee this would work again, and I had a couple of other things going for me.  I had taken time off since failing, so it had been clearly in the past.  When I went back to school, my GPA was a 3.92.  And things have become more competitive since I was in grad school.  Still, I did have a messy transcript, and I did get into a very good grad school or three.

Answer 2

No, but you sound perfect for politics.

Answer 3

i didn't read it.  I've been at work for 8 hours and am very tired.  i read the question.  if your transcript is c**p, then all you can do is try to apply to as many schools as possible.  you should have done better earlier.  all you've done is jump around from major to major, and college to college.  are you sure you are mature enough for more school?  you might be old enough, but i think you need to get a grip first.

Answer 4

First of all, step back and breathe...this isn't the end of the world, but you will have to commit to making an extra effort if you want to present yourself as a successful candidate for admission.

As a former graduate school admission director, I would be very cautious about granting a full admission to you, based on the grades/transfer history you state. Note I am not including the circumstances, just the history.  Your overall GPA is a "B" average, the others are a little higher.  If I just looked at transcripts, you might be on the fence, especially if your GPA is below program minimum.

So, how do you counterbalance the grade/transfer history?  With a strong letter of intent that includes 1) Ownership of your academic history; 2) an objective essay that includes the circumstances that impacted that history, and 3) clearly stated plans of action to limit, avoid, and/or control circumstances in the future that could cause similar problems.  In other words, an essay that states: "this is what I did, these are the circumstances that affected my judgment/ability to succeed, this is what I learned and this is what I am going to do in the future."

Next:  Strong letters of reference from people who can speak to your academic abilities - and - know you well enough to address how you are a stronger person as a result of your difficult year.

Then:  If you are required to submit graduate test scores (like the GRE), study like a demon and get strong scores.

Finally:  If the school requires an interview, dress well, speak articulately and own your history.  Discuss what you learned about yourself in the past year and how it has made you a better person.

You might want to consider this:  Use the time between the start of your program to take classes - graduate level courses that would transfer into your intended program as well as those prerequisites you mentioned.  Aim for "A"s in each of them, don't settle for anything below a "B" (which by the way, is the usual minimum grade allowed in grad school).  Demonstrate you can do graduate level work.  If your program requires research work, is that more important right now than the program's basic curriculum? If not, stick to strong academic courses.

You might want to consider delaying your application for another year while you strengthen your academic GPA.



Your school may have restricted admission considerations that could allow you to take some program requirements or limit the number of first semester credits you can enroll.  Talk to an admissions counselor/advisor.  They know the school, the program and how the admissions committee reviews applications, so look at them as your advocate. When one of my staff would advocate for an individual's admission - especially if they had met the candidate, I either had my own meeting with the candidate or trusted the counselor's endorsement for admission.  

I would tell my staff that we don't admit applications, we admit people. People make mistakes, change their minds, and have emergencies and life circumstances that represent a portion of who they are.  It is how we respond to those changes and how we live our lives from that point on that add a depth and scope of compassion and life experience to a person which no amount of class room instruction can teach.  

Good luck to you