Is it appropriate to explain why a grade on my transcript was poor on a Graduate School application?

Question

I am getting ready to apply for a very specific graduate school program. It is more than just course work, but it is a program that accepts only about 8-10 a year and includes language proficiency tests and other would include a year overseas studying.

As I am applying and having to send in a many recommendation letters and other information, on my transcript about two years ago I did quite poorly in a Math class, because at the time I was preparing for a Business Major, but later switch majors and would have never had to take that math class anyhow if I had not initially wanted to do business. Because I got a D in this class, it affected my GPA. Is it at all appropriate to explain this in an application or is this something that is rarely ever done.

Any experience and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Some colleges will let you remove a class if it no longer applies to your program.  But I'm not sure if they can do after you've graduated.  

It might still be worth the time to go to the registrar's office of your undergrad college and see if you can it removed from your transcript.