Test Scores, GPA, and Extracurriculars for Grad School


Worried that you won't be able to get into the graduate school of your dreams considering your GPA is low? Don't be. Less-than-stellar grades tin can be overcome as long as you have a plan.

Almost all graduate school applications require transcripts. Just a large reason for that requirement is to (1) verify that you earned an undergrad degree, and (two) ensure that they have an official record of information technology. In short, but because a transcript is required doesn't mean it's of paramount importance.

Your transcript is one component of your application, and it is considered together with your statement of purpose, recommendation letters, and commonly some samples of past essays or other work. Many schools also crave standardized test scores from the Graduate Record Test (GRE). Others may ask for additional materials, too.

Some programs weight GPAs heavily. But others might be more than interested in how you did in courses relevant to the programme. Sure programs might look foremost at your portfolio, recommendations, or statement of purpose to provide a sense of how yous'll fare in their program. Even so others might desire to come across relevant experience, such as work or an internship, and not exist particularly concerned with a GPA.

The lesser line: You'll demand to know how the programs you're interested in think about GPAs during the admissions process. Here are eight steps you should take to proceeds admission to your acme-choice graduate programs, regardless of your undergraduate GPA.

one. Know the requirements

You'll need to do your research to find out whether the graduate programs you're interested in take specific requirements regarding GPAs. Check to run into whether a minimum GPA for applicants is listed on each program'southward website. Some sites may also give average GPA scores of by successful applicants.

It'due south a good idea to enquiry GPA requirements for all the programs you're considering. Ultimately, you should plan to apply to most five graduate programs: two safety schools where admission should be pretty easy, ii solid schools where your chances are proficient, and a dream-but-still-possible school.

And so, assess how you stack up vis-à-vis the requirements. Perchance your GPA gives you a fighting chance after all. Or maybe it seems as if the schoolhouse is going to look at that 1 number and send a thin envelope, not a fat 1. If it's the latter, read on to detect out what yous should to next.

2. Talk to the faculty

Make an appointment with some faculty members yous're interested in working with. Later on demonstrating your interest in (and inquiry of) the program and discussing how your experience makes you a solid fit, ask them frankly how your application would be viewed, given your GPA. If there are any mitigating circumstances surrounding your depression GPA, let them know. If yous were going through hard life circumstances, for example, some programs accept that into account.

If, however, you lot were thrown by the textile, the response may vary, depending on its relevance to the program. Going for a main's in computer science? If your transcript shows a C in calculus, eyebrows might be raised considering calculus is very important in information science. Simply admissions committees are likely not to intendance equally much if your lower grades are in not-so-relevant areas. Earning a C in French literature may not sink a informatics awarding, every bit long every bit you tin meet the program'southward subject-specific requirements.

iii. Complete additional coursework

If the program wants you to demonstrate more or better noesis than your GPA signals, taking one or more than courses might practise the trick. Earning an A in a standalone calculus grade would show that you've mastered that key material. Depending on the subject matter, you may too be able to earn a certificate for completing online courses.

4. Pursue relevant field experience

You can besides demonstrate skills mastery via work feel. Look for internships, research assistantships, volunteer opportunities, and other professional leads that will aid y'all acquire easily-on experience in your prospective graduate field. The network yous'll cultivate in that pursuit is also likely to help you establish yourself in the field—during graduate school and across.

v. Publish in your subject

If you do original enquiry, work on an exciting projection, or otherwise make a contribution to your field, and so write about it—and become your work published! Showing that you tin can pass muster in peer review will be a significant plus for your candidacy.

six. Apply your statement of purpose

Write a thoughtful, clearly formulated statement of purpose in which y'all communicate—past showing, not telling—your agreement of and passion for your called field. Write with specificity about the inquiry you promise to practise in graduate school. Demonstrate your familiarity with the faculty past expressing how—and why—you hope to work with a few specific professors. You'll need to make a compelling affirmative case, with plenty of specifics. (That's true regardless of your undergraduate GPA!)

7. Consider submitting a separate letter of explanation

Depending on a program'southward GPA requirements, you may be advised to submit a separate letter of explanation. (In some cases, your explanation may be included equally part of your argument of purpose; you'll demand to follow the guidelines of each program to which you're applying.) In your explanation, you'll want to be articulate and concise. If your relatively low GPA doesn't reflect your abilities, explain why. If, for instance, yous had a family emergency i semester, you tin explain that your grades fell due to those personal circumstances—but in that instance, committees volition probably want to come across that you lot successfully pulled them back up. If the crusade of your low GPA is nevertheless ongoing, the committee will want to ensure that yous'll be able to consummate your graduate piece of work satisfactorily.

8. Focus on recommendations

Almost graduate programs enquire for recommendation letters. Your recommenders can discuss your qualifications, including your GPA, and make the instance for the kind of work you are capable of doing (and have done for them!). Say you have a GPA on the low side, but your environmental bio enquiry project really blew your professor away. If she recommends you as someone with smashing potential for research, her endorsement can significantly strengthen your application. If yous're able to practice inquiry-assistant work for someone in your field (perhaps even someone in the graduate program you're hoping to proceeds admission to), then that person'southward recommendation may carry even greater weight.

Takeaway

In short: There are several means to overcome a low GPA. Grades are an important—only not exclusive—signifier of future academic success. If your grades lone don't brand your example, then let the work yous have produced and the relationships you have nurtured earn y'all admission to your chosen graduate program. While you don't need to act on all of the suggestions presented here, you lot should strive to set yourself apart from other candidates. If you ensure that the other (non-GPA) parts of your application shine, you lot may very well earn a coveted spot in your dream graduate plan.

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