Game Plan Low GPA

[IceInLA]

2.987 Undergrad GPA (BS Business Admin-Concentration in Healthcare Admin)

2.2 CSD (In Progress)?

GRE V-152, Q-144, AW- 4.0

I have worked as a certified medical interpreter- Spanish for 6 years. I have been working as a Spanish interpreter state's early intervention program for the last 3 years, working 90% of the time with SLPs. I have 100 hours of shadowing a licensed SLP in a variety of settings. I have also volunteered 70+ hours interpreting for the school district & multidisciplinary evaluations at a clinic affiliated with the school I am applying to. (I have interpreted for professors in this grad program). I already have great LORs from SLPs I have worked with and supervisors from the school district.

So my grades... I have taken 3 semesters of CSD, all while working full time. During the Spring 2019 I had emergency surgery which made it difficult to catch up & I ended up with two Ds. I retook those courses for the Fall 2019 Semester and I managed a B & C+. I have since quit my job to focus on leveling/grad school. 

Anyone have tips? Anyone in the same boat once upon a time? Can anyone give me hope??

[futurespeechpath1]

I don't think the GRE is bad. The writing is great! People say get a +300 but honestly every person I've known has gotten in with high 280s-307 on the GRE.

It sounds like you have great experience which will lead to an excellent personal statement if you talk up those things and you mention why your GPA isn't as high.

How many CSD classes do you have left? 1 C shouldn't hurt your chances as long as you keep the other grades up. Schools mostly care about your CSD GPA but it's not the end of the road if your commutative is higher than your CSD GPA, I know a lot of people who still got in when that was the case.

I would control what you can and try your best in the courses you have left. It all depends on where you want to apply and who else is applying. So much depends on the applicant pool each year too. I would try to bring your GPA as close to a 3.4 as you can.

Edited December 28, 2019 by futurespeechpath1

[IceInLA]

@honey57

I have similar concerns!

[aud2be2024]

I am in a similar boat with a low GPA, especially CSD! I have a 3.0 CSD GPA but am hoping that personal experience combined with my professional experience through research and other things will make up for it. I think your GRE will be fine because I got a 146 on verbal and am still told by some schools they will still consider me! I feel like we won't know the answer until we apply since they look at applicants so individually. Make sure to put in your SOP the reasoning behind why your GPA may be lower and how it does not show your potential.

[pinkypink]

Hi! 

Just wanted to say that anything is possible! I graduated with a 2.78 GPA (both cumulative and csd) and I am starting my first semester of graduate school this year. I felt like I really perservered when I stopped focusing on my GPA and focused on other qualities that made me a great candidate like my volunteer and work experience, my background and the struggles that I overcame! I spent a lot of time crafting a strong letter of intent and made sure that my letters of rec were reflective of me to the max. Sounds like you are in the exact same boat! Don't give up

[IceInLA]

@pinkypink I cannot thank you enough for the glimmer of hope!!!!!! 

[honey57]

On 1/7/2020 at 10:32 PM, pinkypink said:

Hi! 

Just wanted to say that anything is possible! I graduated with a 2.78 GPA (both cumulative and csd) and I am starting my first semester of graduate school this year. I felt like I really perservered when I stopped focusing on my GPA and focused on other qualities that made me a great candidate like my volunteer and work experience, my background and the struggles that I overcame! I spent a lot of time crafting a strong letter of intent and made sure that my letters of rec were reflective of me to the max. Sounds like you are in the exact same boat! Don't give up

Do you feel comfortable telling us more about what school you are attending and what schools you were accepted to . I also have a similar gpa 

[karenlizbeth]

Hi!
did you retake any COMD courses to raise your GPA before applying to COMD Grad schools?

Edited April 6, 2022 by karenlizbeth