W on transcript?

[brie cheese]

Hi all,

I have a serious dilemma. Does one W on a transcript hurt my chances when applying for a master in public policy?

I have a good cum. GPA and work experiences. However, does one W hurt when applying to places such as Georgetown and Brown--that's where I would like to apply.

I would like to apply to places that has strengths in domestic health policy. I plan to make a career in DC.

Cum GPA: 3.5 - Political Science major

Work experience:

-1 year of Epidemiological research on burn victims in the US and HK at medical institutions in the US and HK

-2 years of scientific / medical research at the Department of Medicine and Department of Plant Pathology within my school

-1 quarter (10 weeks) as legislative intern for a State Representative

-1 quarter (10 weeks) as congressional intern / assistant to regional representative with a U.S. Senator who is a leader in healthcare and financial reform

-1 quarter (10 weeks) as congressional intern with House Majority Whip in DC

O, I have done all of this by the end of my junior year of college. I'm still a baby or no0b....

Thank you very, very much!

Mr. Cheeseman

Edited April 28, 2010 by brie cheese

[Dreams]

Hi all,

I have a serious dilemma. Does one W on a transcript hurt my chances when applying for a master in public policy?

I have a good cum. GPA and work experiences. However, does one W hurt when applying to places such as Georgetown and Brown--that's where I would like to apply.

I would like to apply to places that has strengths in domestic health policy. I plan to make a career in DC.

Cum GPA: 3.5 - Political Science major

Work experience:

-1 year of Epidemiological research on burn victims in the US and HK at medical institutions in the US and HK

-2 years of scientific / medical research at the Department of Medicine and Department of Plant Pathology within my school

-1 quarter (10 weeks) as legislative intern for a State Representative

-1 quarter (10 weeks) as congressional intern / assistant to regional representative with a U.S. Senator who is a leader in healthcare and financial reform

-1 quarter (10 weeks) as congressional intern with House Majority Whip in DC

O, I have done all of this by the end of my junior year of college. I'm still a baby or no0b....

Thank you very, very much!

Mr. Cheeseman

A W is fine, and doesn't even need to be addressed in your application. Just focus on building up the other parts of your application.

[Putoots]

Admissions committees are not looking for perfection...they are looking for outstanding or unique candidates who will enrich a program.

If the grade is an anomaly, and the rest of your application is strong, you have nothing to worry about.

[fadeindreams]

Admissions committees are not looking for perfection...they are looking for outstanding or unique candidates who will enrich a program.

If the grade is an anomaly, and the rest of your application is strong, you have nothing to worry about.

Agreed. I had a whole semester of W's. Didn't really impact much, I don't think. Well, maybe that's why SIPA denied me...

Anyway, good luck!

[coaks]

I had a W, an Incomplete that I never completed, a straight-up D+ and several Cs. I was accepted at Michigan, NYU and Carnegie Mellon and waitlisted at Duke. I was rejected at Berkeley and Chicago.

Edited April 28, 2010 by coakleym

[brie cheese]

Thanks everyone for replying. It has been a relief now.

I plan to drop a class in order to finish all of my classes a week before finals while maintaining good grades so I could intern in DC!

And congrats to those who have been accepted to great public policy schools with a W.

[sushitooth]

No, you're fine.