Low GPA International Relations/Public Policy Chances

[J_Crew]

Stats:

Community College GPA: 3.1 (below a 2.0 for my first year, mostly A's afterwards)

UC GPA: 3.75

Cumulative GPA: 3.35-3.4

Foreign Languages: I am learning Mandarin Chinese

Degree: BA in Political Science, minor in History

I also did a few internships and I am working as a research analyst at a government consulting firm. I haven't taken the GRE yet, but I am fairly confident that I will do well on it. I am interested in attending UCSD IR/PS, American, GW, King's College London and Fletcher. What are my chances?

Edited February 13, 2011 by J_Crew

[dubi]

Stats:

Community College GPA: 3.1 (below a 2.0 for my first year, mostly A's afterwards)

UC GPA: 3.75

Cumulative GPA: 3.35-3.4

Foreign Languages: I am learning Mandarin Chinese

Degree: BA in Political Science, minor in History

I also did a few internships and I am working as a research analyst at a government consulting firm. I haven't taken the GRE yet, but I am fairly confident that I will do well on it. I am interested in attending UCSD IR/PS, American, GW, King's College London and Fletcher. What are my chances?

Your chances are a lot better than you might think. Given the one year of poor performance in Community College, you have a trend of consistently improving, and doing quite well, which is what schools look for in applicants. They want to see that you are capable of excelling and that you can handle the academic rigor of graduate school. If there was a reason why you didn't do well your first year, you should explain, briefly, the reason why in your personal statement. Basically, just tell you poor past performance is not a reflection of your ability to excel in academia, as reflected by your most current grades.

Good luck and don't worry too much.