How will Grad schools calc. my GPA if I attended two univ.?

[RAli]

So, here's my dilemma.

I transferred schools after my sophomore year in undergrad, and at that time I had a GPA of a 3.67. All of the classes I took transferred to my second univ, but they do not take into consideration my previous GPA, so, essentially, my GPA started over whenever I transferred schools.

A year after I transferred schools, I had a lot of problems with depression and anxiety. I did horribly that year, and ended up having to stay an extra year in order to retake quite a few classes and to try to rebuild my GPA before I could graduate. Since my GPA from my first univ. did not "transfer" to my second school, I ended up graduating from my second school with a GPA of 2.4.

So here's my question, when applying to Grad schools, will they only take into consideration my GPA as considered by my second school, since that is what is stated as what I graduated with, or do they recalculate my GPA with classes from both schools? Technically, if all of my classes from both schools are taken into consideration, then I actually have a GPA of about a 3.0...

Any ideas or advice?

[linden]

RAIi:

Every guide and website I have read states that you should offer the gpa makes you look the best, unless the school specifies how you should calculate the gpa. Most of the schools to which I applied simply asked me for my overall gpa, which is what would be beneficial in your case. Only one school asked for my major gpa.

Perhaps you have really strong GRE scores. That can be one way of showing schools that, despite your less-than-perfect gpa, you do have the ability to succeed academically. I have also read that you might want to include an addendum (or optional essay, if your school has space for one) explaining your situation and, more importantly, what you learned from it.

I think the answer to your question also depends on many unknown variables. Did you do poorly in classes that were in your major? Were you taking very challenging classes? Etc... The point is, you should still give it a shot. Everyone will have a weak spot on his or her application. Yours is your gpa, but maybe you can make up for it with a stellar application in other areas.

Good luck.

Linden

[Ferrero]

Well, I wouldn't just sit back and let them reject you either. You are paying them after all, aren't you? You should get your money's worth. Make a trip to some of these departments you applied to. Saunter around campus, then saunter into the DGS's office. Ask him if the ad. com. plans on taking BOTH schools into account. If he says yes, OK then. If he says NO, we will only take your BAD GPA into consideration, then you need to swipe his papers off his desk. This will get his attention...then you grab him by his shirt-collar and tell him that HE works for YOU, and that YOU want both schools looked at. He'll get the message...then when the acceptances start rolling in, you can thank me.