an F on my transcript due to illness

[milady]

Hi, everyone. Although I

[lotf629]

I'm also applying to competitive programs for English with some nasty baggage, and I've been asking a lot of people similar questions. All of the feedback I've seen suggests that Ph.D. programs are really concerned with one thing: trying to predict your future performance in and possible contribution to *their* program. It's not in their interest to punish you in some way for getting an F if it's clear that the F does not reflect on your abilities as a scholar. After all, they are not interested in administering justice so much as in putting together the best possible class, so it's to their advantage to ignore your grade if they think you will be a contributor. It sounds to me as if you've clearly demonstrated that the F has nothing to do with your academic potential, so I think you can safely relax about it.

[royalt3240]

I agree with the poster above. I think you've taken all of the right steps to cover your tracks... if you become ill again make sure you get an extension with your professor and an "I" on your transcript until you complete the assignments... but I think you will be fine!!!!

[Minnesotan]

Professors are human, too. They will understand if this was a one-time occurrence.

That said, if you only applied to the most prestigious universities, they might have plenty of applicants with 4.0 gpas and no excuses. I don't know. Just remember that gpa is only one of many parts of an application. You've still got a decent overall average, so you will be able to make it past any initial cutoffs based on grades.