Stating all colleges attended when applying for grad school

[hardworkingone]

I completed a college degree about 25 years ago then went to law school for two semesters. I did not do well in law school and left with a GPA below 2.0. (Law school is really hard). However, my college GPA was over 3.0.

I've been taking some college courses here and there, and want to become a speech language pathologist, which requires a master's degree. When I apply, how should I explain the two semesters of law school where I did not do well? Or, would the master's program overlook this since it was almost 25 years ago? Would they even want this transcript? I have since made As in my relevant courses for a speech therapy - biology, etc. which I have taken over the past 2 years.

[Italophile]

I always say that when in doubt, why not call the department or the graduate admissions number and ask? If they want all postsecondary transcripts, you would absolutely need to include your law school ones regardless of how much time has passed. However, if they specify that they only want associate/baccalaureate level transcripts, then those are all you need, regardless of how much time has passed.

If they do want your law school transcripts, that's no need to worry! They just want to make sure there are no weird red flags popping up in your academic history, like forging degrees and whatnot. Your coursework over the last 2 years will absolutely outweigh them.

[hardworkingone]

Thanks. However, my grades were bad enough that I was not allowed to return to the law school after 2 semesters. I'm worried my transcript will say "academically dismissed" and this will look bad to grad school admissions people, even though it was almost 25 years ago. A lot has happened in between then and now, I would like the school to not consider this transcript at all. Have people who were dismissed from schools for academic reasons, had a much harder time getting accepted into any graduate schools?

[Chrysanthemum]

Personally, I don't see any reason to tell them about your time in law school.

[Clou12]

Don't tell.

[emmm]

You are getting some really bad advice in the last two posts. Dishonesty is not the best route to take. It is entirely reasonable to state that 25 years ago you made a decision that turned out to be wrong for you, and you quickly discovered that your interests did not include law. If you lie on your application, you risk losing your credibility, and I would consider you a risky applicant to accept due your displaying a lack of moral standards.

[hardworkingone]

Caffeinated, why should I not tell? Would they hold it against me?

I would rather tell them, so I don't have it hanging over my head after I get admitted. If they want to hold it against me after 25 years, I probably wouldn't be happy as a student there anyway.

Edited February 3, 2012 by hardworkingone

[hardworkingone]

Thanks.

In law school, I got Ds the first semester, Cs and C pluses the following semester. Technically, each grade by itself was considered "passing" (a D will pass) but my overall GPA was too low to continue as a student.

[ktel]

Why did emmm get downvoted? Strange...

Anyways, I agree that you should not withhold information. When they ask for everything, give them everything, and perhaps try to explain in your statement of purpose what happened.

[Astrid Coleslaw]

I actually had a school tell me, when I asked if my first bachelor's horrible GPA grade would be detrimental even though my 2nd bachelor's grades were near perfect. The head of the admissions dept (a professor) told me straight up I didn't even have to mention my first degree if I didn't want to. I ended up doing so, since my 2nd wasn't going to be complete yet at the time of admission, but I was surprised to hear that.

If you really are concerned, ask the school. But honestly, what's the harm of leaving it out? It's totally irrelevant. Nobody will look OR care.

Edited February 9, 2012 by Astrid Coleslaw

[CellMol Biologica]

Lying is NEVER a good idea. I think you should rather spend time in explaing the bad grades - and here again- Be Honest.