Addressing Academic Shortcomings

[gellymoon]

Hey!

So i'm chugging along writing my SOP and I have come to the point where I need to address some of the horrible grades on my transcript. I stuck through a Biochemistry major thinking that it was best to just finish it out when in all actuality i was killing my GPA.I finished all the coursework for the Biochemistry degree but I could not pass the comprehensive exam. With one try left at the exam I decided to transfer schools and finish up with a bachelors in general studies. And in turn I also got a significantly better GPA from that year. But I have no clue how to vocalize that admission committees without it seeming like I am a quitter. because I actually just realized that even if i did pass my comprehensive exam i had slim to none chances of getting into grad school with a 2.7 HELP!! any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[koolherc]

I didn't address prior bad grades in my SOP, but on a separate short document that I appended variously at the end of other documents, in "miscellaneous" uploads, or even mailed a hardcopy of. The SOP, imo, should be a place where you explain how you're the hot shit and a genius and your ideas.

in terms of how to address it--be more or less honest. say you were determined to finish it, but realized eventually that biochem wasn't for you and/or your strength and that it was a mistake. i assume your grad school app is not in the bio sciences.

A 2.7 is tough, but not impossible to work with as long as your other factors are strong. check this thread (ignore my joke in it):

it mentions there's another thread on the topic; you'll have to search for it. good luck!