GPA is more important in the countries that don't have GRE like UK or Canada?

[mocomoco]

I'm afraid my GPA (3.0 overall) is too low for any graduate program. Is this more critical to apply to Canadian or UK university than American grad school that usually has GRE?

[surefire]

Hi there!

Happy first post!

That's an interesting question, one that I have wondered myself as a domestic Canadian applicant who has not had to contend with the GRE...

There's a thread over here that might be a good place to start:

Maybe there are some geographic/discipline-related patterns that you can draw on?

Good luck!

[aberrant]

If you are looking at schools that follow the British education system--don't they accept students based on academic honor standing?

Cambridge: At least a 2i honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent standard from an overseas university

Oxford Biochemistry: Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or to have achieved a first-class or an upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualifications)

University of Toronto (UT): We consider applications from students who have achieved at least a B+ average in their last two years of study in an Honours/Specialist B.Sc. program. Applicants educated outside of Canada require a degree equivalent to that of a Canadian Honours/Specialist degree (i.e. a four-year degree) as described above.

UBC: North American degree holders must have a overall average of B+ (76% at UBC) in your master's degree program. (If you are from Japan, you'll need a B+ average (or above) to be accepted into their master's program, and a B+ average (or above) with a master's degree to be accepted into their PhD program.

So in other words, if you are looking at top-tier PhD programs in UK / Canada, 3.0 may indeed be too low for them. However, if you do well in your last 1-2 years of school with a +3.3 GPA, then you may be considered by programs like UT. Otherwise, you can always go for a master's program before you apply a doctoral program.

[RosamundReage]

In Canada many universities guarantee funding for all graduate students and there is usually only 1-2 spots for international candidates, so it would be very unlikely to get in with a 3.0 average. Even for Canadian students your average would be too low for schools that guarantee funding, because you would not qualify for external scholarships.

Some schools like UofT have large masters programs that do not guarantee funding and because you are an international student who has to pay a lot in tuition, you may have a shot. Even though Canadian students do not have to take the GRE, these programs will often look at it for international students, so that is another plus.

The UK has even more "cash-cow" masters programs at well known universities like LSE. Again because you are an international student and have to pay more in tuition you have a shot at acceptance. I had a friend who had a 3.3 GPA and got into LSE (and actually UofT). This person went to LSE and is now in a ton of debt, so you have to be aware that because of your low GPA you will probably have to pay a lot for your degree if you go to Canada or the UK. I am not sure how scholarships work in the US and if GRE scores count towards scholarships, this would probably be something to look into.

[RosamundReage]

So in other words, if you are looking at top-tier PhD programs in UK / Canada, 3.0 may indeed be too low for them. However, if you do well in your last 1-2 years of school with a +3.3 GPA, then you may be considered by programs like UT. Otherwise, you can always go for a master's program before you apply a doctoral program.

Actually this is a good point, Canadian school usually only look at the last two years of study not the whole 4 years. So make sure to calculate your GPA using only the last two years.

[mocomoco]

Thank you for your all advice to me!

>surefire

Thank your for your kind to tell me nice thread about low GPA. As I know enough well that my GPA is too low, it's very helpful and even it encourages me!

>aberrant & RosamundReage

Thank you for telling me realistic but important fact and info. Yeah, I know 3.0 is too low to be accepted in such a compepetive school. So about GPA of last 2 years, my undergraduate program is 6 years (veterinary medicine) and we have less classes in last 2 years. Japanese vet med course consists of taught classes in first 4 years and individual research at lab in last 2 years. Research is only for thesis to get graduate admittion, so it doesn't reflect GPA. In this case, I should calculate GPA of first 4 years or still have to caliculate last 2 years with only a few classes?

Now I again need advice about the way t compensate my low GPA. Since I work in full-time, taking new class in a univ is impossible for me. Is there another way? Also, I should explain the cause of my low GPA (it's mental disease) when I send my application to grad school? Or it just suggests I'm too weak to pursue postgraduate program?

[RosamundReage]

It would probably be best to contact the specific programs you are interested in to see how they calculate GPAs. but generally it is only the last two years of study even if you have taken fewer courses.

The thread that surefire posted probably has better ideas than I do on how to improve your chances. As for the cause of you low GPA, I have read that it is a good idea to get you referees to mention in their letters that you have overcome certain obstacles such as mental illness or learning disabilities and they feel you are ready to commit to a graduate program and excel.

[TakeruK]

Actually this is a good point, Canadian school usually only look at the last two years of study not the whole 4 years. So make sure to calculate your GPA using only the last two years.

The numbers above are usually the University minimum requirements to get into any graduate program. But your application ranking will be based on a different GPA calculated by the program you're applying to. They usually say how this is done on the department webpage, but generally they will only look at the 3rd and 4th year courses in the field of study you're applying to.

Also, the list above shows UofT and UBC, the two biggest Canadian schools, but there are other schools that will accept a B average instead of a B+, and also other schools that might not have a strict cutoff but will look at your application more holistically.

[MakeYourself]

Some Canadian programs do require the GRE, such as Psychology.

[mocomoco]

>RosamundReage

Thank you so much for useful info! I will ask admition staff in my prospective program about my GPA calculation.

>TakeruK

Yeah, they usually have minimum GPA requirement. So after getting appropriate calculation, is it almost impossible if my GPA is under minimum requirement?

>spinrah

Oh I didn't know some program in Canadian university need GRE. Fortunately my aiming course is not. So I wonder whether schools and specific programs without GRE regard GPA more important or not. High GRE can compensate for low GPA?

[TakeruK]

If you are below the University minimum GPA requirement, it is still possible to be admitted, but it will be much harder. The department you are applying to will probably have to convince the Graduate Studies office to admit you. If they want you though, it could happen. The only certain rule about academic rules is that all rules can be bent. I don't know what the rest of your application will look like, and I don't know what the places you are applying to are looking for, so I have no idea if you have a chance to get in, or if there is no chance at all.

Most Canadian schools will let you submit your GRE score even if they don't require it. If you have a low GPA, I would strongly recommend submitting anything that would show you are still a strong student. Doing really well on your *subject* GRE score would be really helpful ( I don't think the General GRE would be that useful for biology/zoology/vet med [as you listed in your profile]). GPA and GREs measure different skills though, so I don't think you can say that one can compensate for the other. But, submitting a strong GRE score will strengthen your application.

[mocomoco]

>TakeruK

Oh, now I really got it that GPA and GRE are different measure. So most Canadian schools receive GRE score even if they don't request? Huum, then, as one of my aiming school is UBC that says minimum GPA is 3.0, maybe I can make me a bit stronger applicant if I could give them good GRE score.

I am also not sure at all that zoology or vet med program regards GRE subject more important than general GRE. Anyway, now I understand that with such a low 3.0 GPA, it seems not impossible but very hard to enter high-level school.

Perhaps I have to rethink about selecting schools to apply.

Thank you for advice.