Applying for Grad Schools with low GPA in one semester due to medical reasons.

[maliku]

Hi,

I'm an undergrad student at the University of Melbourne. I'm nearly done with my 2nd year of a 3 year undergrad degree in architecture. Due to having severe fungal polyp sinusitis for over the last 6-7 years, for which I usually go through surgery every 2 years. Semester 2, 2011, my condition become much worse and I found out that the polyp growth was malignant. I suffered from lack of sleep and short concentration levels as it was and then had to be operated on in the middle of the semester. I missed my exams and failed all my subjects for that semester (only 2 as I had withdrawn from the other 2 as I was already feeling the side-affects of my condition). The univeristy would not replace my Failed grades with late withdrawals as my condition was an ongoing one. I was stupid to not defer for a semester but my sinusitis had troubles me through high-school too but I use to carry on as it had never gotten this bad. However, I received a refund in tuition. My real concern came when I looked at my transcript which has two fail degrades which destroyed my gpa of 3.4. I am back at college this year, with a reduced course-load of 3 subjects as I am slowly getting back upto speed. My gpa for this past semester has been a 74%. However, I have hopes of apply to a decent grad school in the US or the UK for my masters in architecture and I am afraid that my grad school application has really suffered with a bad semester of college due to my medical reasons. How much will grad school read into my gpa for that semester considering the medical difficulties I experienced.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[S.Y.]

I'm interested in this too. My GPA isn't awful but it's just mid-ish due to medical reason....

[jeffster]

I would think they would cut you a break for medical reasons - there's been a lot of talk of such things around the forums, and that seems to be the general consensus. One concern though might be that if this medical issue reoccurs every two years or so, will you experience the same interruption in your grad work? Also, I would be cautious about "taking it slow" while you get back into school. Grad school will be far more intense than undergrad, so if you're taking it slow already, they might be concerned about your ability to handle grad work.

You might also try talking to an adviser and seeing if there's any help to be had from your undergrad institution, as far as the academic transcript goes.

[abdefghijkl]

maliku: I agree that should make your health priority #1. However, I do see a way for you to salvage this: do an extra semester - not a full load - say 60% course load, even if you don't need those extra courses to finish your degree. Take courses that apply to your particular area of graduate work, and get the best grades you can. Do that twice if you really need the extra boost to your transcript. I know this sounds like a hassle, but rebuilding a transcript is like rebuilding your credit rating - it can be done but it takes some determination and some time. If you invest an extra year, your grades will go up and you'll be in a much, much more powerful position to apply to grad school.

Then - go to grad school part time. There are many grad programs that allow or even encourage this because they want people with professional skills and/or ongoing careers in their programs. The MBA is the classic example, but I would guess architecture is similar. So, you could preserve your health and still get your degree done.

Also, when applying, try to cultivate some faculty referees (or one at least) who know what you've been coping with and could explain that in his/her letter of reference for you. That plus solid performance at the end of your undergrad career will go a long way to dispelling any concerns a grad admissions committee may have about you.

Edited June 19, 2012 by Prof. Susan

[maliku]

Thanks so much for your replies. This is helping a great deal. I'm planning on doing summer school to receive extra credits to make my transcripts look. I really feel like my final year is going to make it or break it for me. As far as my medical concerns go, I'm in good health as it is and have been told that my condition should not be a problem for the near future at least. I might need to be operated on in about 3 years but no sooner than that and as long s malignancy is not present then I can choose when to have surgery (hence in the summer).

My undergrad is a from the university of melbourne which has a 3+2 model same as in the UK and NZ while the US has a 5-year bachelors degree for architecture. As it is, I plan on working for a year ow two years at least to build up a decent portfolio and during that time take professional training courses in software programs such as CAD, Revit and 3DS Max to further enhance the skills i currently possess. For the US, I have heard GRE scores do matter to some extent and with a decent final year, good recommendation letters, 1-2 years of work experience at a firm and professional courses in software programs along with good GRE scores should make up for it.

Would you happen to know what type of schools are within my reach for grad school in the US and the UK?

Thanks again.

[kateausten]

I don't have answers, just wanted to comment and say that I'm in the same boat. My overall GPA was 3.0, brought down by one semester in which I got Cs and Ds in all classes after not finishing all of my assignments. Because a D was considered a passing grade at my school, I had a full-time job to worry about the summer after that semester, and I was in a hurry to get out of school, I just went with those grades instead of withdrawing or asking for an incomplete. I took the next semester off and then went back and only took the minimum full-time courseload my senior year (that's all I needed to graduate). I know that my overall GPA isn't horrible -- I worked hard to get it above 3.0 so I would be eligible for admissions most places -- but it wasn't fabulous outside that semester, mostly 3.5-ish my junior and senior years and 3.2ish my freshman and sophomore years. I'm planning to write an explanation in my application and take the GRE even though it isn't required to compensate a bit, hopefully it all works out.