Compensating a low undergraduate GPA and external funding

[washmeback]

Hello all,

I could not stop myself being a member here and starting this topic as I really need advice. I am an international student considering of applying to the PhD programs in History for Fall 2013. I got my B.A. degree in Economics with a 3.0 GPA. During my undergraduate years, however, I took 9 courses related to History with very good grades. I should emphasize that my grades in Econ courses were terrible enough to make members of an admission committee avoid voting in favor of me Afterward, I started my M.A. program where I got a 4.0 GPA. I have various degrees of knowledge in four languages other than English.

The first question is how I can compensate this low GPA in my undergraduate school. By getting a good score on GRE and TOEFL, good letters?

The second question: Due to my position at a state university in my country as a research assistant in Economic history, I have an oppurtunity to receive a grant for four years (and two more years without funding) to study abroad. However, if I can find funding by an American school, I will resign from my job, which will mean that I will lose that oppurtunity. Do you think this external funding increases my chances of being admitted at such schools as Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, UC Berkeley and Ohio State? What should my policy be in such a process? Should I inform the schools in their deadlines that I have an external funding or wait until they rejected me? It sounds a bit funny to me saying "hey, i've got my own funding" after a rejection Among these schools, only Stanford's website states that they rarely accept those applicants with their own funding. The reason why I don' want to tell it initially is I am scared that they may tend to accept me without funding even if they find me competent enough for their program.

Thanks for any help.

[thedig13]

Hello all,

I could not stop myself being a member here and starting this topic as I really need advice. I am an international student considering of applying to the PhD programs in History for Fall 2013. I got my B.A. degree in Economics with a 3.0 GPA. During my undergraduate years, however, I took 9 courses related to History with very good grades. I should emphasize that my grades in Econ courses were terrible enough to make members of an admission committee avoid voting in favor of me Afterward, I started my M.A. program where I got a 4.0 GPA. I have various degrees of knowledge in four languages other than English.

The first question is how I can compensate this low GPA in my undergraduate school. By getting a good score on GRE and TOEFL, good letters?

The second question: Due to my position at a state university in my country as a research assistant in Economic history, I have an oppurtunity to receive a grant for four years (and two more years without funding) to study abroad. However, if I can find funding by an American school, I will resign from my job, which will mean that I will lose that oppurtunity. Do you think this external funding increases my chances of being admitted at such schools as Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, UC Berkeley and Ohio State? What should my policy be in such a process? Should I inform the schools in their deadlines that I have an external funding or wait until they rejected me? It sounds a bit funny to me saying "hey, i've got my own funding" after a rejection Among these schools, only Stanford's website states that they rarely accept those applicants with their own funding. The reason why I don' want to tell it initially is I am scared that they may tend to accept me without funding even if they find me competent enough for their program.

Thanks for any help.

1.

Was your M.A. in History? Also, did you write a strong thesis? Usually, an M.A. in History, extensive language training, good letters, and a strong writing sample will compensate for a weak undergraduate GPA. However, it's also important that you have a defined area of interest (for the PhD program) and your languages are relevant to the period/region that you're interested in.

2.

I'm a bit uncertain about this one, but here's my understanding of it: Departments don't really take your financial situation into account when deciding whether or not to send an admissions offer. Sometimes, the actual funding offer will take external funding into account, and they'll work it out with you to make sure that you're covered for tuition, fees, and living expenses. I believe that funding-related matters are usually sorted out after the acceptance letters come. Generally-speaking, if a department accepts you without bothering to coordinate and make sure you're fully-funded, don't go, because it usually means they secretly don't think you're worth the time and money.

[washmeback]

TheDig13, yes my M.A. is in History. "Generally-speaking, if a department accepts you without bothering to coordinate and make sure you're fully-funded, don't go, because it usually means they secretly don't think you're worth the time and money." This recommendadion is really interesting, I never thought that way. Thank you very much!

[washmeback]

I've just received an e-mail from a Stanford (my top choice) professor with whom I want to work due to the great fit. He is saying that the department accepts 16-18 students each year, only one /1/ of whom is in our field. This means I have a very little chance, even almost no chance, there I'll send another e-mail to the director of graduate studies to ask how my external funding may change this chance.

[thedig13]

I've just received an e-mail from a Stanford (my top choice) professor with whom I want to work due to the great fit. He is saying that the department accepts 16-18 students each year, only one /1/ of whom is in our field. This means I have a very little chance, even almost no chance, there I'll send another e-mail to the director of graduate studies to ask how my external funding may change this chance.

You never specified what your field is and what languages you're familiar with. Edited July 6, 2012 by thedig13

[TMP]

I sent you a PM about OSU.

[washmeback]

TheDig13, my field is early modern Ottoman history. Turkish is my native language, and I can read Ottoman Turkish too. I have an advanced reading ability of Arabic and German, and intermediate of Persian.

[thedig13]

TheDig13, my field is early modern Ottoman history. Turkish is my native language, and I can read Ottoman Turkish too. I have an advanced reading ability of Arabic and German, and intermediate of Persian.

I think that much language training/experience should come in handy when trying to sell yourself on an application.

[jamc8383]

One of the colleagues in my history MA program just got into the prestigious University of Chicago Phd program and he had below a 3.00 as an undergrad. Speaking with other grads and admissions people, it seems like letters of recommendation and writing sample are the big sells. It's also my understanding that GRE scores don't necessarily help you but they can hurt you.

[CageFree]

Don't let that discourage you from applying to Stanford. You don't know how many people in any given year will be competing for that same spot. Besides, why can't it be you?