low gpa undergrad student seeking for advice!!

[doka1101]

Hello,

I am a long time reader and a first time writer. I graduated with a computer science degree in 2007 with a 2.2 gpa in Canada. My low gpa was not due to illness, family matter, or anything, it was just due to lack of motivation. Last year, I started become interested in operations research, and I decided to pursue a master degree in OR (preferably in US). Before, I applied to grad school, I decided to go back to school and take some courses to bolster my gpa. However, I am debating between the two options, and this is where I need your advice:

1. Go back to my old school as a non-degree student.

Pros:

- One of the best school in the country.

- Lots of research opportunity.

Cons:

- GPA won't reset, hence the grades that I will receive will be accumulated to my existing transcript. Thus, even if I get a 4.0 gpa for two years, my overall gpa will be around 2.8 .

2. Go to another university in the same city.

Pros:

- gpa will reset -- starting from scratch.

- some of my friends, who transferred to that school told me, the workload is easier and getting a high grade is easier than my former school (you would still need to work hard though).

Cons:

- lower ranking than my former university.

- less research opportunity.

- nevertheless, i would still need to submit my former school's university, when I applied to graduate school.

Any thoughts? Your advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks

[ANDS!]

Your overall GPA isn't going to reset. Sure your "New School GPA" might look sterling, but they are still going to see lackluster performance at your first school. You're better of just going to the school you came from and taking pre-req courses for OR to show that your academic maturity has improved.

[TheFez]

One concern is that an ad comm may not be able to distinguish between a lack of motivation and a lack of academic ability.

I don't think you should be a "non-degree seeking student" - go back and get a second degree in a related discipline (e.g. Finance)

My logic is a two-fold:

1. A CS degree with a 2.2 is not going to get you in anywhere. Fortunately is only tangentially related to your new field of interest. That's the "reset" - get a new degree with high grades in all your courses. Better yet at your old school where the difference will be stark.

2. If you want to show seriousness - then you need to get serious and focus on a goal. I mean what kind of curriculum are you going to construct for yourself with courses designed to "bolster your GPA"?

3. If you don't get into a grad program even with a second degree - at least you will have one marketable degree.

Question : It's been 5 years since you graduated. What have you been doing? Why the interest in a new field? The one thing many people will tell you is that grad school requires much more motivation (and ability) than undergrad. It's also going to be pretty costly. Are you sure this is really something you have a passion for?