Career-change: Transcripts & withdrawal(s)

[getinorgetout]

Hello.

I will be applying to grad schools over the course of the next year or so and I am concerned about my transcripts (specifically one of the two that I have.) Anyway, here's my story:

-Bachelor's degree from a world renowned music school (3.8GPA)

-Started a Master's degree in music --- Due to medical complications, I decided to 1) Completely withdraw 2) Change my career pathway.

In the few years since then, I've done quite a lot to further enhance my resume and experience. Working abroad, a year of full time volunteer work, high CLEP exam scores to show aptitude in many of the classes I didn't have the opportunity to take as an undergraduate music major are some of the things on the list. In addition to this, my GRE test scores are well within range of all of the programs I'll be applying to (Most of which are International Affairs focused.) I'm also aware I'll have an opportunity to state my reasons for career change in my personal statement.

I'm only concerned about one thing:

1) Must/Should I submit the transcript from the graduate program I withdrew from? 2) What do you think members of the admissions committees will think about that? (Given a relatively strong application otherwise)

Your opinions are greatly appreciated.

[getinorgetout]

Concerning the Master's program I briefly attended, I should also add that I withdrew before the end of the first semester. So, I have no grades except for one semester of W's from that institution.

Sorry this was left out of the original post.

Edited November 17, 2012 by getinorgetout

[kaister]

Because you don't have any grades or courses you want to transfer from that institution, I would say no. I mean, why show them a bunch of W's? Especially if the courses aren't relevant to your new academic goal. I think if you had at least gotten grades for these courses, I would say you have to include them, but because they aren't, I'd leave them out. You can always email the graduate assistant/secretary at the universities you're applying to and ask if it will be necessary, just to cover yourself. If you think the adcoms will be curious about your brief stint in grad school, ask one of your LOR writers to mention it. And I'm sure you're already thinking of ways to weave your transition from music to internal affairs in your SoP.

[ridofme]

Some schools specifically ask for transcripts from every post-secondary institution you attended. In this case, you will absolutely need to submit your transcripts from the grad program. Others say that you only need to submit transcripts from institutions that awarded you a degree. I would be very careful to check the requirements of each school - you don't want this coming out later and then having an offer of admission rescinded.

For the schools that require your grad transcript, you should probably write an addendum explaining why you withdrew. Everything I've read and been told suggests that focusing on such a negative in a statement of purpose will be distracting, but briefly explaining (without making excuses) this little bump in your academic past can be done nicely in an extra statement. Good luck!

[emmm]

Agree with ridofme. Better to be honest -- they can see it was an unusual situation.

[getinorgetout]

Some schools specifically ask for transcripts from every post-secondary institution you attended. In this case, you will absolutely need to submit your transcripts from the grad program. Others say that you only need to submit transcripts from institutions that awarded you a degree. I would be very careful to check the requirements of each school - you don't want this coming out later and then having an offer of admission rescinded.

For the schools that require your grad transcript, you should probably write an addendum explaining why you withdrew. Everything I've read and been told suggests that focusing on such a negative in a statement of purpose will be distracting, but briefly explaining (without making excuses) this little bump in your academic past can be done nicely in an extra statement. Good luck!

Agree with ridofme. Better to be honest -- they can see it was an unusual situation.

Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated. One of the schools I'm applying to only requires undergraduate transcripts. Another specifies that they'd like transcripts from all institutions where 3 or more grades were received. I know this is probably a question I should ask the office of admissions, but I'd just like to get your take on it...

I was taking exactly 3 classes at the school I withdrew from (as I stated before, this was before the end of my first and only semester there.) That being said, do you think 3 W's count as 3 grades? In addition to that, this specific institution says a 2nd transcript wouldn't need to be submitted if those grades appear on the "home" institution transcript.

It seems like they really only require an undergrad transcript. What do you think?