Grade Deflation

[Orlien]

I'm a science major (molecular biology) at a top university that (unfortunately) practices grade deflation. My GPA is a 3.3 (about average at my school) I'm planning to apply to poli sci PhD programs in the fall. My poli sci GPA is a 3.9.

 

GREs: 170V/165Q/5.5AW

LORs: great, from two professors I've RA-ed for, plus a third who I've taken multiple classes with (all poli sci profs, obvs). All top scholars.

 

Interests: American, focus on Congressional/Race/Media politics. Good methods skills (taking grad stats sequence), plus very significant RA experience (for both quant-y and qual-y people). 

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

I think you'll be fine. I imagine you might be able to have your school include some kind of sheet showing the school's average grades. The awful thing about this is that grade deflation would actually be a good thing, except that it can disadvantage students. Regardless, your political science GPA and GREs are great. Make sure your SOP is very good and you shouldn't have any problems. It may just come down to whether committees needs your area of interest - and that's why you should do a lot of research on programs and profs this summer.

 

Good luck!

[3221]

I'm a science major (molecular biology) at a top university that (unfortunately) practices grade deflation. My GPA is a 3.3 (about average at my school) I'm planning to apply to poli sci PhD programs in the fall. My poli sci GPA is a 3.9.

 

GREs: 170V/165Q/5.5AW

LORs: great, from two professors I've RA-ed for, plus a third who I've taken multiple classes with (all poli sci profs, obvs). All top scholars.

 

Interests: American, focus on Congressional/Race/Media politics. Good methods skills (taking grad stats sequence), plus very significant RA experience (for both quant-y and qual-y people). 

You will be fine. Just need a solid SOP.

[blogstarphd]

On your CV, list your major GPA. Put it in bold font. You don't need to send average scores of your university.

[Max Power]

At my undergrad school, GPAs were .5 lower for math/science/engineering majors than or all other majors. I am more than willing to assume that this is closer to the rule than the exception and that the people reading packets know this. Also, you said you go to a top school. This means that admissions committees are far more likely to have encountered other applicants from your school in the past and be familiar with the norms of GPA there. If you get really nervous about this, you can always ask one of your letter writers to mention something so you don't have to spend any space in your SOP on it, which is both a waste of valuable words when trying to come in under limits and probably an awkward transition.