Studying in Canada, lower GPA.

[jadoo1989]

I am an American interested in studying programs in Spanish/Latin American Studies/Hispanic Studies in Canada. My main issue is that my GPA is right at 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. However, many schools say they place great emphasis on the last-two-years' GPA, in which case it is a somewhat respectable 3.7. I've emailed my programs of interest with my stats and they all have said that I should apply regardless of the cumulative GPA being only at 3.0.

 

In addition to the upward trend, I lived for six months in Mexico. During this time I took an intensive 420 hour Spanish course and worked full time as an ESL instructor. I am fully fluent in Spanish and have a certificate of Advanced-Mid Spanish on the ACTFL guidelines, so I do think that helps. My LORs are also solid as one of them comes from the head of the department of foreign languages at my university and the other is from a senior professor in Spanish at the same university.

 

My main concern is still the cumulative GPA. Even though many programs sounded enthusiastic about receiving my application, I'm not sure if it's something that they just say to encourage people to apply so they can bank on the hefty application fee for international students. Can anyone with similar experiences chime in?

Edited March 20, 2013 by jadoo1989

[quilledink]

Hi there! My CGPA when applying to grad schools in Canada was significantly lower than is reasonably accepted. However, my last two years, like you, have been rather brilliant, and I was accepted to my top choice (with funding) in February. I think, honestly, a lot of that had to do with my letters of reference and the fact that I have some academic work experience (editing academic papers and such for profs), as well as the fact that the university was a very good fit. As I understand it, application committees tend to factor in your GPA but they do take in the particulars of it (e.g. your last two years) just as much as they do anything else. I don't think it's the end of the world to be applying with a 3.0.

 

You may be waiting to hear back for a while, however, if you're not a Canadian applicant. I do believe most programs have limited spots for international applicants, which may put you on a waiting list that you wouldn't normally be on if you were from Canada.

 

I hope that helps shed some light on the process! But don't be discouraged because you think your GPA is low -- I guarantee you, it's not as bad as you think, nor will it have as significant of an impact as you think it will. Best of luck!

[jadoo1989]

Thanks for the information and encouragement! It's just, the process is already looking arduous and the odds look insurmountable.

[quilledink]

That was my big stress too. I actually had a prof inform me that without a CGPA of 3.7 I wouldn't be likely to get in without funding--if I got in at all. Fortunately, that was not the case and my funding offer was rather generous. I recommend focusing on all of the other good stuff that makes you a qualified candidate rather than your GPA which is, at the end of the day, a very small part of it. Sometimes your GPA is weighted differently as well, depending on the courses you've taken and when you've taken them (e.g. taking an indepent readings course and getting an A- looks better than taking a second year class and getting an A+). Make sure your letters of reference are strong and that you have a good writing sample (if one is required), and that you can speak well to your other assests. You're definitely bound to get into at least one of the schools you're applying to, and I'd wager you'll get into more than one. It's stressful and we all go through it, but it will all work out in the end

And, if you don't get in (which I don't see happening, but worst case scenario), take a year off, relax, and then reapply. Sometimes its about luck of the draw/fit more than anything.

[sdt13]

You may be waiting to hear back for a while, however, if you're not a Canadian applicant. I do believe most programs have limited spots for international applicants, which may put you on a waiting list that you wouldn't normally be on if you were from Canada.

 

This is what's starting to drive me crazy now. My deadlines for McGill, UVic, and Saskatchewan were all early or mid-December, but I JUST heard that my admittance is largely based on competing for funding. In fact, the only reason I even found out was because I reached out to my POI's. It will be a long process, but if you're patient, I'm sure everything will turn out fine :-)