Applying with a 3.36 GPA=Am I screwed?

[Kevin1990]

Hi again all,

 

I am planning on applying to a couple of graduate schools this summer as a prelimary wave to see how I would do in the admissions process (although depending on where I get in I may very well go). I am a current BA in History hoping to apply to GMU for Public Policy (International Security concentration) and King’s College London for War studies

 

Well long story short I’ve done pretty well for my last year of college as I’ve boosted my to above a 3.3 overall average in addition to completing some pretty prestigious internships throughout the year(I was an intern with a high ranking Congressman for instance). I was hoping to edge it up to 3.4 but that looks highly unlikely to happen now because I got a C instead of anything higher in a foreign language class .  

 

I know I’m probably being over dramatic here, but is my GPA going to harm my chances? I mean I’ve heard often that anything above 3.1 is respectable.

 

Does anyone have any advice or insight that would soothe my nerves?

[Rogue856]

I can't comment on how your GPA will impact your applications at the specific schools you mentioned, I'm not familiar with the programs. I can say, however, that I just finished up history grad apps with a 3.2 overall GPA, 3.87 overall for the last 2years and 3.91 in major. I got into all the programs I applied to. I targeted funded MAs as a stepping stone to a PhD. I was admitted with funding to a well-regarded MA program. I was also admitted to several middling Phds, also with funding. I had a strong writing sample and focused SOP. I also had recommenders that went above and beyond for me. Bottom line, if the rest of your application is strong I don't think, based on my experience, that the GPA will automatically sink you.

[Guest |||]

Your gpa will likely will not get you instantly turned away.  Work on the parts of your application you can strengthen (references, gre, etc etc)

 

However if you are truly nervous on the issue, contact schools you are interested in and ask.

[child of 2]

A mistake that I made last year was not explaining certain things that I should have in my SOP. In my essays, I focused 90% of my words on research. In reality, I was pretty mediocre in one of my research positions, largely because I was juggling 3 part time jobs (two of them research) along with school. There a lot of people out there who can do that successfully, but I'm not one of them. If there's a good reason why your GPA isn't higher, I would address that, briefly. 

[enchanted24]

I think if you were after a PhD a 3.36 would be a challenge - although perhaps not impossible.

 

I think if you're going for a master's you should be okay providing that your GRE scores are good. One of my co-workers graduated with a 3.2 and was accepted into her master's program no problem (and got a scholarship too)! I also think your internships will help you more than you realize. Usually master's programs are more application/job oriented so having the good work experience that you have gained from your internships will help you.

 

Also, I would like to add - another one of my co-workers graduated with a 2.38 (ouch). He worked for four years after graduating, and believe it or not he was accepted into some pretty decent master's programs. He worked as a paralegal at our law firm and highlighted all the great work experiences he had and I think that's what did it for him. The attorneys wrote him good letters of recommendation too. It goes to show that someone like him with a not so good GPA can still have a chance!

 

Good luck!

Edited May 22, 2013 by enchanted24