Grad school with low cum GPA but high(er) major gpa?

[klee]

Hello all.

I am new to this forum, and I tried to look at other threads to see if anyone has posted recently in a similar situation, but there are many posts here! So, sorry if this question is redundant, but I really need some advice.

I am currently a non-traditional undergrad. My major is Germanic Studies, and I have no minor as of right now. My cum GPA is 2.85, but my major GPA is 3.6. I have received 4 departmental awards for achievement and feel very good about the work I have done in the department and the contacts I have made. I am very interested in applying to grad school at the same school in the same department.

My concern is my lower overall GPA. I had some problems staying focused when I went to college the first time around, got pretty good grades with some C's and an F. I took about 10 years off and worked full time and even went to school to get training/certification to be a massage therapist. As I worked in that field for a while, I started to fell some physical (and mental) burnout, so I decided to return to University.

When I first came back to college, I was a Psych major. But I hated it. I also had some personal issues in the last year and unfortunately I let my grades fall. I got some bad marks, but on the other side of the coin, I fell in love with the smaller, more intimate German department and took some classes in that major and have done very well there and recently declared Germanic studies as my major. I went abroad last summer and I am also going back again this summer. When I get back from studying in Germany this summer, I will have only 4 credit hours left and can technically petition to graduate in December. However, I want to apply to grad school and I am seriously concerned that I will not get in, based on my mistakes.

I also have not had the chance to take any 400 level classes, so I was considering extending my studies an extra semester to take a couple 400 level seminars in the spring of 2010, and that would help me bring my GPA up and also give me some proof that I can do work at that level.

However, I am really concerned about the overall GPA coming up more than just hovering around 3.0, even though I know that my major GPA is good enough and will get better, as I plan to get As in all the classes I have left to take.

I was considering adding a minor or possibly a double major of English, which will extend me beyond one semester, but it would give me the opportunity to prove that I can do this. What do you guys think? I already have about 9 hours of transfer work that applies to the English program...

[Sonic]

What field will you be pursuing in grad school? Is another major in English relevant, or just a way to bring up your GPA?

If it is financially possible for you, I would recommend taking those 400 level classes you describe, but if you're planning on applying next fall to enter in Fall 2010, the spring class grades won't be on your transcript. What kind of timeline are you thinking about?

[belowthree]

Focus on the upper level classes, you'll need them. Other than that, I'd say you have a better shot than you think you do.

Just you may not end up getting in the top schools in your field, but if you're willing to accept a place at a quieter program then you should do just fine.

Just tell them what you told us in your SoP.

[leetchisgod]

I got into a PhD program in political science with a 2.78 overall GPA for my bachelors (business administration major), with my political science GPA being 3.35, but that was as a minor. I got accepted into a masters program in the UK with that, including some funding, ended up graduating with a 3.8ish. Was able to use that to get into the PhD program. Just make sure you let them know exactly what made your grades lag, and express some interest, work your ass off and get yourself into where ever you want to go.

[klee]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

What field will you be pursuing in grad school? Is another major in English relevant, or just a way to bring up your GPA?

If it is financially possible for you, I would recommend taking those 400 level classes you describe, but if you're planning on applying next fall to enter in Fall 2010, the spring class grades won't be on your transcript. What kind of timeline are you thinking about?

The field I am considering for grad school is Germanic studies or possibly TOESL (in which case I would need the English). I want to stay in languages, as that seems to be my thing, but the problem is that I don't want to teach primary school or high school, so that pretty much leaves teaching at the college level.

I would like to just load up my schedule in the fall with 400 level classes in German, BUT due to budget cuts, they are only offering ONE, and it's not even taught in German. Which is another part of my problem, as I only need 4 more credit hours and there is nothing even being offered in my current department that would even come CLOSE to filling in my schedule...as of right now I am registered for one class. I am hoping in the spring (2010) to be able to take another 1 or 2 400 level classes, but there is no guarantee that they will be offering any more than they currently are.

That is part of my concern in declaring another major or minor. If my department is only going to offer 1 or maybe 2 classes that are applicable to me, how am I going to raise my GPA? The English department is about 10 times the size of the German, so the opportunities to take what ever classes I want are definitely there.

My timeline was exactly as you had described, until I realized that the spring classes won't be on my transcript. I really don't know what to do. My German undergrad adviser is urging me not to go to the English department, but I am not sure what the motivations are for that. I mean, who cares if I double major in another discipline?? He knows that I want to raise my GPA, and he knows that there are practically NO upper division classes being offered this coming year.

*sigh* I am very frustrated and confused. Sorry this is another long post.

[Sonic]

If there are no upper level classes in your current department, is there any kind of independent study option? Or are there summer classes?

I would try to find out exactly why the Germanic studies adviser is hesitant about the English department. It might also be helpful to talk to people in the English department about your plans and get their opinion. If having the double major will strengthen your application and both majors are relevant to your plans, I don't see why there would be a problem.