Transcript coming back to haunt me . . .

[CallmeIshmael]

I'm applying to a few Ph.D. programs in English for fall of next year. I have 2 sets of transcripts: the first from a community college that I attended for 2 semesters back in 2005, the second from the four-year private school that I recently graduated from.

What's sparked my paranoia: I received an F in a pre-calc. class back in 2005. I retook the class the next semester and received a B+. The F is still listed on the transcript; however, only the B+ is averaged into my cum. from that institution which was a 3.9.

Since that time I took 3 more math courses received all A's and graduated with a 3.7 overall and a 3.9 within my major.

I guess it

[cheesethunder]

omg that happened to me the department told me that taking extra classes would bump out my horrendous 1st year classes

but they still show up my transcript!

and my official transcript doesn't show my calculated gpa without them

= (

im hoping that they're into taking the last 20 credits or wathever....im not addressing it im using SOP and its very limited space to beef up my strengths.

[fuzzylogician]

I guess it

[JennyFieldsOriginal]

I'm just going to echo what's been said because I think it will make you feel a bit better:

I was recently at a function where the graduate chair of my undergrad university (a top 20 PhD program) said that if you have a bad grade in math he could care less. He also said that what they're looking for on the transcript is something totally ridiculous (i.e. you repeatedly fail English courses), or that you took the absolute minimum English classes, etc.

I wouldn't worry about it one bit. Best of luck on your applications!

[socialcomm]

Don't stress. If anyone brings it up, just be as honest as you can about it -- and you have plenty of classes that show it wasn't the norm for you.

[rising_star]

I have an F on one of my transcripts and I never talked about for MA or PhD program admissions. In fact, I never addressed my grades at all.

[jrpk]

You may not get the chance to address it in an interview if they do hold it against you.

Rather than an addendum, why not incorporate that into your essay, not directly per se, but perhaps discuss your past experience with failure, what you learned, how it motivated you to move ahead, etc. I'd had to justify a poor undergrad transcript (granted from years ago) and focused on the changes and growth between then an now. I think you can include something along those lines without it seeming too hamfisted. just a suggestion.

[kent shakespeare]

all that shows is one mistake, and that you had the fortitude to step up and correct that mistake. I had the same situation with Statistics. I took it last fall with a real See You Next Tuesday (a term I don't use often), and got an F. I took it in the spring and pulled an A-minus. I also have bad grades from 20 years ago at a Comm Coll that I replaced soon after.

Anyway, of all the programs I applied to, I was accepted in all but one (and that one only had 15 slots, and prioritized west coasters).

I know it may seem worrisome, but it's not. Profs and committees understand that things happen, but (1) that you retook it - and did well - shows that you have the ability to correct your mistakes, and (2) the rest of your grades show that you are an achiever in general - dedicated and hard-working.

It's not even worth mentioning in your personal statement. Seriously. If anything, you'll just waste time/space getting sidetracked on irrelevancies and de-focusing your statement, and that may hurt you more than the one bad mark ever could.