How to address GPA

[jwilhel94]

I'm a political science undergrad in my sixth year (I know) and I'm interested in applying to several political science Ph.D programs and a few masters programs in case I don't get into a Ph.D this application cycle.

I started college as a political science major, but switched to microbiology after a semester out of fear that my degree wouldn't be practical. I actually slogged through three years of biology classes and earned mostly Bs and two Ds. During my first semester of my fourth year,  I just couldn't take it anymore due to issues with depression and being unable to handle the upper level science classes, so I switched back into poli sci. Because it was midsemester, I couldn't drop courses without taking a W, and I had to stay in at least two classes to remain full time, so I withdrew from two classes (organic chemistry and a microbiology class) and got an F in the virology class I still had to stay in (I got an A in the other class I stuck with). After that semester, my GPA fell from a 3.4 to a 3.2. After that, though, I took four  semesters of nothing but upper division political science classes (72 credits), and I managed to raise my cGPA to a 3.6. I also earned all As in my poli sci classes, so my major GPA is a 4.0.

I'm unsure of how to address this in my applications. I understand schools like to see upward trends, but I did have an F in my fourth year when I was technically a senior. I also have two Ds from freshmen year (both in science courses) and four Ws. Will poli sci programs hold those first four years as a microbiology major against me? I'm going to be completely honest, I know an F is an F, but does it really matter that I got an F, or a D in chemistry? How should I address this in my applications? Will it look bad if I try to distract from my cumulative GPA by pointing out that I did get a 4.0 in nothing but upper division, major specific classes for my last 72 credits?

Edited October 15, 2015 by jwilhel94

[rising_star]

I wouldn't address it at all. Maybe one of your letter writers can address it by talking about how you changed majors to follow your passion. But I would leave it out of your SOP altogether.

[cooperstreet]

I agree

[wpg205]

I think it would be weird to not discuss in your SoP.  Your Sop is where you can introduce yourself and weave a narrative that brings some coherence to your experiences.  Your grades and all that biochem are going to be obvious and unavoidable, and I think it would benefit your application if you put them properly in context.  I would briefly explain that you have been interested in both poly-sci and biochem, but ultimately realized where your real passion was after dug deeper into biochem. Try and give them a good reason why you didn't pursue biochem, otherwise they might just assume it is just because you were bad at it.  A good explanation of why you left biochem will make the bad grades look like a consequence of your lack of interest, rather than the other way around.  Good luck.