Self-reported GPA for multiple degrees

[EmmaJava]

Alright, so I must self-report grad-level GPA, that seems reasonable. What should I do if I have an MA in English Literature with a 4.0 from a US institution and a different masters from another country with not a 4.0 but an entirely different grading scale?  On the one hand, I don't feel that I'm misrepresenting myself by entering a 4.0 in my primary field of study, since the little data entry boxes only allow for a single GPA and a single "graduate grading scale" - how can I enter a cumulative for two degrees with different grading scales?  On the other hand, the little instruction box tells me that any misrepresentation of my GPA will impact my admissibility. 

Sometimes I feel like a unique applicant. Other times I wish I weren't so unique so that I could contend with bureaucracy. 

Should I just grab a GPA calculator and do the best that I can trying to approximate the non-US degree into a 4.0 scale?  But what sucks about that is that my legit 4.0 will get passed over, right? It feels like even when you get a 4.0 you can't display it.  Any thoughts? 

[Dr. Old Bill]

I would just go with the 4.0 in the English Literature M.A., as that is the most relevant to your field of study. Even better, if it happens to be the most recent of the two degrees.

[EmmaJava]

Much appreciated, Wyatt's Terps. I was thinking, too, since they require uploads of the transcripts, that I could just leave that self-reported field blank and let them sort it out? My first instinct was the same as yours but I have this nagging feeling that I'll get dinged for it, accused of dishonesty or something.

I guess this is the part where you just trust that they are viewing applications in such a way as to accurately get all of this info, and then here is the part where I second-guess that based on the data entry that they're having me do on a cookie-cutter interface and knowing that they need a ready-made convention for cutting the pile of applications into a tiny fraction. I'm sure the thread exists somewhere, but the process itself has caused me to seriously question aspects of my application that I previously - in the land of abstractly thinking through the components of my application - thought would be strengths, not weaknesses. Like a second masters, for example, which according to the online systems that I'm encountering is pure liability. Ditto for a number of other aspects. Hence my longing for a place to submit a CV, so that I can make certain things that are getting buried more readily visible. So, the thread that probably already exists somewhere: Do applicants need to be preparing themselves in cookie-cutter fashion? Of course you want to say no, that's ridiculous. But then you have to go through the process, and any discerning realist can see straight through the screens to a machine that systematically eliminates your application based on shoe-horned misperceptions.

I look back over my past couple of posts and see that I'm coming off as depressingly negative (sorry!), but my goal is straight-ahead honesty. As a reflective applicant, these are honest feelings and I'm willing to bet pretty spot-on, too. But...we shall see. Only one way to find out, right?

[Horb]

Just email the contact person. They won't instantly reject you because you happen to have a question. The DGSs are usually good about answering unique questions.

[EmmaJava]

Sure thing, will give it a crack. Thanks, Horb.

[TriVA]

This website, Afouro GPA calculator, will let you calculate a cumulative GPA using two or more different scales.  There are options to add a term and change the grading scales.

EDIT: Apparently you need to be in the "My Transcript" section...

Edited December 17, 2015 by TriVA
Forgot to mention something....