Low undergraduate gpa fairly high masters gpa

[cherchezlaghost]

Hello,

I will be applying for a sociology program in the fall of 2017; however, I've been really concerned about my gpa. My undergraduate gpa is very low 2.8 and my masters gpa is a 3.6 but will increase to 3.8 by graduation. I am interested in the following schools: 

UC Santa Barbara

UC Davis

UC Irvine 

Columbia 

CUNY

Rutgers 

George Mason University/American University  (last option) 

I have several publications and conference presentations. I've been listed in a top journal and have outstanding letters of recommendation. Do you think the gpa will be a huge impediment to my getting it in?

[krispykreme]

not usually but probably at 2.8... were you studying the hard sciences? 

[COGSCI]

Your grad GPA is strong so the deciding factor would be your GRE score and research fit. 

You probably won't get into your top 3, but I think you will get some offers for sure because you have publications. Good luck! 

 

[cherchezlaghost]

thanks!! @cogsci and @krispykreme 

It was not a hard science. 

[mockingjay634]

I had a similar situation as you and managed to get full funding from the schools I applied to.

[Haphazardsoc]

You should address this issue directly in your statement. You might also ask your letter writers to address your MA GPA. It's not obvious that a 3.6 is "high" in a graduate program, since a B+ is the lowest grade some departments give. 

[historicallinguist]

On July 11, 2016 at 6:42 PM, Haphazardsoc said:

You should address this issue directly in your statement. You might also ask your letter writers to address your MA GPA. It's not obvious that a 3.6 is "high" in a graduate program, since a B+ is the lowest grade some departments give. 

I am second to this. 3.6 is around the threshold for being able to be considered for admission, and it is by no means a high GPA.