How will grad adcoms view my GPA?

[Zigor]

I'm in somewhat of a rough spot. I started my undergraduate career at a top 50 university. However, I ended up leaving about four years later. I had a lot of difficulty doing well, in spite of taking some time off beforehand. I was clinically depressed for a while, among other things. I left with about 90 credits, and a 2.0 GPA. I have a few Fs (mostly incomplete fails) and Ws on that transcript. I took a semester at community college, and managed with a 3.75. I ended up transferring to Rutgers, and I'm currently in my last semester before graduation. So in total, I spent two additional years trying to complete my degree. Including my time at community college, I've accumulated about 90 credits with an overall GPA of something like a 3.78. I'm double majoring in philosophy and computer science. How will graduate schools view my GPA? As of right now, I'm interested in either getting an MBA or pursuing a master's degree in engineering.

[EarsToHear]

3.78 is a good GPA. My first impression after considering your post was "wow, this person has persistance." The first school was not right for you, and you had some serious personal challenges, but you continued to pursue both degrees and ended up with a great GPA.  Adcomms will most likely NOT hold this against you at all. I think they will look at you in terms of where you are now, and how these experiences have shaped you into a potential graduate student. After all, none of us go into undergrad with all of the maturity and skills needed for grad school. That is developed. Don't let this discourage you.

Edited February 24, 2010 by EarsToHear

[fadeindreams]

A few thoughts:

-Many schools consider last 60, roughly the last two years of a degree, and in major GPA to have a higher weight than cumulative. Consult with the schools you're going to apply to. I recommend you calculate your cumulative based on your entire academic record, last 60 (rounded up, could be 61, etc) and within major GPA (typically calculated focusing on junior and senior level classes that defined your major).

-If the schools are looking more at cumulative, then realize that they will calculate every credit (transferable and non-transferable) that you've ever attempted. Your cumulative, just by assumption and eyeballing it from the information you've provided, is most likely around a 2.7 (?). Some schools, mostly elite/ranked publics, will not consider a student if they do not meet the cut-off GPA. For many schools this is a 3.0. You should ask before you apply.

-Private schools, by and large, are usually more willing to consider students for admission based on an overall picture. They will consider outstanding candidates that had difficulty in their first few years, for instance.

-Be aware that funding will be VERY hard to come by. It's just the nature of the game. Funding is more academically weighted/merit based than admission. While an ad-com may want you they may not be willing to show it with money.

Just my thoughts based on my own academic (2.97!!!! SERIOUSLY!) and professional (as a recruiter/admissions staff employee at a major public) experiences.

I got into my first choice February 16th. Those of us with spotty undergrad records can still get in with great résumés, LORs, SOPs and GREs.