In which we realize that neither math nor history are our friends.

[eurydicebound]

Or my friend, anyway.



You see, a long time ago in a land far, far away, I went to college. Soon after arriving in college, I met a guy. I then proceeded to fall in love with that guy, prove unable to handle both school and guy with any degree of effectiveness, and weather through for... lord, five years without graduating. I lost scholarships and had grades that only a seismic sensor could love (4.0! F! W! 2.0! 3.5!). The last semester I was there I broke my ankle and was laid up for more than half the semester on really good drugs, during which no one told the university why the ex and I stopped showing up, and I was too busy trying to walk again afterwards to think to appeal. Stupid moment #947, I suppose.

Anyway, that all passed. I managed to keep my head just enough above water that I didn't actually flunk out. Instead, I came away with a buttload of hours and a 2.12 GPA. Yes, that's right, a 2.12. You can gasp appropriately now if you feel so moved. I'll wait.

So. Time passes, and in its fullness, I get my shit together and decide to try again. I go to UW and am met by a very nice woman in evening advising who does not laugh at me, but instead sends me over to BCC to there prove that I've got myself together enough to try UW. I go there for three semesters and indeed prove that, finishing 30 hours with a 3.83. This is enough to get me into UW with some minor finagling, and even gets me into the English department.

Last semester I got a 4.0 in both classes. I seem on track to do the same this time, depending on how these projects and my last final go (I'm not actually concerned). I don't expect that I will do that with every class I take, but it seems a decent assumption with most of them so far.



With me so far? Good.

Okay. Given the numbers above, I may indeed graduate with an awesome GPA from UW. My cumulative GPA, though, bites. In fact, if I make nothing but 4.0 for the entire 2009-2010 semester (two quarters longer than I absolutely need to graduate), then I will succeed in raising my GPA to only a 2.91 or so. If I ace a summer class or two, I could expect a 2.93. I'm not sure it's mathematically possible at this point to get to a 3.0 in anything like a reasonable time frame whatsoever.

Guess what the minimum GPA is for admission pretty much all the grad programs I'm looking at? You guessed it, a 3.0. It might -- might -- be that I could get through with good letters, an unparalleled writing sample and a kick-ass GRE score, but it'll be completely down to someone on an admissions board taking pity on me. UW apparently only requires a 3.0 in the last two years of coursework, which makes them unusual in that regard and means I'm not totally SOL... well, for a couple of programs, anyway.

On the one hand, better to know now. On the other... well, damn. I hate it when my past sins come back to bite me in the ass.

Comments

[mikigarrison.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, I've been on a few grad school admissions committees, and not one of them bothered to calculate a cumulative GPA across all of someone's schools. We glanced at your GPA from your most recent school, and then looked at specific grades in relevant classes, especially upper-level ones. I'm not saying it can't count against you, but you shouldn't pre-reject yourself from schools without giving them a chance.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

That's... surprisingly reassuring. Thank you.

[elissa-carey.livejournal.com]

I'll just stand over here and wave. :)

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

My dear, you are the wind beneath my 3.7692-semester/2.5319-overall wings!

[anaka.livejournal.com]

Hee. *hug*

[seankreynolds.livejournal.com]

A backwardsish story. I went to a community college for two years, then to UC Riverside. UCR transferred all my appropriate credits and basically eradicated my previous GPA; despite a near 4.0 in my old school, none of that mattered, and my new GPA was calculated based on all the high-end chemistry and math courses I was taking at UCR, not the first- and second-year courses (including all my juicy electives). Goodbye History of Literature in the Modern World, hello Nuclear Chemistry 401!

I think I'm trying to back up what Miki said, not sure I'm succeeding. :p

[exilesletter.livejournal.com]

Hi, I've admitted people to grad programs at UW. Given your most recent bout of grades, the large passage of time in between bad grades and awesome grades: You're going to be fine.

[herrw.livejournal.com]

I've never been to grad school, so I can't add anything here. I'll just stand off on the side, cheer, and lend moral support. Cheerleader outfit optional.

[greyjoy.livejournal.com]

I suspect you've little to worry about given the stellar grades you're pulling down now. And kudos to you on earning them!

[innocent-man.livejournal.com]

My GPA from my undergrad was barely a 3.0. I got into grad school not because I was an awesome student, but because I went to take some leveling courses (since my major wasn't speech), aced them, and got to know the profs, who then wrote my letters of recommendation.

Nice strategy if you can manage it. :)

[effrenatus.livejournal.com]

My GPA was also barely 3.0. As far as I know, it was never an issue since I was going to the same school for grad work. Schools can have a hard time telling people that the education they got at their institution isn't good enough to qualify for their institution.