what can you do to fix your undergraduate grades?

[Dear Summer]

From my undergrad, my grades were not so good. Graduated with a GPA right around 3.0 (that may sound decent, but when you actually look at my transcript, it's horrible).
I am not making any excuses, but I did not put effort into studying. If I knew what I wanted to do as a freshman and stayed on course, my transcript would be a lot cleaner.

To make a long story short, this haunts me in every path I wish to take. I am grateful to be employed but I have no chance to attend any graduate/professional programs that is worth my time and money. Those happen to be tier 1/top schools. It's pointless to attend a grad program that provide no extra career opportunities. Also, this affects future employment because some ask for transcript. I know I messed up undergrad, but I just want to fix it.

 

[gorcorps]

Only way to fix it would have been to retake the classes before getting your degree.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
Only way to fix it would have been to retake the classes before getting your degree.

Even then, they would just average the grades together, no?

 

[Dear Summer]

is there anything I can do now? you know, to put less relevance on my undergraduate grades for application on top grad/professional schools?

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: her209
Even then, they would just average the grades together, no?

Retaking the exact same course, only the new grade would count in your GPA. But the F would still be on your transcript.

 

[Dear Summer]

Originally posted by: Jumpem

Originally posted by: her209
Even then, they would just average the grades together, no?

Retaking the exact same course, only the new grade would count in your GPA. But the F would still be on your transcript.

not at all universities. Ours were averaged

 

[speg]

Don't worry about it.

 

[Farang]

Realize that after four years of mediocrity you aren't cut out to attend a top tier school. Not that you aren't capable, you may very well just be lazy, but the competition is so high that there is no room for do overs. They aready deny enough overachievers who did right the first time.

 

[xSauronx]

bribe a few people?

 

[Bill Brasky]

Originally posted by: Dear Summer
is there anything I can do now? you know, to put less relevance on my undergraduate grades for application on top grad/professional schools?

You absolutely can. The big three: GPA, test scores, and rec. letters. In general, if only one area is lacking you won't be tossed out immediately (assuming you at least meet their gpa minimum).

GPA is the hardest to overcome, but darn good standardized test scores will significantly increase your chances. You'll have to study your balls off.

What programs are you interested in?

 

[rocadelpunk]

did you show progress?

Did you royally screw up your freshman year, but than straightened yourself out? I mean if it's your senior year and you're still failing courses/getting C's...then yeah you don't deserve tier1. However, just because you were adjusting during freshman year doesn't mean you won't get into a tier 1. If you didn't buddy up with some professors/do some research so you can get kickass letters of rec - then you're probably out of luck.

Anyway, what area of study are you that requires a tier 1 to make it worth your while? Also, what undergrad did you go to anyways?

a 3.0 at stanford is a lot better than some random podunk school.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: Dear Summer
From my undergrad, my grades were not so good. Graduated with a GPA right around 3.0 (that may sound decent, but when you actually look at my transcript, it's horrible).
I am not making any excuses, but I did not put effort into studying. If I knew what I wanted to do as a freshman and stayed on course, my transcript would be a lot cleaner.

To make a long story short, this haunts me in every path I wish to take. I am grateful to be employed but I have no chance to attend any graduate/professional programs that is worth my time and money. Those happen to be tier 1/top schools. It's pointless to attend a grad program that provide no extra career opportunities. Also, this affects future employment because some ask for transcript. I know I messed up undergrad, but I just want to fix it.

Taking more courses is the best you can do. I flunked my freshman year with around a 1.0 gpa. I've been able to get it up to 3.1 by taking as many classes as I can+summer+winter every year. I'm aiming for 3.3-3.4 next year when I graduate.

Perhaps you want to look into postbach or a second major. Two years of your time is worth it if your goal is to attend a top tier graduate school.

Another thing you can do is apply to a graduate school you can get into, then after you earn your masters, apply to a top tier program for the same degree.

 

[Babbles]

How long ago did you graduate? Regardless you can take some courses here and there to be able to show an admission committee that while you did screw up your undergrad GPA you have since became a better student exemplified by taking classes.

I have a pretty shitty undergrad GPA when I graduated in 2000. About a year after I graduated I took a couple of classes and aced them so I have been able to demonstrate that while working full-time post-graduation I was able to take a few college courses demonstrating that I have the ability. Granted it has been nine years since I graduated, but I got into a fairly decent MBA program and was given a scholarship with a real shitty GPA - it's not a top 20 program, but it is a respectable top tier school and I would still consider it a strong program.

Regardless of what program you are applying to, you have to be able to shore up weaknesses prior to applying for graduate school. Highlight work experiences, extracurricular, and/or standardized testing.

 

[ScottMac]

Don't sweat it, after your first job, nobody cares.

 

[slayer202]

pretty simple answer. Get high test scores, gonna have to be very high if you want top tier. second, have very good working experience.

you're pretty much screwed though. do you really expect to go from a 3.0 in not-top-tier college to a top grad school? come on now...

 

[Babbles]

Originally posted by: ScottMac
Don't sweat it, after your first job, nobody cares.

Not true at all if he wants to get into a top tier school.

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: Babbles

Originally posted by: ScottMac
Don't sweat it, after your first job, nobody cares.

Not true at all if he wants to get into a top tier school.

Well, sucks to be him then.

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: slayer202
pretty simple answer. Get high test scores, gonna have to be very high if you want top tier. second, have very good working experience.

you're pretty much screwed though. do you really expect to go from a 3.0 in not-top-tier college to a top grad school? come on now...

I hate to say it, but slayer202 is absolutely correct.

When it comes to grad schools, they generally have four items on which to judge you: grades, test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation. So, if you don't have very good grades, you need to excel in the other three if you want to attend a top tier graduate program.

 

[imported_Imp]

The grad schools I've looked at usually only look at your final two years-ish average. I bombed my first year, and got put on probabtion. Kicked moderate ass in the last 3 years though.

One of the professors said that he looked at what you did outside school more than grades when selecting grad students. He'd prefer a B student with good extra-curriculars, experience over an A+ with nothing; this is generally true for lots of things.

 

[Babbles]

Originally posted by: Imp
The grad schools I've looked at usually only look at your final two years-ish average. I bombed my first year, and got put on probabtion. Kicked moderate ass in the last 3 years though.

One of the professors said that he looked at what you did outside school more than grades when selecting grad students. He'd prefer a B student with good extra-curriculars, experience over an A+ with nothing; this is generally true for lots of things.

In my interview process with various business schools I would have to say this is absolutely true. I think schools do want a well-rounded student that has a life and ability to do activities outside of the classroom.

However what does come into play is that a program, more than likely, wants to make sure you can academically handle the work-load. And, like it or not, that is where your GPA will typically provide some information. If you have killer extracurricular activities but you barely passed your classes than you really are not a well-rounded student and would probably not fair well in graduate school.

 

[allisolm]

We just had a college student here who managed to fix his grades - along with those of about 90 other students. He was just sentenced to 22 months in prison. Probably not the best solution for you.

 

[Ichigo]

Originally posted by: allisolm
We just had a college student here who managed to fix his grades - along with those of about 90 other students. He was just sentenced to 22 months in prison. Probably not the best solution for you.

What part of that post was necessary at all?

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: Ichigo

Originally posted by: allisolm
We just had a college student here who managed to fix his grades - along with those of about 90 other students. He was just sentenced to 22 months in prison. Probably not the best solution for you.

What part of that post was necessary at all?

Lighten up.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

GPA isn't the end to all means on your application. I'm a 3.0 student myself, but I don't go around making excuses when I could bitch about how challenging my major is. For the most part, I get the grades I deserve. But I damn well try and make up for my lack of excellence academically by doing other things outside of school work.

My German professor was telling me how he knew a couple, both applying to law school. The girl had perfect grades and pre-req's for law, while the guy was a B student and an art major. While she had nothing else to show for herself, the other guy traveled to South America for a year, and even picked up a job teaching English to children after he graduated. They both applied to Georgetown Law and guess what, he got in, she didn't.

Cliff's: You have a shot.

 

[sindows]

Originally posted by: Farang
Realize that after four years of mediocrity you aren't cut out to attend a top tier school. Not that you aren't capable, you may very well just be lazy, but the competition is so high that there is no room for do overs. They already deny enough overachievers who did right the first time.

QFT

I hate to sound pessimistic but there are just too many people who are at the top of their game from day 1. For someone to have been mediocre and then decide they want to be the best, that person needs to prove themselves a million times over.