Examining GPA for Admissions

Graduate School
1

<p>How do Universities examine the GPA of students for entry into their graduate program? I had always figured it was the cumulative GPA, however after reviewing WashU’s website, along with some others, it appears that they keep focus on the courses in which that student is pursuing a graduate degree.</p>

<p>Example:</p>

<p>B.A. in History. 3.1 cumulative GPA, 3.9 in History courses.</p>

<p>then</p>

<p>B.A. in History. 3.6 cumulative GPA, 3.4 in History courses.</p>

<p>Which student would be accepted into the school’s History department as a Ph.D student?</p>

2

<p>They do focus on relevant classes in that way, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the second student wouldn’t get in.</p>

3

<p>I’m betting they would accept the first student before accepting the second. In grad school, you’re expected to get As in grad-level work in your field. If you can’t maintain a B+/A- (3.5) average in undergrad work, how will you do it at the grad level? (Unless you’ve been out of school a few years and gotten a work ethic, quit your drug habit, found Jesus, etc. - explain it in the SOP.)</p>

<p>Why would the History department choose a student who was worse at History over a student who was better at it? I can imagine a few scenarios, but doing better in gen-ed courses isn’t one of them.</p>

4

<p>If your cumulative GPA is over 3.0, thus meeting basic admission standards for the administrators in the Graduate School offices, your GPA in your major will then be of most importance to the departmental admission committee.</p>

<p>That’s how it works.</p>

<p>Of course, in the scenarios given above, it is impossible to determine admission because GPA is only one of many factors used at the departmental level.</p>