How will my withdrawals affect my graduate admission chances?

Applying to College
1

Hello everyone,

Before I get into this, I want to state that I know this type of question has been asked here before, but I also know each case is different. I would like to state mine and get opinions on the matter.

I am an undergraduate student who majored in Computer Science and got a minor in Bioengineering. Throughout the first couple years of my associate’s degree, I had to take 8 withdrawls, and all of my withdrawals came semester after semester. The reason for my withdrawals were because of family issues like my mother tearing her ACL and also requiring a full hip replacement, my father having a heart attack, my grandfather having sugar level issues (he is diabetic), my fiancé having a tumor, and more. I had a lot of issues in my personal life take place that required a lot of my attention, and when everything seemed fixed, something else would pop up almost immediately. This caused several withdrawls and bad grades, and they were almost every sememster. During the last few years when completing my Bachelor’s, I had zero withdrawals or failures, I pulled a 3.73 major GPA and 3.82 overall in the end, got about a year of research experience, and I received some outstanding recommendations. As you can see, I turned it around greatly. I am looking to get into Cornell University for their Biomedical Engineering Phd program; that is my number one choice. I am also looking at UPenn, Georgia Tech, Penn State, Duke, Boston, and Virginia Tech for their PhD programs in Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering. My question to everyone here is this: based on the information I have provided, do you think my withdrawals will affect my chances to get into these schools?

I thank you for all of the responses in advance!

2

None of us know the admissions processes at those departments well enough, or your specific record well enough, to be able to calm your worries. But I am pretty sure you already knew that! So here is my auntie-level advice for you: have a chat with your academic advisor, and the folks who are writing your LORs. Ask them about your application list. What have they observed about applicants from your undergraduate progrem vis a vis admission in these departments? Do they have any pals in those departments who they have already called about you? What other programs do they think are worth adding to your application list? If you don’t get admitted in this round, what do they recommend you do in order to improve your application when you try again a year or two from now?

I know the wait is nerve-wracking. Do your best to eat well, sleep well, get some exercise, and find healthy distractions while you wait. Sending all good thoughts your way!