So after seven and a half years, three at the technical college, and four and a half at university, I finally received my BS in Mathematics with collaterals in History and Biology. Now, I’m facing a new challenge.
It has not been easy to go about grad school but as a Math major that is my best route. I transferred a 4.0 from tech to university and took a couple of transient courses at tech which gave me one B. At university, my GPA ends up being a 3.85.
Now my Honors GPA was a 3.86. That is because all attempts are calculated along with transferred credits. Meaning one higher grade does not replace the other in the same course if retaken. I have only retaken two completed classes, but one was transferred, so only one factored at uni. If I do not include the retake, my GPA drops to a 3.76-78.
My undergraduate GPA is 3.907, which a 3.9 is the cutoff for summa cum laude. So as you can imagine, I was very disappointed but I knew before but not before I made a big mistake.
Going into spring 2023, which was supposed to be my final semester, my GPA was a 3.92. What I happened? I took 15 credits, including three Math classes, one a CS class, and a History class. Those three Math classes were 400 level, including Real Analysis, Capstone, and a one to one project class. I got a C+ in RA. But what bit me was Python. It was a 200 level introductory to Python class. Why did I struggle in this class? I had too much going on. Also this class had more due dates than the 400s. I was writing about two History papers and a few written take home exams for the History class. It was a challenge understanding Real A proofs. I also busted my butt compiling a research paper on energy consumption for the one to one class. Writing papers are time consuming because of the citing of sources and works cited, which is more time consuming than actually writing a paper. I was a strong writer and knew how to use proper tone and all.
And then Capstone obviously was important. There were four presentations, two part exit exams, and GRE take home. I did not do well on the GRE, and passed on the opportunity to improve it with a busy schedule.
The Python class I struggled on the exams from the start. The first was the easiest, but not to me. I must have studied the wrong way. The lowest grade was replaced with the exam grade if higher. I ran out of time on the midterm. On top of this, I was tasked with a project in this class when I already had two others. When the deadline to drop approached, I decided to keep the class hoping I could still get a B but I knew I was in over my head. I failed the final, got a C on the project, and ended the class passing with a D+. I got an A in capstone, History(German History), and the project class. I had to cancel my graduation just to retake Python, which was an easy A. It can be argued that it was rehashed material, but it was actually presented much better. I was better able to grasp what was going on. We had practice exams as well. And we could decide on either the project or exam. I could have done either and wanted project but home challenges forced me to do exam. The professor the first time around was not one of the main Python ones. The professor of Capstone was also the professor of Python second go round. Because that prof was doing Capstone, the third wheel ended up doing it because the other main one had just done it.
I have extracurriculars to back this up. In the last two years I was a tutor working in the tutoring center. I tutored Math and other classes I had experience with. For a year and half twice a week I was a English 101 UTA for the E part of the class.
We played Math Jeopardy for the Math Club against another college.
I was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, was in the Honors program, which I fell short of graduating such Honors because of my Math major, and served almost two years as a SGA senator.
The biggest accomplishment was winning the President’s Bowl. I was not the best player, but I was the captain and sought out the best. I played in the academic quiz bowl for four years. The first year I played with more social students, and that wasn’t good. The next three years I captained the Honors program compiling a team that was virtually top two every year with semi finals, quarterfinals, and championship results in that order. I recruited three non-Honors members in the last one but only one non Honors contributed heavily to us winning. One never showed. This one guy though was so good that he played with his gaming club this year(I was already graduated) and got to the finals again but he lost. He was not the best player in either finals due to more general area questions. The first three rounds are heavily history and political science.
So as you can see I have accomplishments and activities to add to my academic record.
But I believe I am a upper echelon student and am looking to find a grad school that specifically wants me. My non As are in Math and Bio. But I only have two Math Bs, a Bio B, and first attempt B and D+. I withdrew several classes along the way but only two major ones were not due to time constraints.
My main concerns are the withdrawals and the grade drop down the stretch which may say I’m not as strong of a student I claim, but I am. I excelled in arts classes, Honors classes, essay writing, humanities. I was well rounded.
I am eyeing Davidson University because of its low selection rate of under 20 percent. I would like to know similar universities.
I am not into the DEI thing, which is one of the issues factoring me looking into private and selective universities. They say graduate school is more selective yet I always hear of average or slightly above average students going to grad school. What grad schools are these students going to? Thats what I want to avoid. I want to go to a Math grad program worthy of respect and integrity. I am 42 and face many challenges.
No application fees would also help and maybe not requiring a GRE score.