Now in grad school, applying for external fellowship (failed class last semester in undergrad)

Graduate School
1

<p>I am a 1st year PhD student planning on applying for an external fellowship. I graduated with a 3.8 (would be 3.9 if I had not failed a class my last semester) undergrad GPA.
I had straight A’s from Fall 2012-Fall 2013, but my last semester (spring 2014), I failed one class (the rest of the courses I took that semester were A’s). I know this will appear odd to most people seeing all these A’s and suddenly an F. I do have a reason for why I received this F, but it will probably only hurt me if I mention it. The reason is because the professor for the course I received the F in was cursing at me for 30minutes during finals week for no apparent reason and I retaliated. I ended up not turning in the final (I feel he would’ve been biased in grading me anyways). Anyways, this is certainly not something I want to mention. </p>

<p>Do you guys think this F could ruin my chances for obtaining an external fellowship? </p>

2

<p>By not turning in your final you guaranteed yourself an F. Not the most mature thing for you to do. The professor was totally justified in giving you a failing grade for the course. Write a good research proposal, submit it to the most appropriate funding source, and if the research proposed is innovative and scientifically meritorious the “F” will not matter</p>

3

<p>I was an NSF Fellow from 2010-2013. I failed social psychology in my junior year. I am a social psychologist. My undergrad GPA was also lower than yours (a lot lower - a 3.42).</p>

<p>I doubt that one F will ruin your chances for external fellowships. Your overall performance is more important, as are your plans for moving forward. I wouldn’t even address it (I did not).</p>