Top Grad Program with Sucky GPA?

apumic
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:00:41 +0000

If you manage close to straight-As (i.e., a 3.7+) your last 2 years, you should stand a chance at middle-tier programs, as many view the last 2 yrs as the strongest indicators of future success. Otherwise, work experience may help you but with so many stronger applicants competing for your spot at a “top” program, you wouldn’t stand much of a chance with a 3.0 unless you had some phenomenal credentials elsewhere in your application (i.e., years of research, multiple publications and national conference presentations, unbelievably good LORs that were able to “explain away” your low GPA, sky-high GRE scores, etc.)…otherwise, it’s unlikely your application would make it past the graduate secretary’s desk before a student worker was asked to shred your application packet (just after cashing your application fee)!