I currently am an undergraduate student with a Major in Communications. I have 60 credits and 2.47 GPA (after the current semester), I hope I can raise my GPA but I don’t think I will reach 3.0. How many chances do I have in getting admitted into a Graduate School? I really want to (and have to considering the major I’m taking) go to a Grad School in Florida with a Master’s of Marketing. Do I have chances? I’m studying in an American University in Italy, in fact I would be considered as International student when I will move to Florida. I had the chance to “chat” with someone working in the Admissions department of Masters programs and they told me to send an email and ask more information about my situation. Are Universities, generally talking, more lean on International students? I think it’s really really stupid that an individual cannot get into a Grad School (which is normal nowadays) because of a stupid score. I have 2.47 GPA, 60 credits done with this semester. Should I perhaps retake some classes right before graduation (end 2017) in order to improve my score?
Will the University in general allow me to retake some course to improve my grade?
Thank you for the response. Would you please elaborate the answer a little better than just a plain no? What are the reason of a big direct no? Let me know!
Many grad programs like to see a minimum of a 3.0 GPA for consideration (varies a bit according to major). If your GPA within your major is somewhat higher than your overall GPA, that might help a bit. A very high GRE score might also help a little. But GPA tends to be the thing that people look at first.
Is your university known for grade deflation?
Another option is to take courses for graduate credit as a non-degree student. If you prove that you can do well on that basis over a semester or two, you may have a better chance at gaining admission to a MA program as a full time student. Depending on the program, non-degree graduate credits might then roll over into your grad program.
Most graduate schools want 3.5+ as a minimum. Are you enrolled in an American school in the US? If not, what’s your actual grading scale? Because 2.47 is too low for anything in the US (you need 3.0 for internships, for instance) and makes graduate school totally impossible.
Also, 60 credits = 2 years, so you’re a sophomore. You need to take 60+ more credits before you can apply to grad school.
For marketing, you want to make sure you have a strong statistics background.
Next semester I will dedicate on retaking classes in order to improve my GPA. Hopefully around 2.80. However, as a Communications major I don’t have any statistics background. I’d like to work in the Digital Marketing field. Perhaps, Marketing itself is not the right choice for me. I’m studying in an American Uni but not in US. There are many US universities (accredited regionally) that are in Europe.
Grad school is not an entitlement. It’s something you earn. Grad school isn’t just about learning. It’s about using what you already know in order to expand knowledge. It’s designed for top students. If your grad GPA falls below 3.5 you’re kicked out, which means youR undergraduate GPA should be very high to start with. Grad school is pretty hardcore. It’s like mma training for the brain.
And grad school isn’t generalist, like UG. You don’t just open a catalog and say, ‘Hmm what do I want to learn next? Hmm, marketing sounds interesting.’ For that, you can go take more UG classes or something at a cc. You’re supposed to have the prep to hit the ground running, the ideas about your focus. If you have a 2.47 gpa, they may very well feel this is just a side thing to you, not a plan. What experience do you offer, what record?
There are some ways around your dilemma. You need grades and recommendations.
a) really stellar grades in your junior and senior years. That will get you above the 3.0 threshold and show that you have changed. That means total commitment on your part (you will need this in grad school too!). An intensely committed student is far more likely to receive those great recommendations that you will need. You should also get involved in research in a field related to your grad school interest.
b) repeat classes to erase your worst marks. This depends on your university policy.
c) take a few years off, work for awhile, then take a few classes and get "A"s in all of them. In most cases the college will look at your most recent experience and have a high confidence level that you have changed. You will also need exceptionally high GRE/GMAT scores for this to work. This is more likely to work in areas that value experience, like an MBA program.
d) The GRE is like the SAT/ACT for grad school and is weighted a lot more than it used to be because of college grade inflation.
What are the reason of a big direct no? Let me know!