7 F's on my undergrad transcripts

Graduate School
1

I know the title sounds deadly to anybody trying to get into a respectable grad school program, but hear me out!

I’m about a year away from graduating with a BBA in Finance but I had a few extenuating circumstances which lead to failing about 7 classes in my freshman and sophomore years. Life, marriage, 2 deaths of close relatives, children and my health. These circumstances prevented me from putting my full effort in class and I even had to stop going to some of them. I could not drop the classes because doing so would negatively affect my GI Bill benefits, and my finances. So I had a choice. Drop the class and protect my transcript or take the F and put food on the table. Luckily, my university allows me to retake the classes and get a new grade, which were A’s and B’s. So my GPA is good to go! None of these classes were in my upper division or in my concentration. The VA also allows me to retake the class if I received a failing grade, but if I drop the class I would have to repay them every dime out of my housing allowance, which is a lot of money. When I graduate I will have exceeded the requisite minimum GPA and I’m not very worried about my GMAT score, because I need about a 540 with a 3.0 GPA (overall and last 60). My question is will the admissions committee give me the ax for these F’s on my transcript, despite retaking the class and getting A’s and B’s? Or will they see it as potential positive for picking myself up and coming back stronger. Thank you!

2

There is no way for any of us to answer that question. Work with your advisors at your current university, and get help selecting the best grad program. The faculty in your department have friends/former colleagues/old students/old professors/you-name-it at any number of different institutions, and should have a good sense of whether or not you will be admitted at various places. They also can write effective letters of recommendation for you, and can advise you on the best way to present your situation in your applications.

Wishing you all the best!

3

^What happymomof1 said. It’s going to vary from program to program. The only thing you can do is apply. You might want to get a recommender familiar with your struggles to address it in their letter, and/or write a supplemental application for grad programs that allow it about your grade struggles if they are concentrated to a specific period in time. Otherwise, just try and see what happens.