A failed course

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi,
I have the following problem: In one university that I want to apply to it says on the application that I need to explain courses on which I have received a failing grade. Now in my undergraduate degree grade transcript I have one course that I have failed, but it is an extra course (that is, it does not count as a part of the degree, in essence, it just appears on the transcript as an additional course that I have taken and failed).
I don't know if I need to refer to that course... The thing is that this is a choice course that I have taken, and because I failed it I replaced it with another choice course...It is not a part of the degree and it is not included in the GPA.
Can anybody please help me with some advise? I am afraid that referring to this course might just bring unnecessary attention to it, as it is not even really a part of my studies towards my undergraduate degree...it just happens to appear on the transcript...</p>

<p>Thanks a lot!</p>

2

<p>They asked for an explanation of any course you failed, not core courses you failed, not GPA courses you failed. Any course you failed.</p>

<p>If it appears on your transcript and shows that you took the course and failed, you must explain it. Period. No question.</p>

3

<p>Is this a question about applying to graduate school? Or are you transferring?</p>

4

<p>Grad school.</p>

5

<p>And the thing is that it specifically says on the transcript that it is an ‘extra’ course…</p>

6

<p>I’m with Chedva. If it’s on your transcript and you don’t explain it, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage.</p>

7

<p>See there are two things: The first is that it simply is a difficult course and that’s why I failed it, so I have no good excuse- just didn’t pass the exam.
The second thing is that I am doing a master in a different field, and I also want to apply to grad school at that different field, so I am not sure whether they are going to be so interested in my undergraduate degree anyway. That is why I was afraid that mentioning it specifically might actually be worse…</p>

8

<p>I’ve moved this thread into the Graduate School forum.</p>

<p>Kamila, report everything as requested. If you don’t explain, all they will see is the grade. (You cannot alter transcripts to suit your needs.)</p>

<p>If you don’t follow all the requirements of the application, you’ll be rejected anyway. You have nothing to lose.</p>

9

<p>There’s no gray area here. It doesn’t matter if it is marked as an “extra” course. Just explain it the best you can - honestly and briefly - and move on. Don’t spin it or anything like that. If you don’t explain it, they will wonder why. Then they will imagine why. You don’t really want the committee to think you plagiarized or didn’t show up to class, do you?</p>

<p>“It was a very difficult course, and I struggled with it more than I anticipated, despite my best effort. The course helped me realize this was not an academic area I wanted to pursue.”</p>