Admission with "bad" transcripts - Political Science

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello everyone. I am currently a senior at Northern Illinois University (as well as a non-traditional student, over 35 years old) finishing up my last semester. At this institution, I will complete 42 credit hours, more than likely finishing with a 4.0. I transferred in 48 credit hours with a 3.78 GPA from a PAC 12 institution (where I attended 2002-2005) as well as 51 credits from a community college when I lived in Florida. With these three institutions combined, I will have a 3.66 GPA. My community college work (which was done in the 90s), brings my GPA down a little, but the work I have done at universities combine for a 3.88 GPA.</p>

<p>That is just some background to the real problem I have. When I applied to go to NIU, I didn't submit ALL of my transcripts. The reason for this is because I had attended four institutions where I left halfway through the semester without withdrawing (which was my stupid fault). At three of the institutions I thought I had withdrawn (mostly because of work and family stress), whereas one institution stiffed me with a bill so I was forced to take financial aid, even though I was not intending on attending that school (yes, an odd situation).</p>

<p>Anyway, if these institutions are factored into my GPA (where I had 9 "Fs"), I only have a GPA of 3.04. Granted, I personally think it is pretty darn impressive to have a 3.0 with that many "Fs" factored into the equation, but graduate programs won't think so. All of this together brings me to my dilemma.</p>

<p>I was planning on going to my PAC 12 school to finish my BA degree originally, but they requested that I submit all my transcripts. While my GPA was fine for readmission, I still owed some of these institutions money, which I didn't expect. I didn't put these institutions on my application, but the PAC 12 school used something called the National Student Clearinghouse to determine what past institutions I attended. Yet, on the other hand, when I applied to NIU using the same transcripts that I used for readmission to the PAC 12 school, they did not pick up on the other institutions and I easily was admitted.</p>

<p>As far as everything else, I haven't taken the GRE yet, so you don't have to ask. I want to wait until I am completely finished with my degree so I can study it. I know how to write and have strong writing and research samples. I have a somewhat strong political science resume. Overall, I know that I have the ability to go to a top school, even though right now I am just looking at some schools that might not be "top notch", like Purdue, Alabama, Arizona State, Utah or University of Illinois-Chicago. Still, I would like to aim higher if I could.</p>

<p>So, what do I do? I know this is a unique situation. Do I risk sending all of my transcripts which will factor into being a low GPA, but will be a total assessment of my collegiate work, and write an addendum to the application explaining the situation. Or, do I risk not sending any of these transcripts and try getting into an university with the 3.66 GPA that I have with the transferred institutions where I received my degree? None of the "bad" transcripts appear on my PAC 12, NIU or Florida CC transcripts, so the only way an university would know I attended these other schools is by specifically going through the National Student Clearninghouse.</p>

<p>I truly know that I can handle graduate-level work, which is why I feel that the 3.06 GPA isn't a true indicator of my intellectual capacity regarding the subject of political science. But, will that even matter if I send all the transcripts? Will they just blow off my explanation? </p>

<p>Sorry this is so long, but I am really stuck and trying to figure this out! Thanks for any possible answers!</p>

2

<p>Submit all your transcripts and just explain the situation and how you have made up with it through your solid grades now! Honesty will save you, not dishonesty. They will find out you haven’t submitted everything, so might as well give yourself a chance by submitting everything. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>I can’t say specifically whether or not they’d blow you off if you included them or be upset that you lied by omission in not providing the transcripts, but I can give you some advice my professor gave me about applying to graduate school.</p>

<p>He said the thing most programs would be looking at is your GRE scores and your GPA for your last 60 credit hours as a measure of your performance and ability to handle graduate level coursework and research. </p>

<p>I’m not sure about your situation but I would caution you on waiting until after you graduate to take the GRE and apply to graduate schools because they’ll be wondering what you did for a year between graduation and starting graduate school and if you didn’t do something substantial to increase your experience or resume like an internship, that might be looked down upon.</p>

4

<p>I’m going through the grad school application process right now and I have a story slightly similar to yours. I’m a non-traditional student with a semester of F’s and an academic dismissal on a transcript. I included that transcript and mentioned dropping out as part of my personal statement. In general I’ve been informed that they don’t really care about that since I’ve since made it up with a strong performance at my current institution and have solid LORs and research experience. I’d say include them and explain your situation, and you shouldn’t have much trouble, especially if your last 2 years look as solid as you explained here.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the answers so far. As far as waiting a year, that is mostly because I have missed most of the deadlines for Fall 2013 and haven’t done the GRE yet. Otherwise, I would have applied already to most of the schools. And since most political science programs only have fall admission, then I have to wait.</p>

6

<p>Send all your transcripts. Be honest. Besides, they <em>will</em> run you through the National Student Clearinghouse and find out.</p>

<p>If you aren’t honest about your academic history, you run the risk of being expelled from the program later and even having your degree retroactively cancelled. Honesty is a key part of academia.</p>

<p>I, too, have a number of Fs on my transcript and a cumulative GPA of about 3.08. But I showed a clear trend of improvement in my senior year, have extensive work experience and had a clearly-defined goal for graduate education. I was accepted at 7 of the 8 institutions I applied to, and ended up enrolling at Indiana University.</p>

<p>

No. No. No. 100% wrong. Sorry to be so blunt and harsh but I want to nip this idea in the bud. Many, many, many people return to graduate school years after they finish their bachelor’s degree. Graduate admissions committees do not care.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the response. Actually, once I am done with my MA, Indiana is one of the ones that is top on my list for my PhD.</p>