<p>This year I transfered to University of Michigan, between the culture shock of university after community college and my mother being diagnosed with an incurable bone cancer my GPA suffered some. I've always been a 4.0 student, but this year I walked away with an overall 3.2. I have every reason to believe I'll get between 3.7-4.0 on almost all classes from here on out, but I'm still a bit worried. My UofM GPA can never get above about 3.7 no matter what I do, and any A-'s or B+'s and it won't even get there (I'll be in the top 25% almost certainly, but probably not the top 10%).</p>
<p>Will my 4.0 from community college even be looked at when figuring my overall GPA during the application process? Will the caliber of school I attended help at all (in humanities fields)? Will the transfer and my mother's illness be taken into account if grades are stellar from here on out? Or do I need to start thinking of some plan of action to compensate for this (and if so what kind of things might help)?</p>
<p>Sorry about your mother. But no, your CC GPA doesn't usually factor into the equation for grad admissions.</p>
<p>Graduate schools only care about your GPA in your field, and any related fields. Focusing on getting the best possible grades you can in your field and getting to know your professors. That is much more important than your class ranking. They'll also understand that your first semester at a university usually is not your best.</p>
<p>Your CC transcript WILL be sent to your grad schools, so it will count, though courses in the relevant field count the most</p>
<p>I would encourage you to get involved in ECs in your major- research or whatever is relevant. If your GPA is 3.5 or 3.74 or 4.0, they are all good, you also have a GRE or other grad school test and most importantly what you have DONE on campus and in life to show why you are a good candidate</p>
<p>Your CC transcript will be sent to the grad programs to which you apply. Your GPA at UMich will be much more significant to the admission committees, however. Admission committees will not care about personal issues, really. </p>
<p>With that said, a 3.5 (or above) is nothing to apologize for. Ace the GREs, write great research papers, get to know your professors, and you should be fine.</p>
<p>Michigan is a very challenging school, many people underestimate the grade deflation. Just do your best and that's all that can be asked of you.</p>