dramatic grade improvement- should I mention it?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I'm in the (very tedious) process of applying to Sciences Po (Paris) and University of Bath (UK). I was looking through my transcript today and it's very obvious that my grades from the last three semesters are much better than those from the first four. Here's the deal:</p>

<p>Although I'm a native Spanish speaker, I had always gone to school either in the United States or at American Schools up until age 18 when I started attending a Spanish university because my family was going through a hard financial situation and could not afford to pay for an American college. </p>

<p>Although I graduated at the top of my class in high school, I had a hard time getting the hang of the Spanish "system" of education (it's nothing like the British/American ones---everything revolves around taking notes really fast and there isn't much reading or writing). I also had some trouble with basic Spanish grammar since I had never been schooled in Spanish. My grades those first two years of college were "good" but nothing too out of the ordinary...Around a 7.5/10 (something like a 'B' in the States). </p>

<p>Anyway, I gradually got used to how things worked and by the third year, I was getting mostly high 8s and 9s. This last semester my average was well above a 9 and I even achieved three perfect 10s. </p>

<p>Even though I should be happy about this, I'm afraid my transcript may seem "suspicious" or incoherent to an admissions committee that's not familiar with my situation... I don't know, I keep wondering whether they're going to think that my grades went up because the French university where I studied abroad during my Junior year was easy (it isn´t) or that I decided to get my act together at the very last minute to get into graduate school.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I don't want to seem like I'm making excuses for myself or "apologizing" for what really are two first years of pretty decent grades (and making them look worse than they actually are or something). </p>

<p>So, the question: </p>

<p>Would you bring it up? And if so, how and where (personal statement, side notes...)?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Mention it briefly in your personal statement - a line or two stating that you had some difficulty at first adapting to the different system but found your feet and ran your last two years. Then move on. They care much more about who you are NOW, and whether your research experience, preparation, and interests match with what they need.</p>