Foreign Grades

Graduate School
1

<p>I posted this awhile back and didn't get very many responses. </p>

<p>I'm a undergrad studying abroad for a semester and taking language classes at a Chinese university. I signed up for classes above my Chinese skill level and, as a result, am getting the equivilant of B's and C's. They aren't listed on my home transcript, but I think I will still have to submit them to grad programs. My GPA in the US is a 3.97. </p>

<p>How will Polisci/International Relations grad programs (nothing to do with Chinese) look at this? Should I have a professor write up a letter explaining the situation?</p>

2

<p>You generally don't have to submit study abroad grades unless they account for a year's worth of study. That's the case for most IR programs, at least.</p>

<p>That said, I don't think the poor grades will hurt you. Not only because your GPA is strong, but because a few bad grades won't make or break an application. And: you can always write a letter explaining your situation, but I've found that it's better to stress your strengths than try to account for your weaknesses.</p>