<p>I'm just applying for my Master's in International Affairs in Europe ( Sciences Po, HEI Geneva, DA Vienna etc) and I was just wondering if I should include a GPA cover note...</p>
<p>1) I double majored in Finance and Accounting at NYU and graduated with an overall GPA of 3.31 which on my CV I round to 3.4.</p>
<p>I did my first 2 years of NYU in a liberal studies programme though and transferred to business school later, my 2 years of liberal studies GPA is probably around 3.8 - much higher, and perhaps more relevant to an international affairs degree.</p>
<p>Now because I double majored and in effect had lots of "extra" classes, mo overall GPA on my transcript does not include several liberal studies classes, in which I had A or A-grades. These are clearly indicated on the transcript with a "not included in GPA" beside them.</p>
<p>I was wondering if I should re-compute my GPA including these grades on a GPA cover note and explain that these ones werent included, but if I do include these courses my cumulative GPA is 3.6ish and these courses are more relevant?</p>
<p>Now I was wondering if this is a god idea or of this only draws attention to a not so high GPA of 3.31?</p>
<p>I'm getting great references, and my letter of motivation is pretty strong I think, my work experience is not too IR relevant but all blu-chip, big name stuff and I speak 4 languages, extensively travelled etc. </p>
<p>So should I draw attention to the GPA or just have it in as it is? and hope they notice that several classes on my transcript with A grades are not included on my GPA..</p>
<p>I would never round your GPA if I were you. The only number that should be rounded is the 1/100 decimal… So a 3.31 does not equal a 3.40 in any way, shape, or form, but a 3.598 can be rounded to a 3.60. I would also list my GPA as calculated by my institution. The program you’re applying to will recalculate your GPA if it is a concern to them. HOWEVER I would note the differences between your cumulative GPA (all your classes) verses the GPA from your major or majors (since you double majored).</p>
<p>My school only reports the first decimal place, and a 3.31 here would be reported as a 3.3. Do not round it to a 3.4 as this will seem either like you’re being dishonest or that you don’t know how to round.</p>
<p>I also agree that you should make a note of the GPA of all your classes. I’ve never heard of classes taken for a grade not being included in GPA before. Where I am, only P/F classes don’t count.</p>
<p>I’m confused. NYU’s website clearly states that coursework in Liberal Studies is includes on your transcript and gpa calc. What are we missing? Did you take non-college-level courses thru Liberal Studies for refreshers?</p>
<p>1) You definitely should not round to a 3.4. A 3.31 doesn’t even round to a 3.4. Just put 3.31. If they ask you for one decimal place, you have a 3.3.</p>
<p>2) I’m also not sure why undergraduate level classes at the same institution wouldn’t count in your GPA, even if you transferred from the arts & sciences to Stern. But even if that’s the case, admissions committees don’t look blindly at your GPA. They review your transcript carefully and look at when and where you got the As and the Bs. A review of your transcript will reveal lots of As in those relevant courses, so I wouldn’t worry about this. I certainly wouldn’t include an explanation for a 3.31. IMO that kind of thing should be reserved for a sub-3.0 GPA.</p>
<p>The only reason i thought “rounding” to 3.4 was okay was because so many of my A grade classes frommy freshman and sophomore year are not in official GPA, but point noted, will stick to 3.31</p>
<p>I don’t know why it is - but I was GSP first, and then transferred to Stern and double majored so many of my classes on my transcript say " not included in GPA" or “not applicable to degree programme”, I graduated in 2003 though, so maybe they’ve stopped doing that - to be honest I was kinda perplexed as well when I revisited my transcript after all these years!</p>
<p>Its just that whilst i’m sure admission committees in the US are more aware of the possible vagaries/flex with the GPA, i’m afraid european schools might look at it at as an absolute result without studying the fine print,but on the other hand i’m hoping they give a 3.3 from NYU Stern more weight than a 3.5+ from a lesser known school!:)</p>
<p>Thanks again guys, the whole applicaton process makes you think, doubt, re-doubt, re-analyse way too much so all the advice is much appreciated:)</p>
<p>My DD had transcripts from 4 schools due to summer school classes and had a double major. When her grad schools wanted her GPA in each major and overall, she just made a spread sheet and calculated each. I don’t recall cross checking it against her UC GPA.</p>
<p>That was the same for grad school and med school, just because UC does not add transfer courses into her UC GPA does not mean they don’t count for her overall GPA, for better or worse!</p>
<p>I don’t understand how NYU is simply not counting some units, but I think if you make a spreadsheet and calculate a GPA for all your coursework, you might be able to format it something like XYZ major GPA, ABC major GPA and overall GPA (that one including all courses)</p>
<p>I agree with everyone above, there is almost never a reason for a lower than wished GPA that is worth mentioning, they’ve heard it all and you only end up focusing attention on a weak point. Even if someone withdrew from a term or a school, it may not be necessary to explain, better to finish strongly and show that whatever “thing” happened (the details of which are really TMI) you withdrew, fixed it, returned and finished strongly. Applications are no place for excuses, even if they are quite valid. Focus only on the positive.</p>