<p>Hi there,</p>
<p>I was wondering if anybody knows how colleges tend to look at a student's GPA and how they might calculate them or take them into consideration during the application process.</p>
<p>The reason I am asking is that I would like to apply for Grad School doing a Master of Arts, most likely in Journalism, though I may also go down the Communications path or perhaps even continue on with Films and Media Studies (undecided as of yet). I am currently completing a conjoint BA/Bcom majoring in Film & Media Studies for my BA and marketing for the Bcom.</p>
<p>However, I see that most applications want you to send a copy of your official transcript, and from this they can see the GPA.</p>
<p>My concern is that I have a somewhat average GPA of a B+ because in my undergrad BA, I majored in Film and Media Studies, but made a poor choice to take quite a few psychology papers as well.</p>
<p>In all of my Film papers, especially 3rd and 4th year papers, i have got a mixture of A+, As and an A-.
The problem I am running into, is that these grades have been tarnished by my Psych papers where I generally have grades of B, B- and even a devastating C- due to one particularly challenging paper. </p>
<p>Do you think when looking at the transcript, they will take more consideration of the fact that I have As in my major of Film, which is also the more relevant subject to the graduate programs I am applying?
Or have my disappointing grades from Psych papers ruined any chance I have at getting into a good grad school?</p>
<p>PLEASE can anyone offer me some advice!!</p>
<p>I am also an international student, just in case that also may make a difference to my chances.</p>
<p>Hope someone can share their opinion who knows a bit more about how admission goes for grad schools in the US.</p>
<p>Thank you!!</p>
<p>Also, unsure exactly which Universities I am going to apply for, since I haven't decided yet which path to take, but probably schools along the lines of Northwestern, NYU, UCLA etc. maybe Columbia or Stanford, but pretty sure those would be an extremely long shot. </p>
<p>I am also aware that the writing samples, recommendations, personal life experiences such as work and travel, and the personal statement are also going to be making a big impact, but I feel like the GPA is the one thing that could be letting me down more than the other areas.</p>
<p>My current job, (which is a paid internship I managed to score through a University paper where only one person in the class of 150 was selected), I am in charge of writing all their online content and running a blog for the company and also in charge of the company staff magazine. I have also written for my University magazine. </p>
<p>I am very well traveled as I have been to the United Kingdom, through Western and Eastern Europe, Beijing in China, Tibet and Nepal, traveled to LA and NYC in the States, around South America and then through parts of Central America and have also been to South Africa and Australia. </p>
<p>I just want to put down the facts of my position and trying to figure out whether I would ever be able to get into Grad School in America as it is my dream to live in the States.</p>
<p>I also would be able to pay for the University fees myself so would not need any financial aid or assistance - does this also help my chances? Please any advice is welcome!</p>