Kicked out of Masters, need major help.

Graduate School
1

<p>Well, this is the story guys. Its long, so bear with me.</p>

<p>I am an international masters student in Computer Science at a Top 50 uni. I joined the fall of 2011. I just received a message saying that I am being kicked out of grad school. The following is what happened over the last three semesters.</p>

<p>During my first semester I suffered a major depressive episode starting around the second month into the semester. It was pretty bad. It was quite descriptive of what a major depressive episode really is. There was little I could do. My roommates were condescinding and apathetic. Towards the end, speaking with my parents helped me gather some energy to show up for the finals. I was the first to leave the exam hall.</p>

<p>I could attend counselling only after the semester inspite of seeking help earlier because the slots were full. I was told that I was put on top of the waiting list because of my state. I couldn't withdraw from that semester in time. I received two F's and a D. After the winter vacation, I spoke with my graduate advisor of what happened. I was planning to do just two courses from my major for the reason that I needed some slack and I was still bad in shape. He gave me the go-ahead. That semester would be my first semester on academic probation. I did really well in one and scored an A and a C in the other. This 'C' course was a grad level course and the professsor was pretty bad at the material. I managed it only from the programming assignments.</p>

<p>Over the summer, I was jobless. I couldn't get any part-time/internships due to my status as an international student and a bad GPA. Again, I spoke with my grad advisor. I told him I was planning on doing 4 courses this time because I needed to up my GPA and I was feeling relatively better. Of these 4 courses, I'd be repeating 3 courses from my first semester. I repeated those courses for two reasons, one because I liked those courses and felt important for me and two because I had hopes of getting those grades replaced. I spoke with the Dir. of Grad. Studies and he said that he needed atleast 3 A's for atleast an extension of probation after that semester. I thought it was a fair deal. I felt confident and later that summer I went over to California to a few of my friends place. That helped me a bit to distract and get back my confidence.</p>

<p>During the fall of 2012, I did really well on the courses I did. I scored 3 A's and an expected C. One of the courses I repeated was among the toughest at that department and I did really well (among top 5) that the professor emailed me and another friend of mine asking whether we are interested in doing a project/thesis under him. This was very encouraging. The C I received, however was because the other tough courses were taking the time and energy out of me. I misssed assignment deadlines, couldn't dedicate enough time and performed averagely on the tests. I was still happy that I received three A's because that could atleast extend my probation.</p>

<p>This winter, once the vacation was over, I met my graduate advisor and let him know of my situation. He was happy and congratulated me saying, quoting him, "congratulation on climbing out of the hole". It made me happy. I told him that I'll be trying to get those grades replaced. Later that week I found out that grade replacement is not available for graduate students. I again spoke with my grad advisor. He encouraged me that I either continue on probation or transfer to other grad schools! I came back home disappointed. While I was searching the internet for similar stories, I came across this (Am</a> I screwed trying to transfer to a new grad school? [Archive] - Straight Dope Message Board). So, I mailed my advisor asking for support on getting my grades from Fall 2011 to be replaced with a 'W'. He was supportive of that. I then mailed the Dir. of Grad Studies asking for his support on the same issue and asking for an appointment to speak with him. A day later I receive an email from him saying that he has examined my grades and read my email and that he'll NOT be recommending an extension of probation. And that, I should consider transferring or switching to another program. This was devastating. I was hoping he'd atleast give me an appointment so I can speak with him.</p>

<p>This decision of his is devatating to me. I feel that I'm gradually inching towards the same mental state I was in fall 2011. I need some perspectives and help from people. I appreciate any advice I could receive. Especially from those who are higher up in the ladder of graduate school or are part of the facuty of gradate school.</p>

<p>Have I done something terribly wrong? Were my decisions crappy or should I done something different? Is transfer a better option? Should I discontinue my studies and go back to my home country? Was it the C's that made him make this decision? Can I reapply some years later? Please, I need some help.</p>

2

<p>You are probably better off starting fresh somewhere else if you are determined to complete your Masters. The school you are at has clearly decided that you will not successfully complete their program. </p>

<p>Your situation is not unique. As the graduate advisor in physics at my university, I have seen this kind of situation before. I think you made a couple of mistakes. The first was taking too many courses in the last term. With three "A"s and no "C"s, the situation might have been different. The second is that you expected to have your grades replaced one year later by a W. You should have immediately consulted your advisor in your first term and taken "W"s in the courses you were failing. Finally, it is clear that your university does not have a course repeat policy which expunges the bad grade from the GPA and you probably should not have expected it to be done. These rules are generally clearly spelled out in the graduate handbook.</p>

<p>all that being said, if you decide to apply to other schools, you need to make the case that you described above, showing that the 3 "A"s demonstrate that you have the ability to do the work and making it clear that you understand your mistakes and that they won’t happen again.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks alot for replying!</p>

<p>During the last term, I had to play the gamble of taking 4 courses. In the semester previous to the last, I had taken only 2 courses from my major because I was still recovering. In addition to that I had to up my GPA in a time of two semester. I did speak with my advisor and the director about this path. They were okay with that and I still remember the director saying that he needed atleast 3 A’s.</p>

<p>The point regarding grade replacement is fair. And I did speak with my advisor after the bad semester. He did not tell me anything about getting the F’s replaced with W’s. While this sounds like I’m blaming my advisor for this, I really had no choice back then. I was broken and he was the first help I could run to.</p>

<p>Coming back to the present. When you say I’m better off starting fresh, do you mean starting from scratch? I was inclined to a transfer of graduate school starting from the fall of 2013. Do you think I could conivnce the admissions committee for a transfer? What’s your advice on this? Thanks again!</p>

4

<p>By starting fresh, I mean at another university but not trying to pretend you have no graduate record. You will have to send your transcript, of course, and explain it in your personal statement. See if your current advisor can write you a letter that is relatively good, pointing out the fact that you have done better in your last semester. Otherwise get letters from your undergraduate university.</p>

<p>You might be allowed to transfer some of the courses from your current university but the new school may request that you retake some courses.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

5

<p><i>During the last term, I had to play the gamble of taking 4 courses. In the semester previous to the last, I had taken only 2 courses from my major because I was still recovering. In addition to that I had to up my GPA in a time of two semester. I did speak with my advisor and the director about this path. They were okay with that and I still remember the director saying that he needed atleast 3 A’s.</i></p>

<p>No you didn’t, quite frankly. If you were still recovering, the logical thing is not to take a lighter load and then suddenly skyrocket to a much heavier one - it’s to gradually add more. Even if you had to take slightly more time to finish (like an extra semester to make up that one class) it would be worth saving your GPA and your ability to complete. I’m only saying this for future reference - so if you decide to do a program elsewhere, you know. You needed at least 3 As, but you could’ve gotten 3 As in the 3 classes instead of 4.</p>

<p>Another tip: a lot of times advisors to graduate programs do not know little administrative policies like getting Fs replaced with Ws. They simply don’t. It’s your responsibility to stay abreast with any and all administrative policies in your program. Again, for future reference, read your program’s handbook thoroughly as you begin your program, and review the graduate school’s pages for clarification about things like degree application deadlines, thesis deposit rules, grade replacement, etc. Your professors’ knowledge about this is sometimes lacking or outdated, simply because they have more important things to focus on.</p>

<p>Why don’t you ask the DGS if you can make an appointment with him to discuss your options? Even if he is recommending you move on, he is still currently your DGS. At this point you can ask him if he has any recommendations for you re: your career. Does he think you can get into another CS program; does he think you should take time off? Is it possible for you to just take a semester of suspension from your current program and return?</p>

<p>You may have some difficulty transferring because of your record.</p>

6

<p>I don’t know what the stipulations are since you’re an international student, but you’re mental state could count as some sort of disability if you registered it with the University. Maybe you could also appeal to your counselor to see if there is an alternative course of action for them to follow-up for you, I would plead that you have limited resources for recourse given that you are an international student.</p>