MFA/MA with low GPA from an Ivy?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi Everyone!</p>

<p>I'm thinking about applying to grad school (MA) to study Journalism/Creative Writing. However, I have a relatively low GPA (2.98) and a major in a different field. </p>

<p>That said, my college is an Ivy and has a grade deflation policy - so there have been several courses where, despite getting As on assignments, I got a B in the course because I fell at/below the median.</p>

<p>Should I apply this year? Or should I wait a few years and do something to build up my resume first? (I'm also fairly certain that I can bring that GPA above a 3 in the two semesters that I have left, though probably not by much.) </p>

<h2>Stats:</h2>

<p>Major: Political Science</p>

<p>Minor: Economics/English (I have/will have enough credits to declare either way)</p>

<p>GPA: 2.98/4.00 cumulative. Trend of: 2.29, 2.87 3.46, 3.11. Withdrew from one class. </p>

<p>GRE: Haven't taken GREs yet</p>

<p>Extracurricular: I have difficulty paying tuition so I mostly work (at a library) but I've been an officer for an Asian Rights/Social Issues organization for two years now and will continue to be next year. I play three instruments but I am not in any bands/orchestras.</p>

<p>Experience: No publications but I have a LOT of work experience including political campaigns and research internships.</p>

<p>Why Grad School: I spent a lot of my life trying to please my parents so I took physics/chem/math course my first two years at college (hence the low grades). My sophomore year, I was viciously unhappy and suicidal. Finally, I did a lot of reflecting and finally got the guts to "change course" as it were. I'm happier now and I've been doing better (not great, but better). Now, for once in my life, I want stop trying to please everyone else in the *****ing world and do something I want to do.</p>

<p>Further Disadvantages: East Asian Minority</p>

<hr>

<p>Should I apply? Should I not bother? Which schools should I target if I do apply?</p>

2

<p>No ivies have grade deflating policies. The only really elite, big name undergrad I can think of that is known for grade deflation is MIT. Most Ivies are often skewere for grade inflation so I really, really doubt you will get anyone to look past your GPA because you went to an Ivy which allegedly "deflated"your grade.</p>

<p>That said, MFA programs are usually the graduater programs that care the LEAST abotu GPA. Some big name programs could probably be qualified as in fact not caring at ALL about your undergrad GPA. They just want you to be really good at whatever it is your applying in.</p>

<p>Also, listing "East Asian Minority" as a "further disadvantage" is maybe the stupidest thing Ive ever read anywhere, not just on CC. Congratulations!</p>

3

<p><i>No ivies have grade deflating policies</i></p>

<p>Sorry, should have specified that it's one of the little Ivies (William/Amherst etc.) Didn't want to specify I know people who troll here.</p>

<p>As for "stupidest thing you've ever read anywhere" - feel free to think what you like but I happen to feel that it's a disadvantage (or rather that I know it was one when I was applying to undergrad - I don't claim to know whether it applies to graduate studies). Having higher admissions standards for one minority than you do for another counts as a disadvantage for that minority.</p>

4

<p>I don't think graduate admissions is as sensitive to ethnic group as undergrad. This is pretty readily seen by the drop in relative contribution of "underrepresented minorities" from the undergrad->grad level at the big name universities.</p>

5

<p>Williams/Amherst etc are not ivies. </p>

<p>And there is no such thing as a little ivy.</p>

6

<p>ok let's stop it with the Ivy crap it doesn't matter! Yes people like to refer to their colleges as the "ivies" of X. I know the OP is asian, but </p>

<p>#98</a> The Ivy League Stuff White People Like</p>

7

<p>I, for one, am proud to attend an 'English speaking Montreal west of Stanley Steet' Ivy. It's obviously highly selelective.</p>

8

<p>As someone who has attended 2 Ivies, I agree with the comments regarding the "Little Ivies". Also, I do actually understand how being Asian could possibly be a disadvantage, but it's somewhat minimal for grad school. However, in journalism, I doubt Asians are so overly represented as they are in math/science/etc.</p>