One bad grade

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi everybody,
After all the incredibly helpful answers I got to my first post, I thought I'd ask again about another issue. I have one bad grade, a D+, in my senior year in my history major. This cut my GPA in my major from a 3.94 to a 3.57, which is making me sweat the application process to top 10 poli sci PhD programs.</p>

<p>I was wondering if I should address this grade in my SOP. I was thinking of writing thusly:
"In my senior year, I received a D+ in my HIST323 course. I failed to remember the proper due date for a research project worth 30% of my grade, and neglected to turn it in on time. Since this lapse, I have become a religious convert to Google Calendar, in order to keep track of assignments and schedules! I hope that it reflects well on my potential as a scholar that, discounting this mishap, I achieved a 3.94 GPA in my history major."</p>

<p>I think this does a good job of explaining what happened, but I'm worried that it sounds like I'm just trying to make excuses. What do y'all think? Should I include this? If the admissions committee were to see me as a 3.94 student with a one-time mistake, rather than a 3.57 student, I think it might help.</p>

2

<p>Can't you list your 3.94 GPA and put a little "excluding course XXX" note next to it? Might be possible...</p>

3

<p>Why dont you consider retaking the course?</p>

<p>A repeat could show commitment to your performance</p>

4

<p>Lol, I love your explanation. I once forgot to turn a final exam over to do the last page and earned myself my first and only C. I think any reasonable human being can relate to this.</p>

5

<p>Thanks, belevitt! Sheelo81, I've graduated college now -- I can't retake it. It happened during my senior yearl, so I never had a chance to retake the course.</p>

6

<p>I would not worry about this too much. Your GPA in your major is not as significant as your overall GPA and the list of courses you have taken. I might ask one of your recommenders (if you feel comfortable) to explain this grade in the context of talking about your overall strong academic record.</p>

7

<p>Hi porkypig, I've heard the opposite -- that GPA in your major is what they tend to be most concerned with.</p>

8

<p>I've only got my own experience in applying to go on here, so I may be wrong, but my impression was that the overall record (strong GRE scores, good overall grades) would more than make up for one course. And besides, a 3.5 or whatever in the major is a strong GPA.</p>

9

<p>Fair enough, but it's certainly not as strong as a 3.94 when applying to super-competitive top 5 schools like Stanford and Columbia. And a D+ on an otherwise pristine record seems to call out for an explanation. But will the admissions committee be interested in hearing it?</p>