<p>When filling out the online application for grad school, there are portions of the form that ask me to self-report my GPA and GRE scores, but the fields are not marked as required.</p>
<p>Is it necessary to fill that in or can I just skip it and have them look at it when they receive my transcripts/GRE report? I ask because my GPA/GRE scores are low and I when the deadline comes around my GPA could increase so I don't want to put something that will later change.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There’s your answer.</p>
<p>Well I just wanted to make sure that it would not look bad not to report any information. I don’t want my application overlooked, slowed down, or disregarded because I did not complete what appears to be an optional field.</p>
<p>I’m not sure that this will be an issue. I don’t know when your deadlines are, but generally all application materials are due at a certain date, and applications are reviewed once complete. So you shouldn’t need to have an online application submitted until you know your grades for the term anyway.</p>
<p>If your deadline is after the end of your term, submit your application once you order your transcripts to be sent. If you’re trying to jump on some sort of early bird deadline (in which the transcripts can be sent later than the app?), give them a current GPA as they’re probably not going to care for having no clue about your GPA.</p>
<p>What if this is the scenario:</p>
<p>Deadline for scholarship consideration, etc. is December 1. My quarter ends December 10th. So, I must submit my application by December 1. I can’t find information on when to send the transcript on the official website so I assume it will be at the same time as December 1. So I am stuck here…</p>
<p>If I report a current GPA which may be lower than the minimum they are looking for, but if my transcripts reflect my just completed quarter and it satisfies the minimum GPA, is that ok?</p>
<p>Tricky timing indeed, especially if you’re talking about a minimum GPA threshold. I would call the department and ask. Entering an estimated GPA is of course not an option. Leaving it blank ask you suggest actually sounds better, but that doesn’t change the fact that if your transcript needs to be sent before Dec 1, it won’t reflect your new grades.</p>
<p>Yeah, so I am on the GPA threshold and over 50% of my applications are due before my new grades come out.</p>
<p>I will try contacting the departments of the schools, but things are not looking good for me…</p>
<p>Find the schools you can with dates that work for you. Though no one likes to hear it, there is always next year. That’s a tougher thing to hear when you aren’t certain your chances will improve next year (like, years after college without additional research). If you keep at the GPA, your chances will certainly improve.</p>
<p>Yeah, I really prefer going to grad school after undergrad so most of the schools I am applying to have deadlines around January/February so hopefully I should be fine.</p>
<p>Now I just have to think of good schools I can apply to with borderline 3.0 GPA.</p>
<p>Taking a year off can only help you, ESPECIALLY if you are on the GPA borderline.</p>
<p>I graduated with a 3.08, and that only pulled up by a 3.81 in my spring semester of senior year. Took a break, got an internship and job in my field… THEN applied to grad school. Accepted at seven of eight schools, offered funding at three and enrolled on full assistantship at a Big 10 flagship that’s one of the best in my discipline. I KNOW I wouldn’t be here if I applied straight out of undergrad.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Wow that is good! I bet you wish you couldve split your soul into 7 parts (a la Voldemort) to be able to go to each school.</p>