<p>I've discussed my full story here previously. Read that if you need context.</p>
<p>I'm currently repeating a Chemistry and Japanese class I got D's in my first semester of college (last year).</p>
<p>I go to a big state university that barely ranks in the top 100 nationally, and my university allows for up to three 100/200 level courses to be repeated for a grade repacement. On our official site, it says that while your grade is replaced, all attempts remain on the transcript.</p>
<p>I have gotten all A's this spring and this summer, and have all A's this semester as well. As such, my GPA will be 4.0 at the end of the semester.</p>
<p>However, I JUST factored in the element of recalculation... something I had overlooked completely. If all my attempts are counted and my GPA is recalculated, my 4.0 becomes a 3.5 (pretty much useless at every single place I'm applying... a joke GPA that gets thrown in the trash can). I'm now fairly convinced that all hope for my "comeback" is lost.</p>
<p>I'm again applying to:</p>
<p>Stanford - School of Humanities and Sciences (Economics)
Yale - College (Economics)
UPenn - The Wharton School
Columbia - College (Economics)
Northwestern - College of Arts and Sciences (Economics)
UC-Berkeley - College of Letters and Science (Economics)
Georgetown - McDonough School of Business
UVA - College of Arts and Sciences (Economics)
NYU - Stern School of Business
UTexas - McCombs School of Business
Boston College - Carroll School of Management</p>
<p>I have spent a lot of time trying to find some concrete answers, so any help is greatly appreciated. I know for a fact that UTexas recalculates, but I don't know about these other schools. I'll probably call some people tomorrow, but if you think it's fair to assume that everyone recalculates, I would like for you to post that here.</p>
<p>So I contacted the admissions office at some of these schools...</p>
<p>UPenn, Columbia and Northwestern do not have a process for recalculating your GPA if you've retaken a class at your current university and have had a grade replaced. They just assess your GPA at whatever number your current school reports.</p>
<p>Again, UTexas explicitly states on its site that they will recalculate your GPA.</p>
<p>I've seen questions like mine go largely unanswered on this board (why I created this topic), so any information you may be able to provide on these other schools I've listed that I've not gotten an answer from (Stanford, Yale, Georgetown, UVA, NYU and Boston College) would be awesome.</p>
<p>I was told by a student who transferred to Georgetown two years ago that they do not have a process for recalculation, thus they would fall into the category with Penn and so forth.</p>
<p>while they might not re-calculate your gpa, its hard to imagine that they wouldn't value the grade you initially got in the course as much as any other class, no reason not to. Additionally, a grade received in a course taken a second time might not be looked upon as highly as a grade earned by a student taking the course once.</p>
<p>I went ahead and contacted the other schools I'm applying to and had this question answered.</p>
<p>The general consensus was "we take your GPA as what your current university reports it." If you've retaken classes and they are reflected on your transcript, you must address these in the "Other Information" section of your application.</p>
<p>Essentially if you explain past performance well, you're fine. If you don't, good luck.</p>
<p>i dont see that comment as them being prepared to disregard two D's on your transcript...two D's might well preclude you from being a competitive applicant to many of the schools you listed</p>
<p>If that is the case, people who received C's should have just got D's and retook the class for a better grade. With that said, I doubt that your previous D will be overlooked. I would hope that admissions looks at more than just the numbers.</p>
<p>I don't think there are "concrete" answers, as Admissions is not a formulaic process. That said, I think dufflebagjesus' response most likely represents how such a transcript will be viewed.</p>
<p>Doesn't mean you have no chance at the schools you've listed. Just means that, looking at pluses and minuses of your application, the poor grade will be a minus. The GPA will be a plus. It's past history. So focus on what you can do to make your application strong in every other respect.</p>
<p>Finally, if you are happy to stay at your current school as your safety option, keep your list the way it is. If not, you have no safeties and I don't think any matches on your list. Add them if you definitely want to transfer.</p>
<p>Some schools will change your grade to an "X" or "NC" when you grade replace. Others add an "X" to your grade, so an "F" becames an "FX". But most all seem to keep something on your transcript.</p>