<p>I'm currently in my second semester at a college in VA. My plan was always to transfer to College Park. But I have a dilemma concerning my transcript.</p>
<p>My first semester I did pretty poorly(2B+s and 2Ds); The Ds brought my GPA to below 2.5. Now in my second semester I'm taking just twelve credits and half of them are Pass/Fail. So while I'm on track to get a GPA at 3.7 or thereabouts, it's not going to make the impact I need for my transfer application. So I plan on redoing the two subjects I got a D in next semester and then getting an A. In that event, the previous D's will then no longer be factored into the calculation of my overall GPA.</p>
<p>But here's the thing. The transfer deadline is March 1st. And by the time, my newly calculated GPA comes out, it'll be at least May 10. Should I send in the application first without the transcript and then send it when its come out?</p>
<p>Even if you retake the classes you got a “D” in, and therefore they won’t bring down your reported gpa, I would suspect they are still present on your transcript. I would pose that question to your current school. </p>
<p>You might want to consider that it might be worthwhile to stay where you another year so you can prove those first semester grades to be more of an anomaly. I think it will increase your chances of admission significantly if you apply as a sophomore and you have more than two outstanding semesters that follow that first, less than stellar semester…just a thought, fwiw.</p>
<p>Yes, the grade will still be on my transcript but atleast it wouldn’t be used to calculate my overall GPA.</p>
<p>If I do what you advise, I’d be applying to Maryland after finishing my FIFTH semester(I started college in January 2012).
You don’t think I have a good chance with my current strategy?</p>
<p>Clarification, March 1 is the Fall deadline for priority decision.
June 1 is regular deadline for Fall admission.</p>
<p>Did someone from admissions at Maryland tell you that if you retake a course they only count the higher letter for your GPA calculation? If so, could you please tell me that person’s name?</p>
<p>Just because your current school doesn’t count the lower grade in their institutional GPA, doesn’t mean Maryland won’t use it in their admissions calculation.</p>
<p>As I understand it, Maryland uses all courses that received a letter grade including repeats (Incompletes count as F’s) to calculate your GPA for admissions. Pass/Fail does not count for or against GPA (believe this goes for W’s as well).</p>
<p>Example:
Spring 2012
Course 1 (3 credits), D would be 3<em>1.0 or 3.00 quality points
Course 2 (3 credits), B+ would be 3</em>3.33 or 9.99 quality points
Semester quality points would be 3.00+9.99= 12.99
Semester GPA would be 12.99/6 credits= 2.165
Overal GPA to date = 2.165</p>
<p>Fall 2012
Course 1 repeat(3cr), A = 12.00 qp
Course 3 (3cr), P = not factorable
Course 4 (3cr), B+ = 9.99 qp
Semster qp = 21.99
Semester GPA = 21.99/6 factorable credits = 3.665
Overall GPA to date = total quality points / total factorable credits (21.99+12.99)/(6+6)= 2.915</p>
<p>No nobody told me that. I just assumed that it would be better for my application to get a higher overall GPA. Thanks for the clarification but are you sure that’s how Maryland calculates GPA for their admissions</p>
<p>You certainly need to talk to someone in admissions to ask your questions regarding how they look at GPA’s, etc. An option (though it may not sound attractive to you?) is to transfer to a MD CC to take your next semester classes… UMD seems to give people the benefit of the doubt in transfer situations, and the key is getting them to consider your first semester an anomaly. Taking classes pass/fail IMO doesn’t show that you’re any more serious about academics. If you can show that you’re really turned things around and are making all A’s and B’s, you’d be in much better shape.</p>
<p>That said, you def need to talk to someone at UMD, not here on CC.</p>