Vey Average GPA, low chances of a good graduate school?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello everybody. I am currently a Junior in University. Now that my Junior year has ended and grades have been released, I saw that I got a significantly lower GPA (in year 3) then I was aiming for ( a 3.6 when I was aiming for 3.9). Because of that, my current overall GPA is 3.5, and I dont see it increasing significantly by the end of the first term of my Senior year. I can see it going up to 3.6 but thats just me being hopeful. My major GPA is a 3.7. I currently study at a Canadian institution (University of British Columbia - Sauder), and going for a Bachelor in Commerce, specializing in Finance and International Business. </p>

<p>Anyway, I am looking to go to a good institution in the US, but not sure if I have any decent chance of getting in. One of the reasons for thinking that is because I have 1 F in my transcript (I failed one computer science courses, retook it and did fine but still). I have worked as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for one term (will have worked for two terms by the time I apply), and worked for 8 months as a Research Assistant (will hopefully have 12 months under my belt by the time I apply). I have also been an executive at five different student run organizations (ranging from charity, conference, and business related organizations). On top of that I have, so far, interned at 3 places (and will intern at a bank this summer). Hopefully I will have very good recommendations from the prof's I have worked with.</p>

<p>I am looking at several different majors and programs. I am also only aiming for a Masters (not interested in a Phd at the moment). I am looking at either getting a Master in Finance, a Master in Public Administration, or a Master in International Affairs (I have also considered getting a Master in Economics because I find economics fascinating and enjoy the courses, but I dont have a Bachelor in Econ and have only taken 5 econ courses so far so I doubt I would get it, will have taken 7 by the time I graduate). I am looking at Columbia SIPA, Georgetown, Stanford, London School of Economics, University of Michigan (Public Policy), and several other schools in Canada and the UK (including UofT, UBC, and McGill)</p>

<p>Anyway given my lower grades (havent taken the GRE yet), what are my chances of getting in to a top program in the US? What can I do to improve those chances? </p>

<p>Thank you! And I apologize for the long post.</p>

<p>Note: I am an International student who has lived in 4 different countries (including Canada) and can speak 3 languages fluently (including English and Russian) and have an intermediate grasp of Spanish.</p>

2

<p>A 3.5 GPA is not “average” by any stretch of the imagination, even in the grade-inflated world we live in. Your GPA will be fine.</p>

<p>Concentrate on figuring out what you really want to do in graduate school, because you’re talking about three entirely different masters’ programs with different focuses and different career goals.</p>

3

<p>My stats were: 3.38, 800/520/5.0, 0 research experience, 4 yrs industry experience. I got into Carnegie Mellon’s MS Electrical & Computer Engineering program. My guess? You’re fine.</p>

<p>To improve your chances: get good GRE scores, write a good SoP, and get good LoRs.</p>

4

<p>Hello polarscribe. I realize its not average, but its relatively average (at least I assume so) when it comes to applying to top programs in the US and the UK. I imagine I would be competing against individuals with significantly higher GPA’s (granted I could be mistaken). Anyway yeah thats why I said average, but I do realize its not that bad. </p>

<p>Yeah I am trying to figure out what to do. But one of the reasons I am applying right out of undergrad (rather than getting some work experience) is because I get subsidized education till 24 so I would like to take advantage of that and get a masters when its relatively cheap, rather than paying 60-70k on my own. Thats why I am looking at 3 fields, although the one I really want is the MPA, but given my lack of work experience, I have sever doubts that I’ll get in (although I was looking at UMICH’s MPA program, and the median GPA there is a 3.4).</p>

<p>The other thing I was wondering, was do admissions committees look at how averages at the institution I go to are relatively low, and boost me up, or do they just keep it like that? Also, will it negatively affect me that I come from a Canadian institution that some in the US may not know about and therefore wont know that it is a good institution? (I do apologize if some of these questions seem silly, but as someone who is still an undergrad, I have 0 experience with graduate admissions). </p>

<p>ComtriS, although that does make me feel slightly better, the thing is you did have 4 years of work experience, and getting a 3.38 in an Engineering program is much harder (I’d assume) than getting a 3.38 in a Business program. </p>

<p>The other thing is, do graduate school’s look at legacy (say if my father studied at the same Graduate faculty that I plan on applying to?). Lastly, how about international diversity? I come from a country that is very under represented in institutions in NA (hell I have yet to meet a single person in UBC that came from the same country I did, and trust me when I say I tried), so would that in any way boost my chances?</p>

<p>Anyway, thank you so much for your time and your advice, I will certainly take it to heart and work on the SOP’s, GRE scores and LOR’s. </p>

<p>PS: In some applications, for example to Columbia SIPA, they ask about extracurricular activities undertaken at Uni. Would mentioning being in a fraternity help or deter my chances of getting in? (given the negative image associated with us “frat guys”…well at least thats the case in UBC).</p>

5

<p>A 3.6 is probably more of an average for admitted students, not an average of all applicants.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars won’t mean much unless they are highly relevant to the field you are studying or demonstrate excellent leadership qualities. If your fraternity provided that, then mention it. If it was one of *those<a href=“stereotypical”>/i</a> frats, then don’t.</p>

<p>Legacy won’t likely mean anything either. They want to know how well you’ll fit into their program and how likely you are to succeed. Your goals in your SoP will be key in demonstrating this. </p>

<p>Graduate school admissions are not like undergrad. They don’t care how unique you are (unless it is relevant, again), just how qualified you are, what you can contribute to the program, and whether you are likely to succeed. If your heart isn’t in a particular program, it will show in your SoP or interview (if they ask for one), and sometimes in your grades for relevant courses.</p>

6

<p>Well it was a stereotypical frat, but we did put forth a lot of philanthropy events and raised money for several organizations, including BC Children’s Hospital and the BC Cancer Foundation. I just find that after joining a fraternity (or being in a fraternity) develops an individual as a leader. It vastly improves their social skills (mine were great before joining, but I have seen some people who were a bit shy before, but now are just the total opposite of that). </p>

<p>In terms of unique, hmm yeah I dont know if I am tbh. I mean I am from an ex-Soviet Union country, and I saw the hard ship that people experienced after its fall (due to the change in currency, and decline in the economy), which is one of the reasons why I want to do an MPA and work at organizations on financial and economic development of 3rd world countries in organizations such as the World Bank, ADB, IMF, and etc (my father also works in this field). </p>

<p>Anyway I do want to do an MPA, and right out of Uni (due to subsidy), but I doubt that I can get in due to a lack of work experience (If I had a 3.9-4.0 then that’d be a different story).</p>

<p>One question though (that has not been answered yet). How do US admission people look at students from Canadian institutions? Is there a disadvantage from applying from a Canadian institution to an American one (even though UBC is ranked 37th in the world according to Shanghai Ranking, and 22nd according to the Times Higher Education ranking).</p>

<p>Again, thank you so much for all the help and advice!</p>