Issues with transcripts

[mc625510]

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Hi everyone,

I am starting to look into the application process for graduate school for next year and I noticed that schools ask for transcripts from ALL schools attended. I have decent grades at my university (3.7), but when the summer before I started undergraduate classes I took two summer online classes through a local community college. When I realized that the classes (intro to psychology and intro to sociology) would not meet the requirements at my current university, I just stopped the class and received a F in both. Of course I took these classes at my university and I received A's in both. But now that graduate programs will see those two F's I don't know what to do. Do I retake them at that university even though I've taken them at my school since then?

 

[bcliff]

Hi everyone,

I am starting to look into the application process for graduate school for next year and I noticed that schools ask for transcripts from ALL schools attended. I have decent grades at my university (3.7), but when the summer before I started undergraduate classes I took two summer online classes through a local community college. When I realized that the classes (intro to psychology and intro to sociology) would not meet the requirements at my current university, I just stopped the class and received a F in both. Of course I took these classes at my university and I received A's in both. But now that graduate programs will see those two F's I don't know what to do. Do I retake them at that university even though I've taken them at my school since then?

Why didn't you drop the classes..? I mean, from what you just described, it sounds like you did fail two classes (regardless of external circumstances), so I feel like grad programs have every right to know that information. I would address it in your SOP, but I would try and spin it to make it sound a little more understandable. Have you contacted the CC to see if you can change the F's to W's (Withdrawals)?

 

[bcliff]

Also your cumulative GPA will factor those two F's in, so I would be sure that you actually have a 3.7, not just an institutional 3.7.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I don't think retaking them at that university would really do much of anything at this point. I'd just submit the transcripts with the rest of your classes, and the folks reviewing them should see that you've since retaken (and aced) them both. If it comes up at all, just truthfully discussed what happened; we all make dumb decisions, but you've bounced back since and done what you needed to do. Besides, while two F's of course aren't going to a help a GPA, I don't know that they'd end up hurting it too much (especially if you've gotten all A's and B's since then).

Edit: And agreed with everything briarcliff said above.

 

[Member1928]

I echo the sentiments of others. Be honest about what happened and I doubt it is going to hurt you. Ask your letter writers for advice and feedback about how you address it in your SOP.

 

[DynamicDidactic]

I agree, just submit them. I don't think anyone will care about that transcript. If you do not then you are always leaving the door to being discovered and reprimanded for academic fraud. Also, remember you may have to provide undergrad transcripts to internships/post docs/jobs.

 

[mc625510]

Thanks for the replies! I wasn't considering not sending those transcripts. I was more concerned about if I should retake them, but that issue was already touched on in one of the replies. What is on my mind most is how graduate programs will most likely interpret those two F's. And Briarcliff, the only reason I didn't get a 'W' in the first place was because at the time I didn't know students could drop classes like that. I never had anything like that in high school and didn't learn about that until I actually started college.

 

[bcliff]

Thanks for the replies! I wasn't considering not sending those transcripts. I was more concerned about if I should retake them, but that issue was already touched on in one of the replies. What is on my mind most is how graduate programs will most likely interpret those two F's. And Briarcliff, the only reason I didn't get a 'W' in the first place was because at the time I didn't know students could drop classes like that. I never had anything like that in high school and didn't learn about that until I actually started college.

I understand completely, I ended up getting a D in a logic class my first semester of college (I started college early & was 16 at the time); I didn't realize that students could drop courses without any serious consequences until it was too late. If you really did stop attending the classes though, some schools may let you use that as justification for a W even after the course is over.

 

[Freudian Slip]

This happened to me too! I just sent in the transcripts for the courses and didn't bother addressing it in my statement (I retook the classes and got As). Don't worry, they are not going to care!