Low GPA with PhD...

[LdT]

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Hi,
I am applying to the Universities of Calgary and Saskatchewan. I've got a rather poor GPA... but I also have a BSc Hons degree (cum laude) and a PhD. I did most of my pre-reqs a long time ago (1996-1998), and did rather sadly; more recently I completed the rest of my pre-reqs and did great. Will my PhD be enough to redeem me and get me at least an interview? I am considering just re-doing all my old pre-req courses next year. Will this help? What other options do I have?
I will really appreciate any advice!!
Thanks!

 

[lostbunny]

Hey,

Basically the schools will take the marks from your pre-requisite courses and calculate some sort of mark from that. Schools vary depending on which ones you are applying to, but the bottom line for all of them is you must complete their prerequisite courses, and this is where they get an idea of your GPA/overall grade.

This is regardless of if you've got a PhD or not. Higher degrees won't necessarily give you an advantage when it comes to straight grades. If you did your PhD via coursework (is that even possible? No idea- don't have a PhD 😉 ) and the courses you took qualify as pre-requisites then they can work in your favour if the marks trump your poor undergrad marks.

So from this point it looks like you've got 2 options. You can apply anyway and see how you go, OR you can just start re-taking the pre rec courses. Make sure to check with the schools- OVC in particular is really really strict on when you take courses, how you take them (i.e. must be taken in full semesters- NO summer courses), etc.

Hope that made sense!

 

[ky261682]

Calgary only looks at the prerequisite courses. If you did poorly in some of them, it might be worthwhile retaking them. Make sure you if you repeat you do well because Calgary only allows one repeat per course.

I don't know about Saskatchewan but I think they just look at prerequisite courses. No idea if you are allowed to repeat or not. Good luck!

 

[LdT]

Thank you for your advice! It seems as if I will have to start redoing everything... very sad 🙁 but better sooner than later!