Question about application deadlines...

[PhDshallsee]

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I had a bad semester last semester which brought down my GPA to a 3.74 to a 3.42. I'm pretty confident my next semester will be better and bring my overall GPA back up.

Some of the applications are due in mid-January. I was wondering if it would be worth it to wait and send the application in after fall grades are posted or to send it without the fall grades?

 

[JockNerd]

It doesn't look so hot to have grades dropping in the last and second-to-last years. I'd say send it later if you can, but I'd suggest putting everything together and being organized for immediate send-off when those grades come in. Sending all your material by courier in that case (since you'll be cutting deadlines close and need to make sure everything gets in on time) would be a good idea--the end of december is a VERY busy mail season and things gets delayed.

 

[irish80122]

I would try to make sure your updated grades are in, but DO NOT miss the deadlines to do so. You would be better off IMO sending a note saying that your next semester will be stronger and then sending them later as soon as they are available.

 

[Quynh2007]

for your grades to drop .3 you must have really had a bad semester. I would suggest then to wait for the grades if you can (even if it's unofficial, like a print screen of your grades). sending in your app, you are pretty much done, and updating isn't always so great as they might not look at it unless your POI requested it or you were already going to be invited to interview.

 

[danzgymn86]

Question: Can someone send in their transcripts and CV for, say, a December 15 deadline and then send in an updated one in early Jan? I am considering doing this myself because, if I decide to definitely apply, my deadlines are December 15 but my fall semester (which I expect to be good) grades will not be in yet. Also, if I get over a 3.7 again (which I expect), I get another academic award. So would it be okay for me to send in an updated CV and transcript in early Jan. after my new grades come through? Or would they have already reviewed my app?

Sorry to hijack, but I thought it was relevant to the topic and this should also hopefully help the OP! (in terms of sending stuff in again, after the original mailing)

 

[irish80122]

I think we can all agree though that you need to have your application in by the deadline regardless of what grades are reported, agreed?

As for your transcript, you can do that, the question is just if they will consider it. I think they would because most schools (in my experience) don't look at applications until a month after the deadline because a lot of files are not complete on time (I was guilty of this though I still got interviews at many of those schools). However, again, get your applications in on time. They may wait for one transcript that got lost in the mail but it may be a harder sell if your application gets there late. Also, speaking from experience, do it early because overnighting materials is EXPENSIVE!

 

[JockNerd]

Question: Can someone send in their transcripts and CV for, say, a December 15 deadline and then send in an updated one in early Jan? I am considering doing this myself because, if I decide to definitely apply, my deadlines are December 15 but my fall semester (which I expect to be good) grades will not be in yet. Also, if I get over a 3.7 again (which I expect), I get another academic award. So would it be okay for me to send in an updated CV and transcript in early Jan. after my new grades come through? Or would they have already reviewed my app?

Sorry to hijack, but I thought it was relevant to the topic and this should also hopefully help the OP! (in terms of sending stuff in again, after the original mailing)

How sure are you about the award? If you're certain, I've seen people something like put "(anticipated, Jan 2008)" for awards and that sort of thing. I don't think its really desirable to send a new transcript unless it significantly altered your cumulative.

If you really want to send one, I would think most schools would take an e-mailed version from your university's online registration system for an update.

 

[danzgymn86]

How sure are you about the award? If you're certain, I've seen people something like put "(anticipated, Jan 2008)" for awards and that sort of thing. I don't think its really desirable to send a new transcript unless it significantly altered your cumulative.

If you really want to send one, I would think most schools would take an e-mailed version from your university's online registration system for an update.

If I get a 3.7, which I totally intend on, I get it.
Hmmm I don't wanna go off on a tangent here and make this about me, so I won't. But this could be a whole other thread. Which I may make in the future. 🙂