Tempting Application Question

[oxelhs]

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I've got a question on my application that reads: Are there any reasons why your transcript does not reflect your true academic ability? If yes, provide any reason(s) you believe your transcript does not reflect your true ability or why your transcript has gaps, course withdrawals or less than a full course load. Do not assume that a rater will be able to find this information within your file materials. If participation in an educational exchange program, a professional experience year, or co-op program is not noted on your transcript, note this activity and its time frame.

I've got a 3.64 cGPA and thinking of saying yes to this question. My cGPA of year 2 and 3 comes out to 3.9 which is a lot better than 3.64. My first year marks are dragging down my gpa. Should I answer yes and explain I had difficulty adjusting to the way university style teaching and learning/studying works? Will this even matter?

 

[BABSstudent]

I've got a question on my application that reads: Are there any reasons why your transcript does not reflect your true academic ability? If yes, provide any reason(s) you believe your transcript does not reflect your true ability or why your transcript has gaps, course withdrawals or less than a full course load. Do not assume that a rater will be able to find this information within your file materials. If participation in an educational exchange program, a professional experience year, or co-op program is not noted on your transcript, note this activity and its time frame.

I've got a 3.64 cGPA and thinking of saying yes to this question. My cGPA of year 2 and 3 comes out to 3.9 which is a lot better than 3.64. My first year marks are dragging down my gpa. Should I answer yes and explain I had difficulty adjusting to the way university style teaching and learning/studying works? Will this even matter?

So you had about a 3.12 freshman year and then a 3.9 for the next two, which dropped you down to a cGPA of 3.64? I would totally use that space to write about it. I would say what happened, what you changed, how you changed it and how you learned from the experience. It will let them put more emphasis on the later grades and help you out.

It also shows how you interpret problems and how you can problem solve in an effective way.

 

[kyamh]

I don't have a solid opinion about this yet, having not thought for too long, but it seems to me that it is very very typical to have a rough college start. I don't know that it's something you have to explain, you clearly show an upward trend as you learned to deal with college. Unless there was some circumstance that was special to you first year, I may not spend too long talking about it.

 

[LizzyM]

Given the prompt, your response is reasonable. It isn't as unusual as some of the things that the adcom might expect (weather related emergency disrupting your schooling, personal tragedy at home like a kidnapping or wildfire, psychotic and suicidal roommate) but they asked and your answer is reasonable.

 

[oxelhs]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think I will go ahead and write an answer to this question: no harm done I think.