Overcoming a bad GPA

[matchmaker]

I was told by TESC that most graduate schools take the cumulative grade of all your transcripts in order to come up with your GPA. I have an old college transcript with 3 flunked classes (Eng Composition 101, Spanish 101 and Sociology 101).

If I just CLEP out of these courses, will it stop them from using their GPA or do I need to retake the entire course and get a better grade? What is the easiest/cheapest option for completing a course and getting a GPA rather than testing out?

Thanks!

[dewisant]

No GRE Required | What You Make of It.

Here is another tool besides finding a way to increase your GPA. I hope this helps!

[matchmaker]

My prior transcript doesn't have any good transferrable credits. It was just suggested to me not to mention my old transcript at all and only use my new, TESC degree.

[dewisant]

Only present your TESC degree when going to graduate school. If it has the old and crusty bad credits on it, so be it. Drive on and be positive!

[cookderosa]

You should know that gaining admission to graduate school is not nearly as hard as you think. True, there may be "a specific" school you can't get into, but if that's the case, simply create a new plan. Lucky for us, we live in a country FULL of regionally accredited colleges and universities, most of whom would love to have your money.

When you transfer into TESC (or any school) credit comes with you, not grades. So, your TESC GPA will only consist of credit earned at TESC. (CLEP would not raise or lower your GPA directly). Now, that's not to say your old failures won't still be around- they are. However, first question, is are there a lot of questions on that transcript that you need? For instance, if you have an old transcript with 4 classes, 3 were failures and 1 A, there is no reason to even use that. Drop it like a hot potato and walk away. Start fresh.
*there are some programs, like med school, that would require you to reveal that old forgotten transcript. That's an exception, and unless you're headed there, don't worry about it.

Some grad schools want your last 60 graded credits, or some such amount. Just do your best and move forward.

[sanantone]

I've literally looked at hundreds of master's programs. 99% of them require transcripts from all colleges attended. If they find out you didn't submit them all, your degree could be revoked. It's also unethical and unfair to other applicants. Many graduate schools only look at the last 60 credits even though they still require all transcripts, but you won't have a GPA for those if you completely test out. Really, 3 Fs shouldn't hurt your GPA that much. If you forwarded that transcript to TESC, every graduate school will now know you attended it because the credits earned will have the school's name above it on TESC's transcript. If tou don't submit that transcript to TESC, that degree can be revoked too.

[matchmaker]

I've literally looked at hundreds of master's programs. 99% of them require transcripts from all colleges attended. If they find out you didn't submit them all, your degree could be revoked. It's also unethical and unfair to other applicants. Many graduate schools only look at the last 60 credits even though they still require all transcripts, but you won't have a GPA for those if you completely test out. Really, 3 Fs shouldn't hurt your GPA that much. If you forwarded that transcript to TESC, every graduate school will now know you attended it because the credits earned will have the school's name above it on TESC's transcript. If tou don't submit that transcript to TESC, that degree can be revoked too.

This is good to know. If I test out of TESC nearly 100% (except the capstone), wouldn't the F's drastically affect my GPA? The F's aren't in any required subjects, so I have no need to retake them. The only class I was going to take with a grade was my capstone, so I'm not sure how else I can level out the GPA unless I retake the failed classes.

[soliloquy]

This is good to know. If I test out of TESC nearly 100% (except the capstone), wouldn't the F's drastically affect my GPA? The F's aren't in any required subjects, so I have no need to retake them. The only class I was going to take with a grade was my capstone, so I'm not sure how else I can level out the GPA unless I retake the failed classes.

Do you have a good reason for failing those classes...like did you forget to withdraw? A long time ago when I was in the military I was enrolled simultaneously at a community college. During that time my father had cancer and the red cross contacted my chain of command to let them know I needed to go home before he passed away. I withdrew from all of my classes but in the chaos that ensued there was one class from which I forgot to withdraw. I didn't discover this F until I enrolled in the community college last year where I live. When I looked at the previous college's transcript online there was a big fat F and a W for everything else. I petitioned the college to change my F to a W and they granted it and changed it on my transcript before submitting it to my new college. It was a process but it was important to me to rectify it. If you have a good reason you may be able to do the same.

[sanantone]

This is good to know. If I test out of TESC nearly 100% (except the capstone), wouldn't the F's drastically affect my GPA? The F's aren't in any required subjects, so I have no need to retake them. The only class I was going to take with a grade was my capstone, so I'm not sure how else I can level out the GPA unless I retake the failed classes.

Yes, you would either have to retake the classes at the original school to replace the grades or take enough graded credits to raise your overall GPA.

[matchmaker]

I've literally looked at hundreds of master's programs. 99% of them require transcripts from all colleges attended. If they find out you didn't submit them all, your degree could be revoked. It's also unethical and unfair to other applicants. Many graduate schools only look at the last 60 credits even though they still require all transcripts, but you won't have a GPA for those if you completely test out. Really, 3 Fs shouldn't hurt your GPA that much. If you forwarded that transcript to TESC, every graduate school will now know you attended it because the credits earned will have the school's name above it on TESC's transcript. If tou don't submit that transcript to TESC, that degree can be revoked too.

I'm not trying to argue here. I just would like some clarification. I haven't applied to TESC yet, so they don't have any copy of a previous transcript. I attended a community college about 13 years ago and only completed 4 classes (Grades C, D, F, F). The rest of the classes were withdrawn. Is there any way that TESC or a grad school can find out about this if I don't disclose it?

Excuse me if this is a stupid question...I am only asking because my wife took a couple classes at a community college and she said that she never disclosed that to her grad schools and she has a masters from a prestigious school.