applying to grad school without a GPA

[rona58]

I am just about done accumulating credits via transcripts from earlier college studies plus CLEPs and Dantes. I've got a good GPA, but did not realize until today that, as an advisor at TESC, emailed me today:
" At Thomas Edison the grade point average is calculated based only on letter-graded credits earned with TESC. So if you transfer in 117 credits and take a single course with us, and earn a "D" grade, your GPA would be a 1.00 and you could not graduate. Similarly if you took one course with us and earned an "A" your GPA would be 4.00 as strange as that might seem.

This is standard practice in higher education. Although credits are transferred, and sometimes transfer credit grades are listed on a transcript, these credits are not calculated into a GPA."

Should I delay graduation, spend time and money to take a single course at TESC online which I think I can ace, in order to get a Grade Point Average, or just graduate and have a degree with no grade??

[JanusthePhoenix]

I'm not sure how grad schools would receive a degree with no GPA, but if you can get that 4.0 for a few hundred bucks, I would call it a good investment for the money.

[jaer57]

I can't speak for all graduate schools, but I can about the ones I applied to. UMUC, the school I ended up choosing, just needed a transcript from the school I received my bachelors from. I needed a 3.0 GPA, and that GPA was just tallied from my classes at SIU (I transferred in half my degree from other colleges, CLEPs, and DSSTs). I'm not sure what they would have asked for if there was no GPA, but for those under a 3.0 they are given conditional admission and must pass some classes before being officially admitted. The only drawback there is you aren't allowed financial aid unless you're fully admitted.

I also applied to George Washington University, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County; both systems engineering programs. GWU needed transcripts from EVERY school, but only cared about the last two years of study for GPA. In other words, they only looked at the 300 and 400 level classes when considering GPA, and they needed a 3.0 minimum. UMBC also needed every transcript, but went off the GPA of all classes, not just the 300 and 400 level. Lastly, depending on the program you choose, GRE or GMAT scores may be just as or more important than your undergraduate GPA.

So it seems the requirement could vary by the school. I don't know if it's worth the risk for you to take a class you don't need. I'm sure most schools will ask for all of your transcripts anyway, and those that don't you could explain the situation and probably send them all your transcripts. Is your GPA ok from all your other schools?

Are you looking at any graduate programs now? Maybe you could bring this up to an admissions counselor of a potential school.

[cframe]

Anyone else have 2 cents to share? If you applied to Grad school, were there GPA requirements that made you say, "I wish I would have ..."

[Basket Weaver]

Yes, I was required to show a transcript and have a minimum GPA of 3.0, I believe. I don't recall there being anything that stipulated how many classes needed to comprise said GPA though...I would think they would pick up on that one. I would just be straight to the point with them and see what they have to say...the worst thing is they say no and you continue your search. CCU worked closely with me and I had a great experience working through their plan. Good luck!

[bkbarden]

I was able to find one person who applied and was accepted to grad school without a GPA. What he did (or so I was told) was put in a GPA as he calculated it (based on test scores, etc) then submitted additional documentation showing how he reached that score.

That is what I am planning to do, as I have no GPA. Whether it will work for all or some grad schools remains to be seen.

But based on the fact that it is possible to get into grad school without a GPA, I opted to not take an additional class from TESC.

Oh, one other thing... I was told that grad schools look at individual scores for each class, not just one lump GPA. I personally thought it would look rather strange to have my entire GPA determined by a Jane Austen course or something.

My thought is you need something to put in the little "GPA" box so they don't just throw your application out. Then you'll have to prove your worth in other ways anyway.

Just my two cents... I hope that's helpful.

[cookderosa]

<<I was able to find one person who applied and was accepted to grad school without a GPA. What he did (or so I was told) was put in a GPA as he calculated it (based on test scores, etc) then submitted additional documentation showing how he reached that score.

That is what I am planning to do, as I have no GPA. Whether it will work for all or some grad schools remains to be seen. >>


I might be overstepping here, but this is a terrible idea!! Please do not assign quality points based on your own criteria!! The school you apply to will calculate your GPA based on their own criteria. This will be very confusing and not based on any facts whatsoever!! CLEP doesn't give grades and their scale is private, if you assign a grade you are pulling it out of your <hum> rear. Best case, this is misguided. Worse case, this is fraud!

Here are my 2 cents. Just apply. If you get accepted, fine, if not, move on. There are a zillion grad schools with open enrollment.

To the OP. If you have your sights on a specific school, start looking at the requirements WELL BEFORE graduation. Really. There are grad schools with high admission standards, and if you want in- then you have to complete those standards. Taking one class at TESC to make it look like you have a GPA, IMO, is a waste of money. Be intentional- don't wait until you are finished to ask "what about grad school?" and then try and back peddle. Plan plan plan.

For those transferring in any credit to TESC, your GPA for grad school admission will be based on transfer grades too. So, if you transfer in 30 "C" grades and you take 1 class at TESC for which you earn an "A" then CLEP everything- your TESC GPA will be 4.0 on your transcript BUT the colleges you apply to will use the previous Cs + your one A to figure your GPA.
Even if you are new at this, the grad school is not.

[HawkGuy]

I would take the one class to get a GPA. I was in a similar situation as you. My transcript consisted of a few transfer classes, lots of CLEP, DANTES, and FEMA, and one TESC online course.

That one TESC class gave me my GPA.