Sad report card.

January 28, 2009 9:11 AM

Recovering from a bad semester filter: Can I swing this 2.86 into something less crappy? I think I screwed myself by getting depressed my first semester as a transfer student, but time machines with psychotherapists don't seem to be an option.

I transfered into a new university. I went from A's to all B's and a C+. While this university is much better, both by reputation and quality of professor, I want to raise my grades in the remaining 1.5 years I have left, because it would be nice to be in a better position for law school. I'm a pretty hard worker when I'm not suffering from depression (hence why my grades tanked), so can I turn a 2.86 into something a bit less crappy in a year an a half? I miss having an honours average and I'm sad about thinking the odds of grad school or a nice law school are seriously reduced.

posted by Phalene to education (8 comments total)

This happened to me, almost exactly the same way, going from all A's to B's and one C+ (and, man, did that ever do a number on my honor's student ego). I managed to pull my GPA up to a moderately respectable 3.45.

I can't speak to law schools specifically, but I know that graduate programs in general understand that the first semester after a transition can be a tough adjustment. I'll be interviewing for several competitive doctoral programs this month, mediocre semester notwithstanding. You can absolutely pull up your GPA and still be a competitive applicant.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 9:16 AM on January 28

2.86 (this semester)
3.6 (next semester)
3.6 (first semester next year)
3.6 (last semester)
----------------
13.66 (cumulative GPA points)

13.66/4(number of semesters)= 3.41 AVG GPA at this new college.

I had a friend who posted a "4.0" on both sides of his dorm door; it was his motivation.

He ended up graduating with a 3.9.

Good luck.
posted by hal_c_on at 9:22 AM on January 28 [3 favorites]

Well...if you treat your depression you'll get better grades, right?
posted by lockestockbarrel at 9:39 AM on January 28

Yes, you can. It was just one bad semester. You've gotten good grades before and you will again. You are treating your depression, yes? (I assume seeing someone at least and also taking medication?) Keep your focus with that and the rest should follow, as your good study habits will kick in. Also, and I know it sounds trite as hell, but consider the fact that we all learn by failure as well as success. You stumbled, and responded by seeking help for your depression. Do you know yourself better than you did before? If yes, then the lower grades are only one part of what you did (or did not) accomplish last semester. Don't let letter grades be the only definition of what you learned last semester. Also, you now know you want to do better (motivation), and you want to continue your education (more motivation). Good luck.
posted by gudrun at 10:42 AM on January 28

I started at a 2 year community college, then transferred to a large state school. My first semester there, I completely tanked one of my classes....I mean, something like a D+ after getting A-B averages. That took my GPA down to a 2.9 or so. In my case, it was a combination of a bad prof and my inability to understand how useful office hours were. Regardless, 5 semesters later, I graduated with a 3.19 or something like that. Granted, you have less time, but I was in a tough program. It all boils down to your cliche of choice: Git 'er done. Buckle down. Do or do not. There is no try.
If you focus, plan, and follow through, you can achieve your goal. Good luck!
posted by specialnobodie at 11:15 AM on January 28

Here's the deal: A lot of graduate programs look at something like the last 60-hours of grades. They do this exactly for this reason, because lots of otherwise hard working students can have a bad first few semesters.

Further, it's not always about your GPA. GRE and LSAT scores matter, as does a good application letter and recommendations.

But yeah, work on your depression so this doesn't happen again.
posted by wfrgms at 11:34 AM on January 28 [1 favorite]

I once tanked a class (I think I got a D) but most of my other classes were B's and A's. I retook the class the next year with a different professor and got an A. Both grades show up on the transcript and both are factored into the GPA. The bummer: I didn't get credit for that course toward graduation.

I chose this route because it was a foundational/theoretical course for my major. I haven't applied to any grad programs yet, but I'm thinking it will be a huge help to show that the D was a fluke.

If you have this luxury, I highly recommend it if any of your particularly bad classes are things you are particularly interested in doing in the future. Of course, if you have to take it with the same prof it probably would be much less helpful.
posted by dahliachewswell at 9:11 AM on January 29

You can do it. One bad semester is nothing. I had FIVE bad semesters, and still managed to pull my GPA up high enough to get into a good law school. Remember that your GPA is only part of the equation. Doing well on your GRE or LSAT can help immensely.
posted by keep it under cover at 8:53 PM on February 25