2、美國TOP100研究生院：申請要求 專業(yè)列表 材料清單 費(fèi)用/獎學(xué)金
小庫需要提醒各位同學(xué):
①因?yàn)樾畔⑻^龐大，小庫力求提供更多信息給同學(xué)們參考，但難免會有遺漏或者錯誤，同學(xué)們一定要根據(jù)自身情況，有選擇的借鑒。
②因?yàn)槲⑿牌拗疲鞂⒉糠謨?nèi)容做成彩蛋。彩蛋獲取方法見文末。
各種各樣的原因，很多同學(xué)會面臨低GPA的問題，如何解決？
這篇美國本土低GPA學(xué)生的申請經(jīng)驗(yàn)可以給我們很多啟發(fā)！美國學(xué)生的9個解決方案中，我們大多已經(jīng)在運(yùn)用，但有些真的就不適合國際學(xué)生，比如最后兩條……英文原文奉上，希望給正在準(zhǔn)備申請的小伙伴一些啟發(fā)！（附：美國TOP100研究生院：申請要求 專業(yè)列表 材料清單 費(fèi)用/獎學(xué)金，獲取方法見文末）
For one reason or another, you didn’t perform well while earning your bachelor’s degree and you’re wondering how to get into a grad school with a low GPA.
But, you’re in luck. While some schools have strict GPA requirements, most look at your entire application, including professional experience and test scores, which means there are plenty of graduate schools that accept a low GPA.
On this page, we’ll help you figure out if you actually have a low GPA, ways for you to get around having a low undergraduate GPA.
Do You Have a Low GPA?
When it comes to applying to graduate school, every little thing can make you nervous. Do you have enough experience? Are your GRE or GMAT scores high enough?
This anxiousness can make you think you have a low GPA, even if it falls into the national average. While there are no across-the-board minimum GPA requirements for grad school, anything above a 3.0 should be considered safe.
What is a low GPA?
A 2.99 GPA or lower is considered low for graduate school. With a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, you may not be able to get into some of the best graduate schools in the country, but you should have plenty of options.
In fact, many graduate schools are taking a more holistic approach to admissions. This means they look at you as a complete person and not just your statistics.
For instance, your GRE or GMAT scores can play an important role during the admissions process. So can your interview and essay, as they are an opportunity to address your weaknesses.
Yes, your GPA is important because it shows schools how you perform as a student. But that doesn’t mean your low grades automatically disqualify you.
Is a 3.3 GPA Good?
Anything between a 3.3 and 3.7 GPA is considered good and in the range of most students. But that also means you’ll be competing with many other students during the application process.
So, if your GPA falls in this range, you should be looking at ways to improve your chances of being accepted just like students with a low GPA.
How to Get into Grad School with a Low GPA
Can you get into grad school with a low GPA? Of course you can, but it will take a little bit more work.
First, you have to address your GPA in your application. Whether it’s during your interview, in your essay, or in a GPA explanation letter, tell the admissions department why you performed as you did while earning your bachelor’s degree.
Think about it this way: grad schools are looking for the best candidates to bring into their school. While reviewing your application, they’ll find your weakness, whether it’s a low GPA or low test scores.
You have a better chance of improving your odds if you address it up front rather than hoping they don’t find it. At least it gives you a chance to share your side of the story.
Below are some of the other ways that you can get around your low GPA and how you can still make yourself an appealing candidate to grad schools, even with a 2.5 GPA or lower.
#1: Achieve High GRE or GMAT Scores（劃重點(diǎn)：GRE和GMAT可以挽回一些）
Earning a high score on the GRE or GMAT probably won’t get you into a top graduate school if you have a terrible GPA. However, it can make the difference if you’re on the fringe.
Plus, some schools that accept low GPA students require them to earn a high score on the standardized tests or achieve a certain percentile. Achieving a high score on the GRE or GMAT shows admissions counselors what you can do when you buckle down, study, and truly apply yourself.
#2: Low GPA Explanation Letter（劃重點(diǎn)：解釋信）
As mentioned earlier, if you have a low GPA, you need to address it in your grad school application. Many schools require that you write an essay, personal statement, or have an interview. These are all perfect opportunities to bring it up.
However, if the school you’re applying to asks specific essay questions or doesn’t have the other options, you can always write a GPA explanation letter.
Your letter shouldn’t be a list of excuses about how you thought getting a bachelor’s meant partying all the time. However, you should address the reasons why your grades were so low.
For instance, did you work full-time to avoid taking loans? Did you volunteer on weekends? Or, if you did just party the whole time, address how you’ve grown and why you’ll perform better as a graduate student.
#3: Major GPA vs Overall GPA（劃重點(diǎn)：專業(yè)課成績）
Sometimes, students don’t perform as well in classes outside their major because there’s no stress to perform at their best.
If this happened to you, and low grades outside of your major are dragging down your GPA, don’t be shy about addressing it, especially if you’re looking to earn a graduate degree in the same field as your undergraduate major.
This can show admissions counselors that you have acquired the foundation in that particular field to perform well while earning your graduate degree.
#4: References or Letters of Recommendation（劃重點(diǎn)：推薦信很重要）
Submitting high-quality references with your application can improve your odds of being accepted to grad school.
Some of the best references can come from professors of your higher-level courses while earning your undergraduate degree or your boss at work to show your professional experience.
#5: Professional Experience（劃重點(diǎn)：科研活動、實(shí)習(xí)經(jīng)歷拯救低GPA）
Pursuing a graduate degree means you’ll perform in-depth analysis of a specific subject. And, while your low undergraduate GPA may hurt your odds, if you’ve had professional experience you’ve already performed some of the tasks that may be discussed in your classes.
When applying, most graduate schools ask for a resume where you can show your specific experience. But use your essay or personal statement to add more details about your responsibilities and how they would help you in your graduate degree studies.
#6: Apply for Awards and Competitions（劃重點(diǎn)：獎項(xiàng)和競賽）
Earning awards or attending conferences show that you’re an active member in your field. And, your goal as you apply to grad schools is to present yourself in the best possible way.
Add these awards or competitions to your resume or curriculum vitae (CV). This shows that even though your grades might not have been the best, you still learned the important lessons and are applying them outside of the classroom.
#7: Apply to the Right Schools（劃重點(diǎn)：定校要準(zhǔn)確，這個有點(diǎn)難）
If you have a GPA below 3.0, you may have to search for schools that match your grades. This doesn’t mean lowering your standards. Instead, while some schools may have specific GPA requirements, others have different admissions requirements for different graduate programs.
Find the programs that are a good fit for you, your academic standing, and your future goals. For instance, some schools may place more emphasis on GRE or GMAT scores while others may focus on GPA.
Research a variety of schools and degrees to find the perfect program for you.
（附：美國TOP100研究生院：申請要求 專業(yè)列表 材料清單 費(fèi)用/獎學(xué)金，獲取方法見文末）
#8: Take Non-Degree Courses（點(diǎn)評：中國學(xué)生表示不接受）
Another way to show that you’ve grown from the person who earned a low GPA is to take non-degree or non-credit courses. Sometimes, these can even improve your GPA. However, most of the time they won’t.
Either way, taking these upper-level classes (and doing well!) will show admissions counselors that you’re ready for the rigors of earning a graduate degree. Plus, it’ll show that you understand the weakness of your GPA and that you’re trying to improve your odds.
#9: Seek Intermediate Degree（點(diǎn)評：不接受，就是不接受?。。?/span>
If some of the other options haven’t worked and you really want to earn a graduate degree, consider pursuing a graduate certificate. These are typically three to six courses in a specific subject and, similar to taking non-degree courses, can show that you’re ready for a graduate degree.
Plus, many graduate certificates allow you to use the credits you earn and apply them to your master’s degree. Of course, this is only if you attend the same school and a similar subject.
How Important Is Your GPA to Grad Schools?
Every school is different. For instance, top-tier schools such as MIT and Stanford are looking for as close to perfect a student as possible. But, there are plenty of other schools that focus more on test scores, your interview, your essay, and your entire application.
Everyone has a weakness. Luckily, if yours is a low GPA, there are plenty of ways to get around it to show schools that you’re ready to apply yourself and earn your graduate degree.
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