GPA dilemma

Hi, Hille. Graduate programs generally request transcripts from *all* schools that you have ever attended, rather than just the transcript that shows your degree. The admissions staff then calculates a comprehensive GPA based upon the information from each transcript, which will include any failing grades. The formula that each school uses may be slightly different (e.g. only counting the last attempt vs. counting all attempts subsequent to the first), but in general they all do this using a similar process. A very few schools will only ask for a transcript from the degree-granting institution, but it seems that these are the same schools that don't really have any admissions requirements regarding undergraduate GPA.

 

Gary,

Another suggestion that you may wish to consider is contacting the head of the school, Chancellor or above, or their direct assistant, to discuss the matter in earnest. It may be one's interest to not broach such issues with line personnel, such as in admissions or the registrar because they will be more likely to follow policy and not be receptive to any of your requests. They also do not have the power to accomodate one's needs, in most cases.

If directly contacting the senior officer or their direct assistant,It is important to initially state that a mistake was made in not withdrawing from these courses according to the school's protocol. However it is having a major impact on your future and you would appreciate any way in which they may assist you in removing these Fs from your permanent record. Make it clear that you are open to any solutions to this matter and that you will be receptive to their recommendations.

There is obviously no guarantee that they will accomodate you but if one feels comfortable with this approach to resloving this issue one will usually find a more receptive and helpful attitude emanating from higherup than from line subordinates.

Moreover, one will usually find a receptive attitude emanating from the assistants of these senior administrators, whose job is to be helpful, and attempt to defuse, solve or resolve rather than escalate problems.

Good luck!

 

Simon--

Would you also go directly to the President of the United States if you needed to change your voter registration? You don't start out at Def Con 5 to make sure you get heard, nor would the Chancellor of any university system be likely to drop whatever s/he was doing to help an undergrad repair a GPA problem from nearly 10 years ago. It just ain't going to happen.

Gary--

I checked the Purdue site and while there doesn't seem to be any sort of petitioning process for retroactive withdrawal, you're in a better position to research this than I would be. The school should have a Dean of Undergraduate Students. Start there. I think you mentioned you were sick during part of this time. Do you have medical substantiation? Would your Doctor be willing to write a note verifying your illness? I don't think it likely you'd be allowed to transfer in replacement credit to remove the "F"s, but make sure they're aware you're willing to explore options. Also, if you're offered what you feel to be a reasonable option for resolution, make sure you get it in writing. If you can't get a letter verifying the conversation, send a follow up email after your meeting, stating your understanding of what you'll need to do.

Best of luck.

 

Nicle: " Simon, Would you also go directly to the President of the United States if you needed to change your voter registration?"

Response: Your analogy is preposterous and sarcastic and is only reflective of your not carefully reading and understanding the gist of my posting regarding possible avenues to explre in dealing with this particular lngstanding issue.

Nicole: "You don't start out at Def Con 5 to make sure you get heard, nor would the Chancellor of any university system be likely to drop whatever s/he was doing to help an undergrad repair a GPA problem from nearly 10 years ago. It just ain't going to happen."

Response: Once again your analogy is not relevant to the case in hand and is only reflective of your adversarial style of disagreeing with another's perspective.

In my previous posting, I made it perfectly clear that speaking with either a senior officer or his/her ASSISTANT could possibly help in resolving this issue.(Nicole, please let me know if you have difficulty finding my reference to the issue of discussing this issue with assistants!).

The obvious reason for my specifically addressing the issue of speaking with an ASISTANT was due to the very fact that senior officers are many times too busy to deal directly with student issues and pass these matters to assistants, INCLUDING DEANS. In fact, in many situations the exact role of Assistants is to specifically deal with issues such as Gary's.

My experiences, regardless of written policies and protocols, have demonstrated the value of initially pursuing the upper echelon re: significant matters such as this one that spans a ten year period. In turn, if they feel it appropriate they will refer one to a designated staff for followup assistance. Moreover, being referred by the upper level echelon or his ASSISTANT to a lower rung subordinate for followup usually results in gaining greater assistance and results due to these individuals wanting to demonstrate an ability to resolve issues to their superiors.

Nicole:"Gary-I checked the Purdue site and while there doesn't seem to be any sort of petitioning process for retroactive withdrawal, you're in a better position to research this than I would be. The school should have a Dean of Undergraduate Students. Start there. I think you mentioned you were sick during part of this time. Do you have medical substantiation? Would your Doctor be willing to write a note verifying your illness?

Response; Again, if you carefully read Gary's posting,in its full context, the medical issue is not the primary basis for these FS and your suggestions are not dealing with the overriding issue that needs to be addressed and resolved. Yes, if Gary's illness was the primary factor your recommendations would have merit but not in dealing with the full scope of this matter.

Nicole: "I don't think it likely you'd be allowed to transfer in replacement credit to remove the "F"s, but make sure they're aware you're willing to explore options."

Response: Please Nicole, since you are so keen on being kingpin attempt to be original!
I addressed the issue of being receptive to options presented in my previous posting.

Nicole: "Also, if you're offered what you feel to be a reasonable option for resolution, make sure you get it in writing. If you can't get a letter verifying the conversation, send a follow up email after your meeting, stating your understanding of what you'll need to do.

Response: Now this is a good suggestion.

However, the bottomline and focus here is to asist Gary in possibly having the school offer a compromise, a solution or resolution to the matter which he is confronting. It is important to note that contrary to Nicole's perception as to where to start there are no steadfast rules or protocol in terms of accomplishing one's objectives, as in this situation. One can start with the Dean, Chancellor or Presidents office with possible good effect, if approached with a respectful, earnest, cooperative and proactive style.

Good luck Gary!

 

LOL!

Preposterous is right, but I'll let others determine where that particular attitude is.

Thank you for your excellent critique of my analytical skills and why your reasoning (from a position outside a university) is superior to mine (from a position inside looking out). I'm sure you are beloved by the entire administration at whatever university system with which you are affiliated. (That is sarcasim, dear; the previous post was simple exasperation.)

 

Whatever.

 

Gary,

Whatever means you take to resolve this matter I hope it results in a positive resolution. It is through brainstorming, with diverse perspectives and opinions, even when disagreement occurs, that ideas can be generated that may lead to a successful outcome.

 

I didn't intend to cause a hostile exchange of words... Thanks though, both Simon and Nicole, for the well-intentioned advice.

Here's a little bit more information about my situation. I was a bit misleading, with the intention of simplifying my story. My last semester I actually only had five F grades. The other two were in previous semesters, using the naive "let it default to an F rather than withdrawing, and retake it later" logic. So, transferring in credit (by exam or DL courses) for those two courses would be the only possible way that I can think of to factor those grades out of my GPA. However, just eliminating that final semester would bring my GPA over 3.0, which is really my biggest concern.

I did leave school because of illness in my final semester. In fact, the previous semester I had officially withdrawn from school entirely for the same reason. I got all As in the 18 credits that I took in the last full semester that I completed prior to that, so I'm obviously not an F quality student. I didn't process the proper paperwork for the last semester because I really wasn't in a reasonable state of mind, and given my other concerns it probably didn't seem like much of a priority at the time. I only actually attended classes for about the first 2 weeks of the semester.

Last year I did contact the Dean of Students, who forwarded my email to the Assistant Registrar. She explained that it's not something that would normally be done, and to pursue it I would at least need the approval of the head of the School of Liberal Arts, as well as all of my instructors (some of whom may no longer be associated with Purdue), and documentation supporting the extenuating circumstances. Unfortunately, I'm unsure how to provide documentation that would satisy their request. The primary doctor who was treating me is now deceased, and my own records from that time are almost nonexistant. It's possible that the school may still have on file the letter that my doctor wrote when I withdrew the previous semester, so I will ask them if they can check that.

This discussion has encouraged me to be more persistant in working with the school admistration in trying to find a better solution. I'll contact them again to see if there is anything at all that can possible be done. Hopefully I'll be able to work something out; it can't hurt to try.

Thanks!

 

Gary, Good Morning! I had a thought. Since you are currently enrolled in TESC check their professors and staff for graduates of Purdue. They may have more current contacts then you do. You have a wonderful academic record at TESC and I've found staff there willing to cooperate with academic challenges, past and present. The worst case scenerio is your record stays as it is. If this is the case you will find a way around it with the graduate admissions people. Have a peaceful day. Hille (e-mail me directly for a contact at TESC)

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