Happy Friday, Reader, you made it!
This week, we’re covering GPAs as part of your application story.
Admit it: You’ve been wondering if your GPA is high enough to get into graduate school.
That’s not actually the right question.
(Record scratch.)
Yes, your undergraduate GPA does matter.
But reviewers are asking a completely different question.
Here's what they're really thinking:
- “What does this number make me wonder?”
- “Is this person able to handle graduate coursework?”
So even if your GPA feels like an automatic disqualifier, it usually isn't.
And this is why each piece of your application needs to tell a single story (which we talked about last week).
Here’s a peek into the mind of a reviewer for a competitive program:
Applicant #1 - 3.9 GPA, a college senior
- Reviewer: “Do they have relevant experience outside of class or were they focused only on academics?” (Checks resume next.)
Applicant #2 - 3.2 GPA, graduated three years ago
- Reviewer: “What happened during undergrad?” (Checks transcript in more detail.)
Applicant #3 - 2.9 GPA, graduated 10+ years ago
- Reviewer: “Something must have happened during undergrad, what have they done in their career since?" (Checks transcript again, then resume.)
Your job isn’t to have a perfect GPA.
It is your job to address it in other parts of your application so they're not left guessing whether you're ready for graduate-level work now.
And it needs to happen before they decide whether to move you forward.
Most applicants assume their GPA either “clears the bar” or it doesn’t. For a lot of programs, especially those committed to access, it’s rarely that simple.
If GPA is a concern for your applications, here are a few action steps you can take:
Action Step 1: Read your transcript the way a reviewer will.
Do a quick skim of the grades in order from your first year through graduation, ending with your GPA.
What question would they have?
Example questions:
- “Why did they have lower grades in one semester?”
- “Was there improvement in grades over time?”
Action Step 2: Answer the question in one sentence, factually.
This is for your own reference. Phrase it for context, not as an apology.
Examples:
- “During fall of sophomore year, someone close to me died.”
- “Junior year, I took on too much outside of school.”
- “I worked 30 hours per week on top of being a full-time student.”
Own your story and prepare to show why that was then, this is now, and how you and your circumstances have changed.
Action Step 3: Strategically put a version of this answer in your application.
Some programs have specific places in the application to address GPA or extenuating circumstances. It could be in a supplemental essay or an optional “additional information” section.
If neither of these are available, ask the admissions representative where they recommend you discuss your GPA.
If you put it in your personal statement, make it a quick acknowledgement for context, and focus more of your writing on how you’re prepared for graduate school now.
Action Step 4: Let the rest of your application speak for itself.
When your experiences, personal statement, letters of recommendation and overall fit are aligned with the program, your GPA becomes a footnote.
Story time.
I learned all of this the slow way.
I applied to a top 10 master’s program (unknowingly) with a 3.01 GPA the year after graduating.
The example above about taking too much on during junior year which affected grades? That was me. I was dealing with a breakup, too.
When applying, I let my GPA speak for itself since it met the minimum requirement for the program. I had no idea I could have explained the dip in grades.
For faculty reviewers, my GPA wasn’t a verdict. It was a question that the rest of my application didn't explain either.
The following cycle, I reapplied with another year of relevant experience.
My application answered the GPA question accordingly.
... and I was accepted.
(Then graduated with a 4.0 in my master's and doctorate. Better life circumstances make all the difference!)
What I'm working on ✍
I’m working with a re-applicant right now whose feedback noted they did not address their GPA as much as the reviewers needed.
After talking through their circumstances from over a decade ago, it was clear to me that this applicant should be celebrated for graduating versus questioned for their grades. They did the absolute best they could with what they had at that time, and life is much different now as they're applying for a master's.
Fortunately, their target program has a section to address GPA and extenuating circumstances affecting academics. And after our strategy session together, this applicant is fully prepared to address their GPA before it becomes an open question for reviewers.
So why does proactively addressing a "lower" GPA matter?
Everyone has a story to support why their GPA is what it is.
Some people go through college with economic security and an excellent support system. Some manage through unbelievably challenging circumstances and persist to graduation.
Also keep in mind that your GPA reads differently depending on whether you're a recent graduate or someone with years of work experience.
The time and context can change what your GPA means, which is why reviewers take your full application into account.
Moral of the story: Admissions committees are often more human than they get credit for, as long as they have the information they need.
Thanks for being here, make it a great weekend!
Dr. Jena
P.S. If GPA is what you keep coming back to on your application, talking through your story with someone who has a reviewer’s eye and empathy for the applicant may alleviate your concerns. This is exactly what a strategy session is for: figuring out what questions come up from your application, then learning how to answer in a way that shows you're ready.