0's on a transcript
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:01 am
So when I was in my very immature early undergrad days, I managed to earn 3 0's on my transcript (incidentally, 2 of them were in graduate level applied math courses). Now, here's a question: is it ever a good idea to also specify a GPA without those 0's? (or at least, to perhaps replace those 0's with 1.7's or 2.0's?) There is some debate over whether or not 0's should actually be assigned, seeing that the difference in academic understanding between a C (2.0) and a F (0.0) is generally not very significant, but that the F has a HUGELY disproportionate effect on the GPA calculation (it is especially ruinous to students in schools that practice grade inflation). My GPA would be around 0.35 points higher were it not for those 0's.
The only problem, though, is that I also elected to take some classes S/NS, and a NS corresponds to a 0 but doesn't affect GPA (in fact, I could have had the opportunity to turn all of my above 0's into S/NS grades if I wasn't so stupid when I was younger). So this resulted in my receiving 2 NS grades on top of the 0's.
Also this isn't freshman year, this was actually for my first 2.25 years of college (but at the end of the fiasco, I was still at the age of a college freshman since I went early entrance). I'm staying for 6 years.
Of course, one shouldn't completely fail classes with impunity, but the punishment may be far harsher than what the "crime" merits. But the amount of explaining to do this might make it not worth the effort? (since I don't want to appear like I'm being disingenuous on my application)
The only problem, though, is that I also elected to take some classes S/NS, and a NS corresponds to a 0 but doesn't affect GPA (in fact, I could have had the opportunity to turn all of my above 0's into S/NS grades if I wasn't so stupid when I was younger). So this resulted in my receiving 2 NS grades on top of the 0's.
Also this isn't freshman year, this was actually for my first 2.25 years of college (but at the end of the fiasco, I was still at the age of a college freshman since I went early entrance). I'm staying for 6 years.
Of course, one shouldn't completely fail classes with impunity, but the punishment may be far harsher than what the "crime" merits. But the amount of explaining to do this might make it not worth the effort? (since I don't want to appear like I'm being disingenuous on my application)