C grades last semester - Applying to grad school

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around concerns regarding the impact of undergraduate grades, specifically C grades, on graduate school applications in the fields of Physics and Electrical Engineering. Participants explore the implications of GPA, letters of recommendation, and additional coursework on acceptance chances.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern that receiving C grades in upper division classes may indicate a lack of readiness for graduate school.
  • Another participant suggests that strong GRE scores and excellent letters of recommendation could potentially mitigate the impact of lower grades on an application.
  • A later reply mentions that switching fields to Electrical Engineering may present additional challenges due to perceived preparedness.
  • One participant shares their successful application to multiple graduate programs, attributing their acceptance to factors such as work experience, letters of recommendation, and a strong statement of purpose.
  • Another participant notes that additional coursework taken after the bachelor's degree, where the individual performed well, may have positively influenced their application.
  • There is a discussion about the potential differences in grading systems between countries, suggesting that a C grade in Germany might not carry the same weight as in the USA.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that lower grades can negatively impact graduate school applications, but there is no consensus on the extent of this impact or the factors that can compensate for it. Multiple competing views regarding the significance of grades and other application components remain present.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various factors that could influence graduate school acceptance, but there is uncertainty regarding the weight of each factor and how they interact with GPA. The discussion also touches on international grading systems, which may affect perceptions of academic performance.

Fjolvar
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Hello,

I'm making this post because I'm concerned about my chances of being accepted to graduate school. I just finished my B.S. in Physics this semester and I was planning on applying to some Electrical Engineering programs. Before this semester my GPA was 3.4, but now it currently sits at 3.27 due to my poor performance this past semester. I received a "C" and "C+" in Classical Mechanics and Thermal/Statistical Physics. I'm afraid this will demonstrate that I'm possibly burnt out or not ready for graduate school since my grades are the worst at the end. The only other C grade I received was in Quantum Mechanics with a "C+" grade. If anyone can offer any advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
 
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You are right - it looks bad to be getting C's in upper division classes. I am not sure what else to tell you.
 
I understand it looks bad. My question is probably more along the lines of whether or not I have a chance of being accepted.
 
Based on this, I wouldn't accept you. The transcript is saying that you can't excel in upper division undergrad classes, and grad classes are harder. It's not like there is a shortage of applicants. Now, if you smoked the GRE and had stellar letters, maybe a committee might overlook it.

Switching to EE, I don't know. In general, the bar is higher to switch fields, because you come in even less prepared.

But why do you care what we think? You can always apply.
 
Just to follow up with this thread, I applied to 4 different universities and was accepted to 3, including my top school of choice. The program begins in October! :)
 
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Fjolvar said:
Just to follow up with this thread, I applied to 4 different universities and was accepted to 3, including my top school of choice. The program begins in October! :)
Congrats... what did you have on your application that made up for your GPA e.g. amazing teacher recs, etc.
 
Some factors might have been my letters of recommendation, work experience (~2 years engineering), and perhaps my statement of purpose. I applied to grad programs in Germany that are taught completely in English, so perhaps my language proficiency was a factor as well.
 
Congratulations!
 
Thanks. I should also add that I took three additional EE courses (post bachelor) the following semester: Electrical Circuits II, Power Electronics, & Noise Fundamentals, in which I obtained 2 A's and a B. I think this may have been the key.
 
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  • #10
Maybe a C in Germany at B.S. level is different from a C in the USA at graduate school entry level? A C in the UK would, I guess, be a 2ii - and you can do graduate courses (=MSc courses) with a 2ii. Not saying the USA is deficient - just that it has a high barrier for getting into graduate school, in the UK the high barrier is at the 'A' level stage.
 

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