Will a Low GPA Due to an Accident Affect My University Applications?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the impact of a low GPA resulting from an accident on university applications, particularly for a student transitioning from industrial engineering to physics. Participants explore the implications of not completing a course due to hospitalization and how to present this situation in applications.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their situation of having a GPA of '0' for a semester due to an incomplete course caused by an accident and questions whether this will hinder their university applications.
  • Another participant suggests recalculating the GPA without the incomplete course, implying this might be a better approach for the application.
  • A different viewpoint raises concerns about whether the absence of one course, even if it is non-physics, could be seen negatively by admissions committees, especially in a competitive environment.
  • One participant notes that while the course will be completed later, it will not be done before the application deadline, which could affect the overall profile presented to universities.
  • Another participant advises that the applicant should mention their extenuating circumstances in the application to provide context for the low GPA.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on how to handle the GPA calculation and the disclosure of the accident's impact. There is no consensus on whether the incomplete course will significantly affect the application or how best to present the situation to universities.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the competitive nature of university admissions in India, which may influence the weight of the incomplete course in the application process. There are also uncertainties regarding how admissions committees evaluate such circumstances.

Who May Find This Useful

Students navigating university applications, particularly those facing extenuating circumstances affecting their academic records, may find this discussion relevant.

santo35
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Engineering to Physics and GPA

so here's the thing
i am an industrial engineering student from India studying in one of the top 5 colleges down here (NIT only next to IIT's). I had an accident and was hospitalized during one of my semester and wasnt able to finish a particular subject credits (a non physics subject) and now i am going to my final year and would most probably finish it by the end of my final year. because of which my GPA in that semester is currently '0' ( they calculate gpa only when all the credits has been completed) . i would need to apply for my universities by end of december by then i still wouldn't be completing it as the professor would let me take test only during next February and my GPA for that semmister would still be 0.

Would this be a hindrance for my application ? should i mention them this issue or should i calculate my GPA leaving that subject alone ?

My profile as of now -
2 Journal articles in physics (general relativity)
4 Projects in physics (2 summer and 2 winter projects) (general relativity and Quantum mechanics)
1 Statistical Math Project
1 project to mathematically model product life cycle (used physics model for solving industrial engineering problems)
1 conference (this summer)
1 Lecture course by Prof michael berry (this summer)


Over all GPA now in indian system = 7.2/10
Gre yet to take

And do i have any good chance for middle tier universities ? and what would be a good set of probably universities i should apply to ?

Please do help me out

Thanks in advance
 
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Obviously you should recalculate the GPA without that subject.
 
thanks for the reply .yea i know i should, but would that be a red mark on the application ?
 
I don't know much about the Indian university system (except that there seems to be a lot of competition for places) but the basic fact is that you haven't done one course that you could have done. That may be less important because it's a non physics course, but it's still a fact.

In an ideal world you would probably calculate your grade as if you had never taken the course at all, but that still means you have done one less course than other applicants. If there were 110 applicants for 100 places, that probably doesn't matter much. If there are 1100 applicants for 100 places, it might matter more.
 
But isn't he going to take it later?
 
@alephzero as yellow flash said, yes i am going to take the course(by june or July) before my masters as i need to finish all courses to get my undergrad certificate, but just not before applying for grad school (around december maybe?)
and it is not like am postponing it due to pressure, it is just that i wasnt able to attend lectures as i was hospitalized

And lol yea there is tough competition in india. to get into the college i am doing my under grad, you got to be in the top 20 thousand ranks among 1 million students in the entrance exam.
 
I think you still should briefly tell them of your extenuating circumstances.
 
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