How bad is having one "U" on transcript? Forum

[bc2578]

Hi everyone, I am a current junior at one of Ivy league schools. I transferred from Georgetown to my current school after my freshman year. I have a decent GPA +3.85 and I think I can boost up my GPA to ~3.93-4 until graduation. I plan to apply to law school after working for one or two years, so for now lets just assume that I have an okay LSAT score...

One thing that deeply worries me, however, is that I have one U, meaning Unsatisfactory, grade on my old school's (Georgetown) transcript. This course is 1 credit Pass/Fail class and it is not taken into cumulative GPA calculation. This course is called "the Map of the Modern World" and you are required to pass this exam before you graduate. In fact many students delay passing this exam until their junior/senior years. The grade is entirely decided by one single exam that takes place in early May. No class attendance nor homework, just one damn exam. And this exam was very hard too! (You basically have to memorize all countries' names and their capital cities, presidents in the world map). I was however very sick at the day, and I somehow messed up the exam, even if I tried hard. Therefore, the mark U was left on my transcript.

Unfortunately, I never had a chance to pass the exam, because I transferred to an Ivy school. I never thought this grade would haunt me, since it was not calculated into GPA anyway, but I noticed recently that those grades considered by a grading issuing school to be a non-punitative are still calculated as F in LSAC GPA. It affects my cumulative GPA by 0.02-3 or so. Not too bad, but my main concern is 1) whether this Unsatisfactory grade in my freshman, calculated as F in LSAC GPA, will be frowned upon by admission committee members. I am afraid that they will assume I failed the course due to my misconduct or academic dishonesty, which is certainly not the case. My eyes are pretty set on HYS and I wonder if this one grade in my freshman year will badly affect my chances... 2) If it is a case that this will hurt my chance, what would be the best action that I can take?

This is a very serious concern for me, and I would greatly appreciate your advice on this issue!!

[ms9]

It isn't bad. Just please don't write a 2 page GPA addendum about it or you will make it sound much worse (this happens all of the time)

GL!

[bc2578]

so do you think I should send an addendum to the adcom? But thank you so much for the advice. That kinda relieves me a bit

[wonka]

Post removed.

[bretby]

Hi everyone, I am a current junior at one of Ivy league schools. I transferred from Georgetown to my current school after my freshman year. I have a decent GPA +3.85 and I think I can boost up my GPA to ~3.93-4 until graduation. I plan to apply to law school after working for one or two years, so for now lets just assume that I have an okay LSAT score...

One thing that deeply worries me, however, is that I have one U, meaning Unsatisfactory, grade on my old school's (Georgetown) transcript. This course is 1 credit Pass/Fail class and it is not taken into cumulative GPA calculation. This course is called "the Map of the Modern World" and you are required to pass this exam before you graduate. In fact many students delay passing this exam until their junior/senior years. The grade is entirely decided by one single exam that takes place in early May. No class attendance nor homework, just one damn exam. And this exam was very hard too! (You basically have to memorize all countries' names and their capital cities, presidents in the world map). I was however very sick at the day, and I somehow messed up the exam, even if I tried hard. Therefore, the mark U was left on my transcript.

Unfortunately, I never had a chance to pass the exam, because I transferred to an Ivy school. I never thought this grade would haunt me, since it was not calculated into GPA anyway, but I noticed recently that those grades considered by a grading issuing school to be a non-punitative are still calculated as F in LSAC GPA. It affects my cumulative GPA by 0.02-3 or so. Not too bad, but my main concern is 1) whether this Unsatisfactory grade in my freshman, calculated as F in LSAC GPA, will be frowned upon by admission committee members. I am afraid that they will assume I failed the course due to my misconduct or academic dishonesty, which is certainly not the case. My eyes are pretty set on HYS and I wonder if this one grade in my freshman year will badly affect my chances... 2) If it is a case that this will hurt my chance, what would be the best action that I can take?

This is a very serious concern for me, and I would greatly appreciate your advice on this issue!!

I've never heard of that class. Sounds like an awesome idea, though.

[strugglebus]

I wouldn't bother with an addendum at all. Your GPA already makes it clear that this is a 1-credit exception to your overall academic performance.

[ticklemesilly]

Not at all. I had two. No one asked me about it, I got into 5 T-14s and I seriously doubted it hurt me.

[rpupkin]

I doubt anyone will care about (or even notice) your "U" grade.

Definitely don't write an addendum, particularly if your explanation might involve this from your post: "The grade is entirely decided by one single exam that takes place in early May. No class attendance nor homework, just one damn exam. And this exam was very hard too!"

You've basically just described how almost all law school classes are graded.