I am a rising 3rd year at University of Virginia. I am pursuing a computer science degree in the engineering school, but my cumulative GPA is pretty low at this point ( 2.82 ). My major GPA is higher – about 3.30. I really wanna go to graduate school , but I feel like I’ve dug a deep hole for myself by not taking school seriously during my first two years at college. I’m determined to work extremely hard to get those grades up when I go back to school this fall. But I also really need some assurance that all hope is not lost ! I used to be a good standardized test taker – got 2250 out of 2400 on my SAT a couple years back. My question is can a similar performance make up for a mediocre GPA ?
No. A good GRE score won’t get you into graduate school, but a bad score will keep you out. GRE doesn’t have nearly the same importance as the SAT did. However, having research experience can make up for a lower GPA. The fact that your major GPA is above a 3.0 bodes well for you.
Probably not. You have dug a very deep hole for yourself by having less than a 3.0 as it is the bare minimum cutoff for most decent grad schools. They have so many applications that oftentimes they have a secretary or grad student go through them and weed out those who have less than the minimum cutoffs, so they would never even see the rest of your application. That would definitely include less than a 3.0 no matter where you apply. You do have a better in-major GPA so that could possibly help you but what a high GRE and low GPA says is “smart but lazy, doesn’t put in the work.” That is the last thing schools want to see. You can apply but honestly the schools that would take you probably aren’t worth going to so you might want to take some non-degree courses to get your GPA up and try next year.
Yes, but more important is research experience. You need to go up and beyond just taking classes. Get into doing research opportunities in your department. Exposure to scholarly activities is far more important than anything else and can make up for lower grades. With that you’ll find profs who can write you a meaningful letter of rec. Letters of rec touting your ability to do original research, laboratory work, and application of such in the real world will make an incredible impression.
I can tell you that yes, a great GRE score can definitely make up for a weak GPA. It’s also good that your major GPA is better and improving.
But you still have to be realistic. CS is a really popular field. If I were you, I would definitely talk to the career office at your college. Even if they say it’s difficult, it’s still a good idea for you to study hard. It would make it easier for you to get a job.
In my case, my great GRE score made U. Mich, Penn State and Georgia Tech engineering programs ignore the fact that I don’t have a college degree in engineering or science. For my masters degree, these 3 are the top programs.