Fall 2019: Top Universities for GPA Score of 65-75%

While many dream of a degree from a prestigious university, it is a dream that eludes some. A number of reasons, including weak academic profile, poor GPA Score, or low scores on the GRE may be the cause of worry for students who want to pursue their MS dreams abroad.

If you are one of those students, then worry not!

We believe that nothing should deter a student from chasing his goals, especially not a low GPA Score. Of course, it will be harder for a student with a 60% to compete against someone with an 85%, especially when universities are so stringent about their eligibility criteria, but it is not impossible. It simply means that you have to work a bit harder on honing and perfecting other aspects of your application.

You will be glad to know that there are several top-ranking universities in the U.S. and other countries that accept a lower GPA Score. However, this fact does not mean that these schools are of lower repute or academic standards! It simply means that they value other important factors like your academic vigour, determination to succeed, prior research work done and papers published, and extracurricular activities more than your GPA Score.

Before we take a look at some of these universities, let us discuss some of the factors that play a significant role in your admission process.

Significant factors that can influence your admit

• A compelling SOP

First, the statement of purpose or the SOP is an essay that encapsulates your past academic achievements, your goals, and ambitions, your inspirations, and is basically a summary of who you are. It often serves as the replacement of a personal interview; so an excellent SOP is essential to a successful admit. It must be concise, coherent, and compelling. Read here to understand how to write a winning SOP.

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• A convincing LOR

Second, the Letter of Recommendation, or the LOR, is a letter written by your professor, supervisor, or Head of Department and testifies to your performance as a student in the classroom and beyond. It briefly touches upon your class participation, projects, or papers done under the guidance of that professor, punctuality, and how you treat your peers and professors.

These two together form the foundation for a successful application, because more than just describing what you have already achieved, the SOP and the LOR show what you can and want to achieve, and how the University can help you with it. Therefore, your SOP and LOR can either make or break your admission chances.

• An excellent GRE score

Other than the SOP, an excellent GRE score, that is, anything in the range of 305 to 320+ is also extremely crucial, especially when you are lacking in your GPA Score. It can do wonders for your profile since some universities like the University of Texas, Arlington are more GRE-centric. They tend to give out admits to students who have a lower GPA Score but a relatively higher GRE. So work diligently on scoring high on your GRE to make up for any insufficiencies, academic or otherwise. 

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• Work Experience, research projects, internships + certification

Last, practical experience can surpass theoretical classroom knowledge. If you have relevant work experience that can provide a strong foundation to your Master’s studies, clinching an admit might be easier. Apart from this, any internships or certification courses you take up will tip the scales in your favour, especially if the admissions committee is undecided about your application.

Even extracurricular activities are vital to your application. Be it sports, music, drama or dance, universities in the U.S. hold these activities in the highest regard and tend to prioritize the students who have achieved just as much outside the classroom. Remember, American universities are on the lookout for the all-rounder. So if you have participated in extracurricular activities, especially at a state, national, or international level, be sure to highlight it in your application.

Just to give you a quick example, AdmitEDGE (…formerly GREedge) Alumnus, Raj Mishra, had a GRE score of 296 and a UG GPA Score of 57%. But, because of his extensive work experience for 3 years in Supply Chain and Project Management which was related to the degree he wanted to puruse – MS in Industrial & Management Engineering, he got an admit at University of Texas, Arlington.

Now, even if you have a low GPA Score, depending on your GRE score, we can categorize your profile in 2 ways:

10 Universities that accept a GPA Score of 65-75%

Apart from the ten universities mentioned in this list, there are plenty of highly-ranked universities in the U.S. and Canada that accept a lower score. Please note that the GPA Score requirements have been converted into percentages for convenience and are thus only rough conversions.

You can access the complete list here, which lists out universities with lower GPA Score requirements in each of the fifty states in the U.S.

These universities are all known for their small class sizes, excellent student-teacher ratios, proactive approach to learning, and cutting-edge infrastructural facilities. With a compelling SOP and some good LORs that showcase your abilities, you can increase your admit chances significantly.

Ensure that you talk about what you want to achieve in your time spent at the university, how the university can aid you in your ambitions, and how you will contribute to furthering the name and repute of the university.

So, have faith in your abilities and work towards bettering your GRE score, your SOP, and LORs. A little bit of self-belief, determination, and focus will go a long way!

And, if you need help, you know where to find us!

All the best!

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