Students who are considering graduate school in the fall generally know how crucial a high grade point average is at one of the nation's top schools, such as Stanford business (3.6 average GPA) or Yale law (3.9).
However, maintaining a good GPA should still be a priority for Ball State students who don't plan to study at an Ivy League school, or even for those who are going directly into the work force, said Jackie Nelson, assistant dean of Ball State's Graduate School.
BALL STATE GRAD SCHOOL
The minimum standard GPA set by Ball State's Graduate School for a master's degree is a cumulative 2.75, or a 3.0 in the latter half of the bachelor's program, Nelson said.
"A student (must) be able to do a lot of independent study, writing and research and take more ownership of his or her educational experience," Nelson said.
For students who don't meet the minimum GPA requirement, the graduate school has an appeals procedure that involves submitting satisfactory scores on the Graduation Record Exam and taking only nine graduate hours. If the graduate GPA is at least 3.0 for those nine hours, the department can recommend admission, Nelson said.
Ball State has 90 graduate degree programs, a few of the top programs for enrollment being counseling psychology, nursing, business administration, journalism and elementary education, she said.
PSYCHOLOGY AND HEALTH
Kerri Pickel, director of graduate studies in the Department of Psychological Science, said about 40 students were enrolled in both the clinical psychology and the cognitive and social processes graduate programs last fall. The graduate department does not have a minimum GPA requirement for either of its programs but usually expects a 2.75 from its applicants, she said.
"Students could have strengths in one area that could compensate for weaknesses in another area, so if we don't have a minimum, we can allow that to happen," Pickel said.
Attaining a high GPA, however, quickly became a priority for Ball State psychology graduate student Kim Miller, who earned her bachelor's at Auburn University in Alabama.
"It's the one thing that you have the most control over," Miller said. "It's a way that you can shine. It's a way that you can prove yourself."
The graduate program for the Department of Health Science also requires a minimum GPA of 2.75, Marty Wood, graduate program advisor, said. Students who don't meet the requirement must go through the same appeals procedure used by the university's graduate program, he said.
"Personally, I think it would be beneficial if we could have graduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher," Wood said. "Most universities are always trying to find the balance of having a high standard for students but also being able to attract and retain students."
BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING
Ball State's Miller College of Business, which had 216 graduate students last fall, uses a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5. Students who have a 2.5 or below must submit higher scores on their Graduate Management Admission Test, said Inga Hill, assistant to the dean for graduate programs. "Most of our students have a higher GPA, but for those who didn't apply themselves in undergraduate school, it usually works out well," Hill said.
Students from Ball State's business program often pursue careers in for-profit organizations, general management, marketing, finance or information systems. A good GPA demonstrates intelligence and good work skills, which are especially important to today's employers, Hill said.
"The alumni board says that the GPA gets you the interview, so they may not even interview anyone below a 3.0," she said. "They use GPA as a screening device in terms of who should get the interview."
Ball State's Science in Accounting graduate program, which had 37 students last fall, also bases its admission on a combination of a student's GPA and score on the Graduate Management Admission Test, Jim Schmutte, accounting professor, said.
While graduate students in accounting don't have to meet a minimum GPA requirement, Schmutte said a student's GPA is especially important in the work force.
GPAs AND EMPLOYERS
Some employers in the counseling and health fields also pay attention to the undergraduate GPA -- employers such as Muncie's Open Door/Ball Memorial Hospital Health Clinic, Veterans Hospital in Indianapolis and Clarion Health in Indianapolis, Wood said.
Devin Spilker, registered nurse and nurse recruiter in human resources for Clarion Health, said Methodist, Indiana University and Riley Hospitals require college graduates to have "good academic standing" and at least a 2.75 GPA.
"Whatever the school's requirement is, that's what they have to be above," Spilker said.
Crowe Chizek and Co., a public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Indianapolis, requires a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Renee Arico, campus recruiter for Crowe Chizek, said about 10 percent of the firm's employees include students from Ball State and other universities. The firm hires in the areas of accounting and finance, computer science and management of information systems, she said.
"If the GPA is 2.9, we might (consider them) if they have a reason, if they're working during the school year or had a specific incident that happened during the semester, but not usually," Arico said.
Students' GPAs are more important than they realize because they will follow them around for the rest of their lives, Hill said.
"If we have a 65-year-old applying to the graduate program, we have to look at the undergraduate GPA," she said. "You only have one chance at it, and you need to make sure it's where you want it to be."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
