I am in the midst of completing a Four-year Honours Bachelor degree with a major in Religion and a double minor in French and Gender Studies. I tend to focus on East Asian religions, and I have an avid interest in Japan.
Initially, I wanted to apply to a graduate school for Japanese Studies, but there's no way I can make the language requirement - my university simply doesn't offer any Japanese courses.
I am writing an undergraduate thesis involving Japanese girls and their interaction with Shinto and Buddhism in Japan.
My first year in University was terrible, and my GPA was 1.13. The next year, I found "my calling," and now my degree GPA is a solid 3.8~3.9, depending on how this year finishes. HOWEVER, because of my first year, my cumulative GPA is a 2.8. :(
So, my questions are: how much emphasis do grad schools put on cumulative vs degree GPAs? What would be a good grad school to apply for, given my interests and skills?
2007-03-31T21:39:58Z
I should mention that I've considered perhaps going into grad studies in Religion or Gender Studies, while focusing on Japan and East Asia in general.
Also, even though my personal interest lies in Japan, I have no experience in my studies with regards to that region - my university is small and VERY eurocentric, I've really only been able to study China. All of my knowledge of Japan comes from self study - my husband and I will be living in Japan for one year as part of the JET programme, though.
Anonymous2007-03-31T22:19:10Z
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While I cannot make specific school recommendations, I think I can ease your concerns in a couple of areas and offer what I hope will be useful general advice.
First, rest assured that graduate programs definitely place more weight on upperclass grades than on freshman year grades. You might also want to include a note of explanation concerning your freshman year grades along with any standard essays you might write as part of your application. If your thesis is especially good, you might want to include a copy of it with your application.
Second, I personally believe that graduate programs will be impressed with your ambitious academic career and with your efforts at self study. Emphasize this in your application. The fact that you will be able to spend a year in Japan is EXCELLENT. Treat it as a study abroad program. Depending on where your husband will be located, you might want to investigate Japanese universities to see whether there are faculty members there with whom you might study or work (probably without pay) while you are there.
Are there any individual faculty members at your present school that you can consult with concerning graduate school programs? Barring that, you can certainly purchase directory type books from bookstores (or even find them at a library) which describe different graduate programs. If you find one that seems interesting, write for information and/or check out their websites. Almost every school has one nowadays.
Also, many graduate programs are VERY open to inquiries from prospective students, and will even suggest faculty members (and current grad students) with whom you can correspond by letter or email, or talk to by phone. Do not hesitate to ask to do so.
Once you find a program you are really interested in, try to visit if you can possibly manage it. Oftentimes the program will arrange interviews with faculty members and maybe even a place to stay with a current graduate student. This is another way to become more than a file in the minds of the people involved with graduate admissions.
I'm sure you already know about the GRE. There are study books and sample tests available and I would strongly advise you to take advantage of them. There are also cram courses which are supposedly effective but are very expensive. You sound like you are diligent enough to study on your own. If you do well on the GRE you will definitely enhance your chances at admission and financial support.
You don't say where you want to study? There are excellent Canadian schools that offer Gender as post grad UBC, UNBC and SFU (I think this one not sure though) all do Gender postgrad. There are some on the east coast too. Australia is well known for Gender post grad schools, as is England. You can focus on an area that no one has a specialty in -- it is difficult, but because most of your work will be independant -- there really isn't a need to be at a school that specializes. (or that is how it is in Canada). Have you checked the University of Chicago? They have a huge oriental studies area -- there must be someone there that specializes in Japan.........
Do a google search for Gender studies programmes -- and see if there is a school that appeals to you........
I think with that good of a GPA -- even if they count cumulative -- a letter of explanation will be enough to show your ability -- besides they will see your transcript and see that you steadily improved -- and that is what really counts.
Good luck -- your topic idea sounds very interesting -- BTW -- I am a Gender Studies MA candidate myself -- thus the "subtle" (ha) suggestion to do a Gender degree.
If you spend a year in Japan and become fairly fluent you could probably test out on the language requirement. You would just have to make sure you really got the grammar and stuff that school emphasizes and not just focusing on street language. Find a graduate school with Japanese Studies and find out what their policy is. And as far as the GPA, if you have shown major and consistent improvement and write a convincing essay I think you still have a pretty good chance. Good luck.