Believing people with GPAs lower than 3.0s have nothing “meaningful” to contribute is exactly why most STEM fields lack diversity and promote unintentional bias.
When I transferred to Tech my gpa dropped to a 2.1 one semester and I did not bring it up to a 3.0 by the time I graduated. Yet, I was accepted into a grad program with people who have graduated with 4.0s.
I almost didn’t even apply to grad school because I was worried I would not get in. Fostering this idea that having a high GPA matters excludes talent in all shapes and forms.
In addition, it does not help when we put fellowships, schools, etc., that promote this ideal, on a pedestal.
I’d also like to mention this thread was inspired by @spaceandweather very real tweet and me getting heated by the GRFP workshop I attended in which they mentioned having a high GPA was an ideal component to the application 🙄
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