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[bound]

Long time lurker, first time poster.  

I realize that my question is not entirely original, but I'd like some situation-specific advice.  

Background: I'm in the process of applying to PhD program and have had some great feedback with the faculty I'd like to work with at each school to which I am applying.  I'm currently finishing up my Master's degree with a strong thesis project and a 4.0 GPA in a ranked (top 20) department.  I'll have great recommendations and my GRE score is very good.  I am fully-funded with a teaching assistantship.

Problem:  One of the departments I'm applying to (top 5) seems to typically admit people just finishing their undergraduate work into the PhD program and all of the forms request only your undergraduate GPA as well as your GPA for Junior/Senior years.  (The department does accept people who already have Master's degrees, though.) My undergrad career was less than stellar.  It took me 12 years from start to finish  (I spent 8 of those in between years as a stay-at-home mom) and my GPA was around a 3.3.  I'm more than happy to provide that information, but I feel that my recent work should be given the most attention.  The departmental application provides an area for applicants to explain why their grades might not necessarily reflect their actual ability, and I feel this would be a good place to explain, but my graduate program grades do reflect my abilities.  I just don't know how to make the Master's GPA obvious given the structure of the forms.  Additionally, I've been warned against revealing that I have children in my applications.  

Should I just lay everything out there and hope for the best?  My fear is that the committee will take a quick glance at the undergraduate GPA at the top of the form and eliminate my application without reading further to see my current achievements.  

I appreciate your input.  

[lohai0]

I bet your application has some sort of statement of purpose. You can slip in tidbits about your master's coursework there. For instance 'I learned to love using decorative reeds for textural basket weaving when I completed my master's thesis. If admitted to Your Super Awesome Program, I hope to continue studying this topic under Dr. Bigwig, whose expertise would continue to guide my growth as a scholar of decorative reeds who will contribute to the discourse in the literature on this important topic by...'

[bound]

Thanks for the input, lohai0.  My statement of purpose, CV and other materials I'll be submitting make it clear that I am working on the Master's degree.  I just have this vision of a department with hundred of applications culling the pile down to a reasonable size just by looking at the 'numbers' on the top of the departmental application form instead of reading all of the submitted materials. 

[lohai0]

You can't control if the admissions committees does that or not-try not to dwell too much.

[aprilmay]

You can address your masters program, and related improvement in performance, in your personal statement. This can include your GPA. You cannot control the structure of the application or whether the admissions committee will focus on the undergraduate GPA. I serve on doctoral admissions and in our committees we would never discount based on some formula.

There are some fields where many masters degrees are failed doctoral programs, although schools will offer masters degrees. Is this the case for your field? This may explain why some programs are focusing on the undergrad years. If so, this is important for you to know so that your masters program does not appear to be a failed doctoral program.

I suggest not discussing that you have children in your application only because it is completely irrelevant. The doctoral application's personal statement is not about your personal life. This mistake is made often.

Good luck.

[lyndonparker]

Realize, too, that while many top programs will not hold less than stellar undergraduate grades against you, there probably are some that will. Don't worry about it, but apply broadly.

[shrek]

Why can't you just e-mail the graduate coordinator and ask if you can also submit your MA transcripts? (do make it clear that you have an MA in your statement).

[kron3007]

You can't control if the admissions committees does that or not-try not to dwell too much.

From my experience (in a STEM field) if you have an advisor that wants you, all you need is to meet the universities/departments minimum requirements.  Since you stated that you have been speaking with them already, they may be able to help you through the application process.  This is probably much less common in the humanities, so depending on your field it may be very different from my experience.

That being said, I think you should find somewhere to include the graduate transcripts, likely in the section that you mentioned.

[bound]

In my field, the Master's is not considered a failed doctorate and most departments expect a Master's degree prior to entering a PhD program. The faculty I've spoken with in the department know I will have already earned the Master's upon entering the program and encouraged me to apply.  The department website also indicates this is acceptable.  Unfortunately, their forms don't reflect that.  

I already planned to include my Master's transcripts as the university requests transcripts from all schools where you have completed collegiate-level work.  I think I'll contact the DGS to ask how best to incorporate my graduate GPA on the departmental form.  Surely, this won't be the first time they've fielded this question.  

Thank you for the responses and advice.

[systeme_d_]

This is not a question that warrants an inquiry.

Your MA GPA will be visible on your MA transcripts.  Just fill out the application as requested.  It is almost certain that your MA GPA will appear on a form generated by the Graduate School (the admin staff who process your application), which is then sent to the department to which you apply.

IOW, chill out.

[aprilmay]

In my field, the Master's is not considered a failed doctorate and most departments expect a Master's degree prior to entering a PhD program. The faculty I've spoken with in the department know I will have already earned the Master's upon entering the program and encouraged me to apply.  The department website also indicates this is acceptable.  Unfortunately, their forms don't reflect that.  

I already planned to include my Master's transcripts as the university requests transcripts from all schools where you have completed collegiate-level work.  I think I'll contact the DGS to ask how best to incorporate my graduate GPA on the departmental form.  Surely, this won't be the first time they've fielded this question.  

Thank you for the responses and advice.

In that case you are in even better shape as reviewers will be looking for Masters work in the application.

[havesometea]

It would have been difficult to hide that I have kids, as during my at-home time I was homeschooling and led a number of science-related homeschool activities, which I included on my resume. Also, people reading my application would have had questions about the big chunk of time missing from my school-work record . . . might as well tell them the truth. On the plus side, they don't have to worry that I'm going to have kids and drop out -- I'm past that stage now.