Will my past come back to haunt me?

[Meawallace21]

Hello everyone-

I am planning on attending a small liberal arts college -1,800 people- for graduate school. The school is a good school, but not super competitive.

I went to a couple previous colleges before deciding on the school I am curretnly atttending. The two previous school I attended I was put on academic probation. I did really well in the classes I like and not so well in the classes that I did not like.

I currently have a 3.7 overal and a 3.5 in my major. I am involved in my school and am involved in multiple volunteer activities. My question is - Do you think my past will keep me from getting into the school I want?

Also, how do I explain why I was put on probation. I know it was because I was not happy where I was at and did not enjoy school. I am just not sure what the admissions department want to hear.

Thanks for ANY help.

[roses]

I had a similar situation...not academic probation, but I was at a business school I hated before I transferred and got a couple of very low grades and was taking only a few courses a semester. I've been told that schools look at your last two years as the most important (the first few semesters are just intro courses anyway).

But I always think: If they have to decide between me and someone who's done well all the way through, what will make them choose me? That's where I plan to use my recommendations, i.e. ask the prof.s that are giving them to me to explain any weaknesses in my application. If you start explaining it, it'll look like you're making excuses, and if nothing accounts for it, then your application is weaker.

So...yeah, if you're worried, ask the people who are recommending you.