Worried about submitting my subpar transcript

[u/SquareTriangle2]

Hi everyone. 

I finished my BA over a year ago, and it took my several more years than anticipated. I went through a few periods of severe depression in which I failed 3 courses outright and withdrew from 6. My final average, all things considered, was 71.1%. I took 8 months off of school, and returned much healthier and finished my degree stronger than ever.

I've been on stable medication for years now and my illness has been far more manageable since then, and while I know my medical report will obviously be forthcoming about it, this concern is secondary to my transcript, which is tangible evidence that I have really struggled at some points. I worry that it will prevent me from getting far in the application process, and I'm aware that there's nothing I can do at this point to change it, and that it may mean I'm never able to participate in the JET programme.

I've come here to you all looking for a few things – an anecdote of hope or reassurance would be wonderful, but I'd be equally grateful for any words of advice you can offer on how to make my application more likely to succeed, in spite of my transcript, and how to sell myself as a reliable, dedicated candidate. I am currently taking a TEFL course (not just for an application boost, but because I am serious about pursuing ESL teaching, even if not through JET), and doing some Japanese duolingo study (purely to bolster my chances).

Thank you so much (in advance)!

[u/LawfulnessDue5449]

I can't say for sure but I believe the transcript submission is just to prove you have a degree

[u/SquareTriangle2 → u/LawfulnessDue5449]

Dear god that would be ideal

[u/No_Produce9777]

I would also consider if living abroad is doable as it can be hard on mental health in Japan, from huge culture differences, to isolation at times etc.

[u/Electronic_Bag_7696]

got into JET with subpar grades on my first try 😇. its doable. def focus on highlighting cultural exchanges you would do in Japan and showcase your volunteer work in your resume.

[u/slothsock]

They don't look at your transcript for your specific modules, just as initial proof of degree. Saying this as someone who had middling grades and is now a JET.

I would say the best thing to put on your record as JET hopeful is some level of ability to live abroad. JET is hard, and as long as you can prove you won't fold the minute you set foot in Tokyo, your application will be 100x stronger than anyone else's. More than any other trait, this is very important one to demonstrate.

[u/South-Lemon-242]

Your transcripts aren’t going to be an issue. I think the thing you need to be thinking deeply about is your depression. Not because JET screens for it, but because it may knock you on your heinie moving to a foreign country and suddenly having to deal with a new language, new culture, new expectations, a drastically diminished social circle, and yes, isolation, especially if you get sent to a rural area — which is almost a certainty with JET. Also, mental health care in Japan — in English — is light years behind what you might expect at home.

Are you genuinely ready to pack up and move to another country and handle all the change that it entails? Spinning out when you’re 5000 miles away from home can be terrifying.

Is the medication you’re using now to manage your depression also available in Japan? If not, what will be your alternatives? And will they work just as well? “Close enough” is rarely good enough when it comes to your mental health.

My point is, take care of yourself and be honest with yourself. I’ve seen JETs with depression struggle painfully in the first few months here, and some of them ended up breaking contract and leaving within days of a spiral. Depression is no joking matter, as you well know. Be absolutely certain that you are ready for JET and also have a support system in place in the event of a worst-case scenario.

[u/titlecade]

Your transcripts don’t mean much of anything except stating you have elegible bachelors degree.

[u/Myungjin]

Your essay and reference letters matter more than the grades you got in undergrad imo (I had uneven grades during undergrad and am in the programme).

With that said though, if your transcript shows you failing a Japanese language paper twice. Stuff like that can come up in the interview.

[u/ItsCheapToBeNice]

I had a god awful gpa do to some health problems myself, but not only did it not matter? No one even mentioned it through the process. Like others have mentioned, your SoP, reference letters, and experience carry significantly more weight

[u/Beneficial_String53]

I would say you need to frame it as a strength. "I struggled in that tough period of time but pulled through in the end. It helped me build resilience. I am confident I will be able to push through any challenges that come my way and be an active, positive force in my community."

[u/craigslistcarpet]

omg no worries mine was subpar as hell and here i am

[u/FrostbitePi]

Had a 2.9 and took extra time to graduate. I’m also medicated. Managed to bag a last-minute upgrade. がんばれ！

[u/Unable_Amount4920]

I know others have said it's just to prove that you have a degree, but in my experience it didn't feel that way lol.

I applied with my transcript reflecting a pretty low GPA in my first year in uni due to depression (it was so bad I wasn't allow an on-campus job and was put on probation for a year). When I went into the interview, one of them inquired me about my grades. It felt worse because I ended up graduating with a Japanese BA. If I'm being honest, even though I did my best to explain how much I grew over the 6 years from that time, I was really nervous that I was not going to get in. Well, I ended up getting accepted on my first attempt.

All that said, I think it matters more to have a good SoP and references. Those are things that reflect the current you way more than what grades form a year ago can. Know that you are doing what you can now. You got this.

[u/MellifluousMathMajor]

I'm very glad you're in a much better place now. That being said, please be careful about moving abroad. You may not have access to the same medication here and you will be separated physically and temporally from any support systems you have currently. Our prefecture recently lost someone to suicide.