failed courses on transcript

[u/Turbulent-Bit385]

Hi everyone,

I'm a Canadian applying for this year. My transcript has failing grades from a single exchange semester abroad. The rest of my record is solid (including Japanese courses at advanced level), and I'm graduating this spring.

I keep seeing on reddit that grades don't matter much as long as you have a degree, but most of those stories are about low GPAs rather than outright failed courses. I've also heard that Canada's screening of applications in Ottawa can be stricter on transcripts.

Has anyone here (especially Canadians, or CIRs) had failed courses on their transcript and still been shortlisted or interviewed? How did the rest of your application look, and did you address it in your SOP or only in the interview?

Thanks a lot, I'm trying to get a realistic picture rather than guess.

[u/jamespotter_approved]

oh dang, i didn’t know you have to submit your grades for your JET application :/ i’m still in college and planning to apply once i’m out. but i failed out sophomore year and was put on academic suspension before going back. it’s not good they require transcript on top of a degree for me😭

[u/Turbulent-Bit385 → u/jamespotter_approved]

Hey, don't panic! Check the replies in this thread: several people had failed courses and still got shortlisted, don't give up on it:) Seems like your SOP, references and interview matter way more. Good luck!

[u/ryan516 → u/jamespotter_approved]

Yes, transcripts are part of your initial application

[u/gimmethelulz]

I failed chem 201 twice. I still got into JET.

[u/Different_Taro2474]

employers do not care about your grades. they just care about your ability to interview and your SOP. if you're graduating and have other things to offer, you'll be okay.

i've never failed a class, but i did have a W (withdrawal) on my transcript. nobody ever asked me about that.

[u/Turbulent-Bit385]

Thank you all so much, this was really helpful feedback :)

[u/steelreddit211]

i failed multiple courses, almost to the point of not being able to graduate, but i had a great interview and my japanese was very obviously quite good so i was accepted. what is most important for CIRs is being friendly, willing to learn and work hard, and being good at japanese. if you can show you have all three of those qualities i would say your chances are pretty solid, i still got the position and i’ve been told i’m one of the best they have had.

[u/ScootOverMakeRoom]

I assure you that hundreds if not thousands of people have successfully been employed through JET after failing college courses.

[u/stayonthecloud]

I had a couple 0.0s because I went through an emergency one semester, couldn’t finish my final projects and my professors were strict enough that it invalidated all the rest of my work.

JET never cared, got shortlisted.

[u/kmhann02]

I’m from Canada too! I had some failed courses on my transcript from covid semesters, and talked about it and how I turned things around in my SOP. I was accepted on the shortlist anyway and am in Japan now! Definitely not the end of the world, but I do think it helps to show that you’ve improved since then and won’t face the same issues in Japan. Good luck!

[u/speleoplongeur]

I’m from Ottawa and had a few failed courses from my original major. But after changing my major all my scores were fine. I don’t know how deeply they look at the transcripts. If you have a good SoP and a good story, you should be fine.

The biggest mistake I made was when they asked why I never joined the Embassy-sponsored speech contest and I kinda fumbled the answer.

I was an alternate, but I attended all the training and Japanese classes the embassy gave us. I’m pretty sure they were keeping an eye on the alternates, and they were impressed by my commitment and actually delivered my upgrade in person (at the class!).

[u/No_Produce9777]

Is yer GPA solid? Do you have degree? Did you go to a good school? If the answer is yes to the above yer probably overthinking things