Did you know that there are a number of US universities that consider students with backlogs? However, there are various factors that affect the backlog acceptance rate of these universities. Check out the list of universities accepting backlogs in the USA.
The United States is home to some of the world's finest universities. American universities have consistently ranked well in global rankings due to their quality of teaching and high academic standards. There are various factors that affect your chances of being accepted to an American university, but in this article, we will focus on the issue of backlogs. It is a common misconception among students that having even a single backlog may impact their dream of studying abroad. You would be pleased to know that several universities in the USA accept backlogs. This article will help you explore the USA universities accepting backlogs.
Table of Contents
- What Is A Backlog?
- Factors Affecting Acceptance of Backlogs
- How many Backlogs are Allowed in the USA?
- List of USA Universities Accepting Backlogs
- Do Backlogs Affect your US Visa?
What Is A Backlog?
Before we discover the universities accepting backlogs in the USA, let us first understand what a backlog is. A backlog is when you fail to pass an exam on your first attempt. You must appear for the said exam a second time to obtain your degree from the university. However, an exam missed due to sickness or injury (or any other genuine reason) will be marked as absent and not be counted as a backlog.
Upon completing your studies, your institution will issue you a backlog certificate. This document includes information about how many backlogs you have, how many attempts you've made, and whether the backlog is active or not.
In case of no backlogs, institutions usually do not offer a backlog certificate. However, some US universities may still request a backlog certificate as part of their application process. So even if you do not have a backlog, asking for a zero backlog certificate from your university is always a good idea.
Factors Affecting Acceptance of Backlogs
In the United States, there are various factors that affect universities' acceptance of backlogs. The following factors determine the acceptance rate of backlogs in the USA:
Overall GPA / CGPA
Your academic performance is evaluated based on your final GPA/CGPA. This factor is especially important in the case of applicants with backlogs. If your CGPA is low and you have backlogs, your application is unlikely to be considered. It is possible that the concerned university will admit you regardless of your previous backlogs if you manage to get a good GPA after clearing your backlogs.
Courses / Subject of Backlogs
If your backlog does not relate directly to the course you plan to pursue; it will not affect your enrollment. However, if those subjects constitute a large part of the curriculum, your chances of getting rejected will increase.
For example, you wish to pursue social services courses in the USA and have a backlog in one of the core subjects of engineering. In such a case, the backlog will not hinder your chances of getting accepted at the university.
The chance of being admitted to some universities may be affected by backlog history, even if the backlog is in a non-core subject. Although universities may require a certain grade in core subjects, they do not ignore backlogs.
Repeated Backlogs
When we say repeated backlogs, we mean the amount of time or attempts taken to clear each backlog. You are more likely to get rejected if you make multiple attempts on the same backlog. Also, if you have cleared your backlog in a few attempts, you have a greater chance of getting your application accepted.
Backlog Status
Students with active backlogs aren't accepted by reputable US universities. Most of the universities may also require you to submit a Backlog Certificate, which contains a record of your active and inactive backlogs. Hence, make sure you clear all your active backlogs before applying to the top universities in the USA.
How many backlogs are allowed in the USA?
Due to the high level of competition in universities in the United States, many top schools do not prefer applicants with backlogs. Despite this, there are universities in the USA that accept backlogs. Some universities accept up to five backlogs. In cases where five or more backlogs exist, the university admissions team solely decides whether an applicant will be admitted.
Generally, the USA accepts no more than 15 backlogs. Remember that US universities count backlogs based on the number of subjects. You can also be evaluated on the number of attempts to pass the exam.
Furthermore, universities consider the overall Grade Point Average (GPA), extracurricular activities, and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Therefore, in case you have a high number of backlogs, you should consider improving your scores and applying elsewhere.
List of USA Universities Accepting Backlogs
Taking into account the factors mentioned above, we have compiled a list of US universities that accept backlogs. Check out the list of some renowned institutions that will enable you to pursue your desired course in the USA. Based on the number of backlogs, the US universities are categorized as follows:
- US Universities Accepting Upto 5 Backlogs
- US Universities Accepting 5-10 Backlogs
- US Universities Accepting 10-15 Backlogs
- US Universities Accepting More than 15 Backlogs
US Universities Accepting Upto 5 Backlogs
This category includes some well-known universities that welcome international students. Fortunately, there is a good number of universities in the USA that accept up to five backlogs:
- Kent State University, Ohio
- Wichita State University, Kansas
- Marist College, New York
- Wright State University, Ohio
- Gannon University, Pennsylvania
- Clarkson University, New York
US Universities Accepting 5-10 Backlogs
Generally, the list gets shorter as we move forward. In this case, however, a larger number of US universities accept up to 10 backlogs. The following list contains such universities:
- Missouri State University, Springfield
- Pace University, New York
- New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Old Westbury
- Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago
- California State University, San Bernardino
- University of South Dakota, Vermillion
- Clark University, Massachusetts
US Universities Accepting 10-15 Backlogs
Universities are rarely flexible enough to offer you a seat if you have 10 to 15 backlogs. There are, however, a few good universities that may accept your application. The following are universities in the United States that accept backlogs, between 10 and 15:
- Golden Gate University, California
- Pittsburg State University, Kansas
- Rowan University, New Jersey
- Old Dominion University, Virginia
US Universities Accepting More than 15 Backlogs
There is a maximum of 15 backlogs allowed at US universities. Unfortunately, students with 15+ backlogs are not eligible to study in the country. You must maintain a good CGPA and clear all your backlogs regardless of which university you apply to. You can further enhance your chances of getting into good universities by maintaining a strong extracurricular profile.
You must also prepare well to get high scores in standardized exams to become eligible for universities abroad. In addition to this, make sure you prepare a good statement of purpose and obtain a letter of recommendation from your university.
Do Backlogs Affect your US Visa?
Lastly, students often wonder if backlogs affect their applications for student visas. There is good news: backlogs do not hamper your application for a US visa!
Student visas to the United States are only given to genuine students who have been admitted to a US educational institution. Therefore, if you have received an unconditional offer to study at an American University, backlogs should not affect the acceptance of your application.
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