Ask Stacy Blackman

Thank you very much for the advice Lisa! My learning style is more conducive to in class learning rather than online. So I will look into my different options here!

Thank you Lisa for that advice! Since then I've been researching classes at some schools around here. What type of class should I be looking to take? Should it be a Statistics caliber class or an Algebra class?

Hi Lisa,

First off, I just wanted to thank you for all the information you have provided on this thread - it has been extremely helpful.

I am looking to apply to (and hopefully attend) a top 10 MBA program in the next few years. I graduated with a 2.0 from a top 50 school (University of Rochester) due to the lack of focus and poor study habits I had when I was younger. Let's just say I was a horrible student,with a poor lifestyle, and I barely made the grade to graduate.

I was not able to obtain the jobs I wanted after graduation since I did not take part in any internships and since I had a horrible GPA. I have essentially been working in Investment Banking/Hedge Fund Operations for the past few years.

In order to try to make up for my horrible GPA, I have studied for, and passed all three levels of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and have yet to receive the charter due to not having a full 4 years of work experience. I am now studying to take the GMAT and I am consistently scoring over 700 on the practice tests. I believe that I will be able to submit strong personal statements for my graduate school applications.

I read somewhere that top MBA programs will not even look at your personal statements, extracurricular activities, or work experience if you do not posses a certain GMAT score and GPA. Is this true?

Do you think my passing all three levels of the CFA are enough to show a top ten MBA program that I can and will study? Or will they blow off my application and not even look further at what I've done to turn myself around after undergrad?

Your help is GREATLY appreciated as this is something that has been weighing on my heart and mind greatly for the past few years and I am starting to worry that the mistakes that I made in college that have set me back will never be able to be turned around.

Kind Regards,
Alan

Hi Lisa,

I just took my GMAT. Not too thrilled with the results, but my score was 700 (Q:50 V:34). I am debating taking the GMAT again since my Verbal was routinely around 39-40 in the practice exams.

So based on that score along with my low GPA as stated above in my profile (2.6 at a top engineering school and 4 yrs work exp in business consulting at a Big 4 Consulting firm)... do you think it is a good idea to retake the GMAT? I am not sure what else I would be able to do to make up for on an application to top 20 schools. I understand I would have to write great essays, but I wanted to see your guidance on whether I should try for a better score on the GMAT and whether it would amount to anything especially considering I am Indian.

Again thanks for any guidance.

I have a very low GPA(2.7). I graduated this July. I did my Engineering with a specialization in Mechanical.
I also gave my GMAT(720- q-49,v-38,awa-5.5), GRE(1300- q-780,v-520) and toefl(108). What would be my chances?
I'm planning to apply for Fall-2010 without any work-ex as I just graduated. I'm looking out for JD/MBA or Full-time MBA. Could you provide me a concrete list of colleges which do not require work ex?

Lisa,

I too am in a similar predicament as some of the others that have posted.

I graduated in 1996 from the University at Buffalo with a B.S. in the life sciences. My GPA is quite low overall (2.45), but is higher within my major itself.

Since graduating, i've spent the past nearly 12 years in an environmental engineering consultant's role with various companies and with various responsibilites. I've also assisted (albeit remotely) my family in running a restaurant franchise over the past 5 years or so.

I'm currently interested in attending a second tier part-time/professional MBA program, since i am aware of my academic liablities and limitations. I'm interested in some of the Big Ten programs (i.e., Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State, etc.) and have developed a spreadhseet that contains average GMAT and/or median GMAT score ranges for several professional programs across the country, among other pertinent information.

I have yet to take the GMAT and am currently in the process of studying for the test. I am realistically hoping to score anywhere in the 550-600+ range to give myself somewhat of a chance to get in to one of these programs. Obviously, i'm hoping that my professional experience, references, and compelling essays will help with admissions, and also hope that my time away from school will put less emphasis on my lower GPA.

I realize that scoring well on the GMAT is critical, but i was curious as to what your opinion is of my situation and whether or not i will have an ok shot at getting into a second tier program given my professional background and hopeful score on the GMAT. Will the amount and variation (i.e., some engineering/consulting and some business) of experience help at all with admissions?

I'm not a very good standardized test taker, so i am a bit fearful that admissions will focus on my low GPA and potentially lower GMAT scores and ultimately overlook my ability to compete in the program, which i think i have given my experiences, drive, and desire.

Thanks so much in advance for your evaluation and advice.

Hi Lisa,

I have a low GPA of 2.6 and an equally low GMAT score of 620 (Q40, V35).
My undergrad major was in Biomedical Engineering from an Indian University and I have 4 years of work exp with GE Healthcare.
I have worked in India, Srilanka and few months in China as well(this was a part of training program).
Ex-curricular wise I teach students as a community service which my mother started, is a member of Lions Club and invloved in other community improvement projects.
I had applied for Duke Fuqua's EA round and didn't get an interview invitation. So I've been thinkin of retaking the GMAT and hoping to apply to Texas Austin, Boston Uni and Haas. My essays and recos are evry strong. I have a impressive vision to help re-build my country's healthcare system. I was hoping that this will work as the biggest selling point.
Should I apply with a 620 or retake it.
Thanks in advance.

I have a bs in mechanical engineering from UCSB. My Gpa is pretty low at 2.85. I just took the gmat and got 700 44 v 42 q. I am probibly going to take it again becuase i think i can do better on the Q. I wanted to apply to a top 15 school and have about 2 years of work exp at the moment at an aerospace engineering firm as a manufacturing engineer.

What are my chances of getting into a program and what can i do to better my chances?

Thanks for your response Lisa. The two schools i am looking at are ucla (top 15) and usc. I understand they look at much more then just a gmat or gpa. My main questions are,

Do you think its worth my time to retake the test... i think a 720-740 is within my ability?

Also, do you think i should take accounting/economics classes at a csu in order to boost my gpa?

Thanks for your help

Thanks for your reply Lisa.
I won't be falling under the Indian applicant pool. I'm a Srilankan. I was hoping my biomedical background combined with the fact that I come from a different culture will distinguish me from other applicants.
The problem is this is my 2nd attempt at GMAT. The first time I scored a 560 (a very bad day). Would taking the gmat for the 3rd time affect the apps? Im not a good standardized test taker. My mock scores were in the 690-750 range. But somehow on the test day it all goes wrong. Contemplating on retaking it again.
Also do you think I can probably build an alternate transcript taking economics/statistics classes. We do not have community colleges here in Srilanka. So I will either have to enrol for an online course or distance learning program. but then I might have to postpone my apps. If you can shed some light on this it would help a lot.
I'm going to take your advice and look into other programs whose GMAT avg are closer to mine.

Thanks for your help and looking fwd to your reply again.