Ask an MBA Admissions Consultant

I received my bachelor's degree in 2001 and finished with a 3.2 GPA from Oklahoma State. My grade trend is the exact opposite of what anyone would want, it goes from a 3.5 to a 3.2 in my last two years.

I do have a story to explain the situation, and how the exact opposite is true today. I start grad school this fall to work on a Master of Accounting at UMKC while employed full-time, and I intend to apply next fall for admission to a MBA program. This schedule would dictate that I'll have 3 semesters of very recent graduate work when I apply to MBA programs.

If I can keep a 4.0 for these 3 upcoming semesters, would that eliminate my decade-old undergrad performance and trend as a consideration? Would it give my apps a considerable boost up?

For work experience I'll have 11 years at matriculation, 4 of them managing. I have a solid history of advancement and a history of salary raises that includes bumps of 25%, 10%, and 5% in the last three years. As for age, I'll be 31 at matriculation.

For extra-curriculars, I spent 6 hours a week for three years leading and serving high school youth in the area. Right now I'm focused on founding a student organization to work with a local KIPP Academy doing tutoring and other activities.

I'm currently targeting the University of Michigan's dual-degree program in education and business. My GMAT is 740 (Q47, V45), and I will have a very compelling story and future focus for my essays. I think I'm competitive for entrance now, but I'm really after a scholarship.

I've gone back and forth about re-taking the GMAT. The Q47 is below what I imagined as my floor since 5 of my 7 practice exams scored Q49 or above, and 1 scored a Q48. I believe if I retake that I have a chance to score 770+. But I also know that almost everyone says not to retake a 740. If recent graduate work could propel me into scholarship consideration, I'm resigned to stick with the 740. If not, I feel like I should re-up and gun for a 770+.

Thoughts?