Hello,

With the low GPA, low GMAT, and lack of experience you should consider waiting for a year to apply to MBA programs. In the meantime you should obtain meaningful/relevant work experience, take a business-related course and earn an A to demonstrate academic capability, and do further GMAT preparation to raise your score.

Best regards,
Cindy Tokumitsu
Senior Editor, Accepted.com
www.Accepted.com

Hello,

With a similar GPA completed 5 years ago (BSc Biology), I am considering applying to the full-time Queen's MBA program for the coming 2010-2011 cohort. I haven't written my GMAT yet but I am in the process of reviewing/practicing the material so I can write the test next month (Sept) and hopefully acheive my goal which is to obtain a 700+ mark. Since graduation, I have discovered my passion in Finances and have taken considerable steps to increase my education, exposure and experience in the field through a Certificate in Financial Analysis & Investment Management (at the Univ. of Toronto), approx. 3.3 GPA. Additionally, I have completed my CFA, Level 1 this past June and have registered to complete my Level 2 next June. I have 5 years of work experience with a reputable Fortune 500 insurance company in successive roles of increasing responsibilities and leadership, presently an Investment Analyst (started as an Account Representative). Do you recommend that I take additional courses (through Athabasca U) to upgrade my GPA or will I be a competitive applicant with a strong GMAT score?

Thank you in advance for any advice/direction,

What you have is quite impressive already. CFA levels 1-3 are quite difficult, so it is quite commendable that you already have Level 1. Based on my personal experience, you need to first figure out what type of school you want to get into. Considering the fact that you are aiming for 700, that should be enough to get you into a lot of elite B-schools, but try aiming higher... this way, if you score less than what you wanted, you could still be within a high range of 700 +.
Also, with your level of experience within the business field, I don't think you'll have any problem when you apply to a B-school. Just make sure that your essay is well written, you get recommended by the right people. Good luck

Note that this is all from what I've witnessed of my friends who are in the boat as you. I plan to re-take my GMAT, try to aim for a 720, then spend 2 more years acquiring some much needed business experience before applying to mba programs.