Dear kdphan,
Since your GPA is low, you will want to get a higher score on your GMAT to mitigate the GPA. Although you worked through school, scoring over a 650 will allow the admissions committee to feel comfortable in your ability to succeed academically. I think you will still have a shot if you score over a 600, but >650 would put you in a better position. Finally, your essays, recommendations and interviews are critical and you will want to effectively convey your leadership, teamwork and analytical skills.
Good luck,
Lisa
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Dear vinradia,
1) Should I be concerned that my cumulative GPA is too low for a top school? Is positioning my major GPA as representative of my aptitude for business school the most effective way of overcoming this score?
I do not think your GPA alone will result in a rejection from a top program. It is not that far below the average and finishing strong in your major will be viewed favorably. I don't even think you need to necessarily write on essay on your academic performance as the first year being rough is pretty common.
2) Should I be concerned that my concentration performance and type of coursework as a finance and marketing major will work against me, especially as the types of courses are similar to those offered at most business schools?
There is no preferred degree or coursework, so being a business undergraduate will have neither a positive nor negative effect.
3) I'm considering building an alternative transcript to counter poor performance in relevant classes I took as an undergrad; the intention is to focus on those classes that I did not do as well in and improve my grades.
I'm not convinced an alternative transcript is necessary in your case. If you feel you need to brush up on your math skills or on previous coursework, then take a few courses. It is just unclear if that will strengthen your application significantly.
Good luck,
Lisa
___________________________________________________________
Dear PurpleBee77,
First, I think you should clarify the GPA "requirement". Is 3.2 the average or is it the minimum requirement? I would think that is the average as it is a little high for a requirement. Assuming that is the case, I think you need to aim for a GMAT score over a 650 (higher is better) to be in the best position. You probably still have a shot if you score in the low 600s, but if you can score in the upper 600s or in the 700s, then you will be more attractive as an applicant. You do have substantial work experience and college was quite a while back, so a solid GMAT score will demonstrate your academic aptitude for business school. Please note: even if you score a 750, there is no guarantee of admission. You must also submit a strong overall application with great essays, recommendations and interview.
Best of luck,
Lisa
How to deal with a low GPA
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Lisa Anderson
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Hi Lisa
I have a gpa of 2.65 in U of T in canada. I would like to get into a strong program in mba program in the Los angeles region so USC or Berkley, pepperdine because I plan to move there.
1.) I am working currently as a financial consultant in a bank for two years that deals with accounting and financial management and financial advisory for clients such as big business and high net worth individuals. I also have worked in a small accounting firm for a year.
2.) I have my CMA -certified management accountant designation from Institute of management accountants.
3.) In my free time I build web business's online. I own a handful of websites that generate revenue for me . I own 9 websites to date and love the aspect of online business.
4.) I also have developed an accounting outsourcing business that I will seek to build up after my mba through networking and contacts as I want to be a self-employed accountant.
what gmat score do i need to get into usc, berkeley? Do i sound like mba material? I am only 28. I always wanted to do a mba for personal growth and development so it would groom me to become a well rounded businessman.
I have a gpa of 2.65 in U of T in canada. I would like to get into a strong program in mba program in the Los angeles region so USC or Berkley, pepperdine because I plan to move there.
1.) I am working currently as a financial consultant in a bank for two years that deals with accounting and financial management and financial advisory for clients such as big business and high net worth individuals. I also have worked in a small accounting firm for a year.
2.) I have my CMA -certified management accountant designation from Institute of management accountants.
3.) In my free time I build web business's online. I own a handful of websites that generate revenue for me . I own 9 websites to date and love the aspect of online business.
4.) I also have developed an accounting outsourcing business that I will seek to build up after my mba through networking and contacts as I want to be a self-employed accountant.
what gmat score do i need to get into usc, berkeley? Do i sound like mba material? I am only 28. I always wanted to do a mba for personal growth and development so it would groom me to become a well rounded businessman.
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modesto2
- Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
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- Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2009 10:12 am
- Location: California
- GMAT Score:750
Hi Lisa,
I have a 2.9 GPA from UCLA while studying mechanical engineering. My grades improved each year, and I earned a 3.3 GPA in my last 6 quarters of school. My top MBA choices are UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall and Berkeley Haas.
My 2.9 GPA stems from various issues. I was never the smartest engineer in my classes, but more importantly, I was very involved in student activities. By my last year, I was the Executive Director of one of UCLA's largest student-run philanthropic events and led a committee of 80 students. This extracurricular commitment essentially became a part-time job (at least 20 hours per week).
Currently, I've been working as an airline pilot for the last 4 years and am interested in obtaining my MBA to re-enter the industry in airline management.
I hope to score at least 700 on the GMAT but hopefully higher.
In your opinion, do I have a chance at the three aforementioned schools? Should I take additional courses right now? I know UCLA Extension offers some introductory business management courses. If you think I should take a class, should I pursue one of the business courses or should I take an econ class? Is there any advantage of taking it at UCLA Extension versus a small community college?
Thanks very much for your time and assistance.
I have a 2.9 GPA from UCLA while studying mechanical engineering. My grades improved each year, and I earned a 3.3 GPA in my last 6 quarters of school. My top MBA choices are UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall and Berkeley Haas.
My 2.9 GPA stems from various issues. I was never the smartest engineer in my classes, but more importantly, I was very involved in student activities. By my last year, I was the Executive Director of one of UCLA's largest student-run philanthropic events and led a committee of 80 students. This extracurricular commitment essentially became a part-time job (at least 20 hours per week).
Currently, I've been working as an airline pilot for the last 4 years and am interested in obtaining my MBA to re-enter the industry in airline management.
I hope to score at least 700 on the GMAT but hopefully higher.
In your opinion, do I have a chance at the three aforementioned schools? Should I take additional courses right now? I know UCLA Extension offers some introductory business management courses. If you think I should take a class, should I pursue one of the business courses or should I take an econ class? Is there any advantage of taking it at UCLA Extension versus a small community college?
Thanks very much for your time and assistance.
GMAT/MBA Expert
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Lisa Anderson
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Dear Howey,
To be competitive at any school, your GMAT score should be above the average. You still have a chance at admission if your score is below the average, but your other components to your application must mitigate your score. If you fall outside the school's mid-50% range, you are at a disadvantage. I would suggesting aiming for a range about 10-20 points below the average and up. Also, I would highly suggest you spend more time researching MBA programs and the admissions process. You are targeting highly competitive schools, so you want to make sure you present the best application possible.
Good luck,
Lisa
_____________________________________________________________
Dear modesto2,
Without knowing more about your background and your GMAT score, it is hard to comment on your chances at any school. If you do score in the 700s, then you will be in a competitive position on that measure and it will help to mitigate your GPA which is below average for those schools. I do think you have interesting work experience, and it should help to distinguish you as pilots are rare in the applicant pool.
If you want to take some courses, they might strengthen your application but I think it will be more helpful for you as your preparation for business school. Math classes like college algebra, finite math, and calculus are the best refresher courses as your core finance classes will assume you are up to speed in math. If you want to get a head start on learning terminology and theory, then you might take an accounting or statistics course. It does not matter so much if you take these at a community college or the UCLA extension, so pick what schedule works best for you.
Best of luck,
Lisa
To be competitive at any school, your GMAT score should be above the average. You still have a chance at admission if your score is below the average, but your other components to your application must mitigate your score. If you fall outside the school's mid-50% range, you are at a disadvantage. I would suggesting aiming for a range about 10-20 points below the average and up. Also, I would highly suggest you spend more time researching MBA programs and the admissions process. You are targeting highly competitive schools, so you want to make sure you present the best application possible.
Good luck,
Lisa
_____________________________________________________________
Dear modesto2,
Without knowing more about your background and your GMAT score, it is hard to comment on your chances at any school. If you do score in the 700s, then you will be in a competitive position on that measure and it will help to mitigate your GPA which is below average for those schools. I do think you have interesting work experience, and it should help to distinguish you as pilots are rare in the applicant pool.
If you want to take some courses, they might strengthen your application but I think it will be more helpful for you as your preparation for business school. Math classes like college algebra, finite math, and calculus are the best refresher courses as your core finance classes will assume you are up to speed in math. If you want to get a head start on learning terminology and theory, then you might take an accounting or statistics course. It does not matter so much if you take these at a community college or the UCLA extension, so pick what schedule works best for you.
Best of luck,
Lisa
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kumaran2tm
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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- Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:30 am
Hi Lisa,
As is the case with the rest of the guys my concern is that of a low gpa. My GPA when scaled to 4.0 is 2.65. I graduated with a computer engineering degree from National University of Singapore which is ranked 11 in IT and Engineering.
That being said, I am not as academically bad as my gpa suggests. I recently took my GMAT and scored 740 in it and I held a full scholarship during my UG tenure. I don’t intend to start applying for MBA courses for another 3 years atleast. So I have a full 3 years to work on the different parts in my application.
By the time i apply i would have gained 4 years of work experience and I am confident of getting leadership experiences/ opportunities both within the organization and outside. I have laid out plans for it and if everything goes by ok, I am confident that my non-academic part of the application, if not great, would be decent enough to not warrant a rejection!.
My major concern is the academic portion. How do I prove that I am indeed academically good? I read about building an alternate transcript with the major subjects. But my GPA for major subjects is also low, only 2.74. Now I could either take a few UG classes and ace in them or take a part time masters in a quantitative subject like finance and ace it. Will part time masters be viewed less favourably when applying for MBAs? Do you think I would be better off (less hassle) doing some UG courses to prove my academic capability?
To what extent would a masters degree mitigate my low GPA? Do i have a chance of getting into a top 10 or 20 MBA with my expected qualifications and experience?
Thanks for your suggestions.
As is the case with the rest of the guys my concern is that of a low gpa. My GPA when scaled to 4.0 is 2.65. I graduated with a computer engineering degree from National University of Singapore which is ranked 11 in IT and Engineering.
That being said, I am not as academically bad as my gpa suggests. I recently took my GMAT and scored 740 in it and I held a full scholarship during my UG tenure. I don’t intend to start applying for MBA courses for another 3 years atleast. So I have a full 3 years to work on the different parts in my application.
By the time i apply i would have gained 4 years of work experience and I am confident of getting leadership experiences/ opportunities both within the organization and outside. I have laid out plans for it and if everything goes by ok, I am confident that my non-academic part of the application, if not great, would be decent enough to not warrant a rejection!.
My major concern is the academic portion. How do I prove that I am indeed academically good? I read about building an alternate transcript with the major subjects. But my GPA for major subjects is also low, only 2.74. Now I could either take a few UG classes and ace in them or take a part time masters in a quantitative subject like finance and ace it. Will part time masters be viewed less favourably when applying for MBAs? Do you think I would be better off (less hassle) doing some UG courses to prove my academic capability?
To what extent would a masters degree mitigate my low GPA? Do i have a chance of getting into a top 10 or 20 MBA with my expected qualifications and experience?
Thanks for your suggestions.
GMAT/MBA Expert
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Lisa Anderson
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Dear kumaran2tm,
Congratulations on your GMAT score! It will mitigate your GPA the most in your application as it is designed to test your aptitude specifically for business school. If you can gain the leadership experiences and progress rapidly in you career over the next 3 years, then that will also help to strengthen your application. As for an alternative transcript, it might be helpful to show you can succeed academically, but there is not any extra value put on masters courses versus bachelors courses. I would suggest taking business and math courses like accounting, statistics, calculus, and finance. You could also take something like organizational behavior or strategy just for your personal development since you have a highly quantitative background. Finally, you have a chance at a top 20; however, the decision will be made on your overall application, so your GMAT score and academic record will not be enough to gain admission. You must also have great essays, recommendations and interviews.
Good luck,
Lisa
Congratulations on your GMAT score! It will mitigate your GPA the most in your application as it is designed to test your aptitude specifically for business school. If you can gain the leadership experiences and progress rapidly in you career over the next 3 years, then that will also help to strengthen your application. As for an alternative transcript, it might be helpful to show you can succeed academically, but there is not any extra value put on masters courses versus bachelors courses. I would suggest taking business and math courses like accounting, statistics, calculus, and finance. You could also take something like organizational behavior or strategy just for your personal development since you have a highly quantitative background. Finally, you have a chance at a top 20; however, the decision will be made on your overall application, so your GMAT score and academic record will not be enough to gain admission. You must also have great essays, recommendations and interviews.
Good luck,
Lisa
Dear Lisa
I graduated with a bachelor in engineering and achieved an abysmal grade of 64.5%, the reason of which is very easily explained.. anyway i did a Masters of Commerce degree majoring in finance (similar to Uk's MSc (Finance)) which was a 1 1/2 year program (12 subjects) and i achieved an 82% (Distinction).. and equivalent to first class honours. I have been working in investment banking for 4 years and am a member of two NGOs.. Rotary and Freemasonry..
Assuming i achieve a GMAT score of 720, will I stand a good chance to make it into a top 20 program? I feel my undergrad let me down, but I was wondering whether my GMAT, work experience in Investment Banking and Masters (scoring well on quantitative subjects such as derivatives/ financial modelling) would comfortably mitigate the undergraduate mark. Otherwise, I was considering doing the CFA
I did my Masters in University of Sydney which is rated highly and undergrad in University of New South Wales (also rated highly).
I graduated with a bachelor in engineering and achieved an abysmal grade of 64.5%, the reason of which is very easily explained.. anyway i did a Masters of Commerce degree majoring in finance (similar to Uk's MSc (Finance)) which was a 1 1/2 year program (12 subjects) and i achieved an 82% (Distinction).. and equivalent to first class honours. I have been working in investment banking for 4 years and am a member of two NGOs.. Rotary and Freemasonry..
Assuming i achieve a GMAT score of 720, will I stand a good chance to make it into a top 20 program? I feel my undergrad let me down, but I was wondering whether my GMAT, work experience in Investment Banking and Masters (scoring well on quantitative subjects such as derivatives/ financial modelling) would comfortably mitigate the undergraduate mark. Otherwise, I was considering doing the CFA
I did my Masters in University of Sydney which is rated highly and undergrad in University of New South Wales (also rated highly).
Hi,
I'm hoping you could provide me with some well needed insight. I'm sorry for the details but I feel you will get the best sense of my situation with them. I don't have a bad GPA but its certainly not great either. I graduated with a 3.1 with a B.S. in biology and minors in physics and chem (I did poorly the first two years not having taken college that seriously, but then got 3.9s and 4.0s in the last two years). Upon graduating, I took a job as a researcher at a Fortune 500 company for about 5 months. I left my job because I was accepted into an M.S. program at a top medical school in which I received a Masters in Biomedical Science (3.6 GPA). Once I graduated I was offered a low level job at Merrill Lynch which I accepted; and btw HATED. After 12 months of work I was laid off. I have been looking for work in the financial industry ever since but considering the job market I have come up empty. I have been using this time to study for the GMAT with the hope to apply to a top 10 B-school. Considering my minimum work experience and my inability to find a job how much will this weigh on my applications?
I'm hoping you could provide me with some well needed insight. I'm sorry for the details but I feel you will get the best sense of my situation with them. I don't have a bad GPA but its certainly not great either. I graduated with a 3.1 with a B.S. in biology and minors in physics and chem (I did poorly the first two years not having taken college that seriously, but then got 3.9s and 4.0s in the last two years). Upon graduating, I took a job as a researcher at a Fortune 500 company for about 5 months. I left my job because I was accepted into an M.S. program at a top medical school in which I received a Masters in Biomedical Science (3.6 GPA). Once I graduated I was offered a low level job at Merrill Lynch which I accepted; and btw HATED. After 12 months of work I was laid off. I have been looking for work in the financial industry ever since but considering the job market I have come up empty. I have been using this time to study for the GMAT with the hope to apply to a top 10 B-school. Considering my minimum work experience and my inability to find a job how much will this weigh on my applications?
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Lisa Anderson
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Dear udhillon,
I do think a high GMAT score as well as good marks in your master's program will mitigate your undergraduate GPA. Both demonstrate your ability to succeed in the classroom. I'm not sure a CFA will necessarily strengthen your application, but if you will need it for your career, then it might be worth pursuing.
Good luck,
Lisa
_______________________________________________________________
Dear lsommer28,
You are right to be concerned with your career path to date, but your undergraduate GPA is probably fine. The fact you did well in your last two years of college will mitigate any concerns the admissions committees might have based on your overall GPA. I do think the admissions committees will question why you pursued the MS in Biomedical Science though since you went to work in financial services when you finished. I also think you might want to spend some time determining if finance is really where you want to be since you hated your job at Merrill Lynch. While there are many finance jobs that are different from that job, I think it would be helpful for you to determine what you really want to do so that you can ensure business school is worth the investment for you. Finally, I would suggest finding a job or other professional development activity in the interim as schools will want to know what your plan is between now and business school. It is understandable you might have a gap between being laid off and finding another opportunity, but planning to do nothing until starting school will be viewed negatively.
Good luck,
Lisa
I do think a high GMAT score as well as good marks in your master's program will mitigate your undergraduate GPA. Both demonstrate your ability to succeed in the classroom. I'm not sure a CFA will necessarily strengthen your application, but if you will need it for your career, then it might be worth pursuing.
Good luck,
Lisa
_______________________________________________________________
Dear lsommer28,
You are right to be concerned with your career path to date, but your undergraduate GPA is probably fine. The fact you did well in your last two years of college will mitigate any concerns the admissions committees might have based on your overall GPA. I do think the admissions committees will question why you pursued the MS in Biomedical Science though since you went to work in financial services when you finished. I also think you might want to spend some time determining if finance is really where you want to be since you hated your job at Merrill Lynch. While there are many finance jobs that are different from that job, I think it would be helpful for you to determine what you really want to do so that you can ensure business school is worth the investment for you. Finally, I would suggest finding a job or other professional development activity in the interim as schools will want to know what your plan is between now and business school. It is understandable you might have a gap between being laid off and finding another opportunity, but planning to do nothing until starting school will be viewed negatively.
Good luck,
Lisa
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Man Yin Ng
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
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- Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:09 pm
Dear Lisa,
This thread has been made very informative by you, it was a very good read!! Could you please kindly assess my situation below for a top 15 MBA program?
I obtain a 2.8 GPA from Hong Kong University studying engineering. My grades improved in the final semester. I have an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.8 and a final semester GPA of 3.55. I was not used to the education system in HK as I studied in USA previously.
I have completed an MPhil in engineering in Cambridge University following my graduation from Hong Kong at 2004 (there is no distinction honor awarded at Cambridge).
I have worked at PricewaterCooperHouse in Hong Kong for 4 years after graduation and I am currently employed at JP Morgan as an associate.
I am preparing for GMAT and hope to score 700 or above. What are my chances going for an MBA program at HBS, Wharton, Stanford or Insead?
Thanks very much for your time and assistance.
This thread has been made very informative by you, it was a very good read!! Could you please kindly assess my situation below for a top 15 MBA program?
I obtain a 2.8 GPA from Hong Kong University studying engineering. My grades improved in the final semester. I have an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.8 and a final semester GPA of 3.55. I was not used to the education system in HK as I studied in USA previously.
I have completed an MPhil in engineering in Cambridge University following my graduation from Hong Kong at 2004 (there is no distinction honor awarded at Cambridge).
I have worked at PricewaterCooperHouse in Hong Kong for 4 years after graduation and I am currently employed at JP Morgan as an associate.
I am preparing for GMAT and hope to score 700 or above. What are my chances going for an MBA program at HBS, Wharton, Stanford or Insead?
Thanks very much for your time and assistance.
GMAT/MBA Expert
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Lisa Anderson
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Dear Man Yin Ng,
Based on the limited information provided, I think you might have a chance at your target schools. However, you will need to score in the 700's on the GMAT to mitigate your GPA. Likewise, your essays, recommendations, and interviews are critical to the ultimate decision and must convey your successful leadership and teamwork experiences as well as a solid rationale for getting your MBA in relation to your past experiences and future career goals. Finally, you should add 1-2 safety schools to your list. You have picked four highly competitive and selective programs, so it would be good to have a back up plan.
Best of luck,
Lisa
Based on the limited information provided, I think you might have a chance at your target schools. However, you will need to score in the 700's on the GMAT to mitigate your GPA. Likewise, your essays, recommendations, and interviews are critical to the ultimate decision and must convey your successful leadership and teamwork experiences as well as a solid rationale for getting your MBA in relation to your past experiences and future career goals. Finally, you should add 1-2 safety schools to your list. You have picked four highly competitive and selective programs, so it would be good to have a back up plan.
Best of luck,
Lisa
Hi Stacy,
I have been out of university for roughly one year. I graduated from a good institution in England with a degree in Business Management, although I did very poorly in my GPA with some failed classes. I will admit that my failing were nobodys fault but my own and I rue my mistakes every day.
Since graduating, I have gone about setting up my own business (Oil and Gas consulting) and have currently done business internationally in Singapore and Norway. My aim is to continue to grow the business for the next two or three years before applying to Business Schools in the United States. I have also set about learning a language to better improve my profile.
I also intend to sit the GMAT in 4 months and im planning on scoring 670+. The schools im interested in are USC, ASU, USDand other good west coast instiutions.
Can you tell me, what are my chances of admission? Will setting up my own business aid my application? And is being fluent in another language likely to appeal?
I have considered doing another undergraduate degree to show that I am capable of doing well (lack of intelligence isnt my weakness). Would this go some way to undoing my poor undergraduate degree?
Thanks
I have been out of university for roughly one year. I graduated from a good institution in England with a degree in Business Management, although I did very poorly in my GPA with some failed classes. I will admit that my failing were nobodys fault but my own and I rue my mistakes every day.
Since graduating, I have gone about setting up my own business (Oil and Gas consulting) and have currently done business internationally in Singapore and Norway. My aim is to continue to grow the business for the next two or three years before applying to Business Schools in the United States. I have also set about learning a language to better improve my profile.
I also intend to sit the GMAT in 4 months and im planning on scoring 670+. The schools im interested in are USC, ASU, USDand other good west coast instiutions.
Can you tell me, what are my chances of admission? Will setting up my own business aid my application? And is being fluent in another language likely to appeal?
I have considered doing another undergraduate degree to show that I am capable of doing well (lack of intelligence isnt my weakness). Would this go some way to undoing my poor undergraduate degree?
Thanks
GMAT/MBA Expert
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Lisa Anderson
- MBA Admissions Consultant
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Dear Skippy13,
Since you do not have a complete profile yet, it is hard to comment on your chances at any institution. It seems you are on the right path to building a competitive profile though. There are many great schools on the west coast of the US, so you should have plenty of options. Fluency in more than one language can be helpful to your application, but it will not play a significant role in an admissions decision (unless it is required by the school). Likewise, your professional experience is important--but more from a quality perspective than from experience in a particular industry or function. If you did not perform well in your undergraduate studies, then taking some classes in addition to a high GMAT score will help to mitigate the below average GPA. It is not necessary to complete another degree, but you certainly could if you feel it would aid your development. Taking 3-6 classes while working should be enough to demonstrate you have the ability to succeed academically.
Good luck,
Lisa
Since you do not have a complete profile yet, it is hard to comment on your chances at any institution. It seems you are on the right path to building a competitive profile though. There are many great schools on the west coast of the US, so you should have plenty of options. Fluency in more than one language can be helpful to your application, but it will not play a significant role in an admissions decision (unless it is required by the school). Likewise, your professional experience is important--but more from a quality perspective than from experience in a particular industry or function. If you did not perform well in your undergraduate studies, then taking some classes in addition to a high GMAT score will help to mitigate the below average GPA. It is not necessary to complete another degree, but you certainly could if you feel it would aid your development. Taking 3-6 classes while working should be enough to demonstrate you have the ability to succeed academically.
Good luck,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I am looking at getting into a top 15 MBA program but like others on this board I have a low GPA.
I graduated from a top 10 college in the US. My gpa was only a 2.6, but I majored in math (B.S.). I recently took my GMAT and scored 720. I have a decent reason for my low GPA and most of it came from my first semester. I am also a Peruvian citizen so I believe I am an underrepresented minority (although I am a permanent resident of the US). I also have good extra curricular activities (resident assistant, varsity athlete)
I currently work at a fortune 500 company with over 25,000 employees. I came in on one of their fast track programs and only 2 years out of college I manage roughly 20 people.
My question is with a GPA that low do I stand a chance at 2010 admissions into the top schools (HBS, LBS, INSEAD, W, S, Sloan, etc etc)? Thanks again for your help.
I am looking at getting into a top 15 MBA program but like others on this board I have a low GPA.
I graduated from a top 10 college in the US. My gpa was only a 2.6, but I majored in math (B.S.). I recently took my GMAT and scored 720. I have a decent reason for my low GPA and most of it came from my first semester. I am also a Peruvian citizen so I believe I am an underrepresented minority (although I am a permanent resident of the US). I also have good extra curricular activities (resident assistant, varsity athlete)
I currently work at a fortune 500 company with over 25,000 employees. I came in on one of their fast track programs and only 2 years out of college I manage roughly 20 people.
My question is with a GPA that low do I stand a chance at 2010 admissions into the top schools (HBS, LBS, INSEAD, W, S, Sloan, etc etc)? Thanks again for your help.
GMAT/MBA Expert
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Lisa Anderson
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Dear inatlanta,
I think you still have a chance at your target schools with your current profile. However, I always encourage folks to apply to 1-3 schools outside the top 10. Competition for those programs is very tough and you don't want to overlook some wonderful programs that do not receive the same kind of recognition.
Best of luck,
Lisa
I think you still have a chance at your target schools with your current profile. However, I always encourage folks to apply to 1-3 schools outside the top 10. Competition for those programs is very tough and you don't want to overlook some wonderful programs that do not receive the same kind of recognition.
Best of luck,
Lisa
