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
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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

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
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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

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

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
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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

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

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

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