Does anyone have any recommendations for online programmes that can be completed before applications are due in October in order to build an alternative transcript?

Are any programmes seen as more credible than others in the online space? UC Berkeley Extension or the Harvard Extension School? or is there a cheaper option?

My GPA is below 3 and I have a C- in the finance paper I took in my final semester. Would an A in a finance paper help, or am I better to do a calc or pre calc paper?

I just discovered this thread, and wish I hadn't have posted my question to the general forum now as the discussion here is much more suited to my question. I'll repost what I had below. Thanks Amy for answering all of these questions from everyone, I've read a few pages and will definitely have to make sure I read all of it.

"Overview:
-26 year old white male
-Industrial Engineering undergrad, state school but top-ranked IE program (3.0 GPA in major, <3.0 overall)
-Stayed an extra year to get my MS, joint engineering/business program (3.75 GPA)
-Will have 4 years work experience when I attend B school. 2 years in a leadership development rotational program at a big defense contractor. Quit at the end of the program to join a small engineering consulting firm where I have been working the past year. Experience in operations and finance.
- 750 GMAT (48Q, 47V, 6.0 AW)
- Extracurriculars: Sort-of non-existant (I have a lot of hobbies that take up my time outside of work). Have gotten involved with initiating a Corporate Social Responsibility team at my current company, in which we'll take on pro-bono projects for non-profits.

I'm planning on applying to top 10 schools in the near future. I'm still figuring out what I want to do, but I'll probably end up applying to Harvard, UPenn, MIT, Northwestern, Chicago. The big question on my mind is how big a factor my undergraduate GPA will play. I think the rest of my application could be strong ... did well on the GMAT obviously, and have taken on significant responsibilities in the past year at my current company. I think I can write compelling application essays about how I've evolved in my career. Part of the reason I stayed to get my masters was my bad undergraduate GPA, and I'm planning on writing an essay about turning my GPA around between undergrad and graduate. I've heard that masters GPA doesn't matter too much for admissions because many applicants do not have a masters and there is no basis for comparison. What role does my masters play in my application? Will my GMAT score plus masters GPA balance out my below-average undergraduate GPA?

Thanks!!"

Lisa,

I have been out of the school for 3 years now. I have worked in financial planning and insurance for 3 years now at New York Life and am a top performer. I graduated from a tier 2, non target state school with a 2.6. This was due to having to work 40 hours a work to pay for school and living expenses, being a chemistry major (A major that really wasnt for me, realized i did not enjoy it or excel in it) with some abysmal grades, and my initial immaturity with school. I switched to a finance major in my junior year and did much better with a GPA my last 2 years of 3.4 while still working full time I couldnt pull my GPA up fully due to how horrible my grades were the first 2 years in chem. I originally wanted to be a financial analyst but the job market being so tough in 2008 made me settle with financial advising. here are my accomplishments since then.

- CGPA 2.6, MGPA 3.0
- GMAT 770 ( studied 3 years straight)
- Designations: CFA, CFP, ChFC
- Took 5 courses at the local university, University of Texas San Antonio in Calculus Staistics Physics and Finance. GPA 4.0
- Top Performer as a Financial Planner
- Currently working on a volunteer organization that will take medical residents to provide free treatment to children for a week in third world countries. (we'll see if it works)

I know work experience is very important. My goal is a top 25 MBA program, Preferably top 10.Does my experience in sales as a financial advisor count me out? How else can I better my case for schools to show that my undergrad GPA is not a good representation of my abilities?. I'm planning on applying first round this year. What can I do in that time and what are my chances for top tier program?

Thanks!

Dear Lisa,

I'm 24, from Hong Kong, graduated from a tier 2 uni in the UK( Hull University ) studying marketing and management. Second-low honor, average mark 57, IELTS : 6.5, GMAT 600
I have worked in a small trading company for one year and I'm planning to study my master degree.
Studying International business or Marketing will be the best for me ( maybe is just Dreaming~~ )
As my academic result was so bad, do you think I have a chance to study my master degree in good University? like: Boston University, University of Rochester and Northeastern University?
Especially Northeastern University, do you think Master of Science in Global Studies and International Affairs program is a good decision to make if my goal is to work for those huge international business firms?

sorry for my english

Many thanks
Tszching

Another Master's Degreee and Low GPA
Could anyone tell me if I have a chance to get into one of Ivy League MBA? I am from one of top10 Uni in UK but with a lower second class honors, with GPA of about 3.2, aiming at GMAT score of 710. I am considering a graduate degree in Social Policy. Would this be a deterrent when applying to a MBA, and my grades in graduate degree be considered?

Hi Lisa-

When we take supplemental courses, does it matter what institution we get it from? Does it have to be from a major university or can it be from a local cc? Does in classroom matter versus online? I didn't do too stellar in Calc in college, (B's and C's in college), should I take a calculus course along with statistics and econ? Thanks a lot for your help!

So other than Calc, Econ, and Stat classes, are there any other classes you would recommend taking? Thanks again!

Hi, I was writing to enquire of my chances to enter a relatively good school anywhere around the world (preferably the US) with a high UG GPA and low PG GPA.

My UG GPA (from a top school in India) was 3.6 (converted). My PG GPA from the UK was just above 2 however (I do have very strong reasons for this).

I am currently preparing for the CFA exams, and my project reports have all been written fairly well.

I was wondering what my chances were to get into a top school in the US or anywhere around the world (AIM in the Philipines, ISB in India, Singapore or Europe), sometime in the next 2-3 years with a few years of experience under my belt, the CFA examinations and hopefully a good GMAT score?

Thanks.