Profile Evaulation: Extremely Low GPA

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Profile Evaulation: Extremely Low GPA

by GoBruins » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:14 pm
Hello,

I would like you to evaulate my profile and give me realistic evaluation on the schools I am applying. I am only going to apply to probably 3 or 4. So I want to make sure I am applying to the right range of schools.

Undergraduate.
UC - Mechanical Engineer 2.1 GPA failed 8 classes. Grades pretty much flat, through all 5 years.

Activities: College Marching Band (2year), student leader for dorm(1), blood drive coordinator (1), Part team lead for engineering competition (2), Mentor for Junior High student.

Spent alot of time during college working to support school cost and for a time some family cost. At some points worked multiple jobs, at one point has a 9am-5pm job/class schedule and then 9pm-5am work schedule as security.

Post College:
First-Tier Aerospace firm engineer, with 1 promotion from level 1-2. Some responsibility but almost no leadership experience. 3 years in August.

Started MS in Engineering, took 2 classes through extention and one directly from the school, 3.5 GPA. Took a couple of foreign languages classes through extension.

Volunteer: Started volunteering at Make-a-wish (3months), 3 gallon blood/platelet donor. College recruiter at High schools (3 years)

GMAT: 760 (Q55 V44) AWA 4.0

Resume Stuff (yada yada)
Actuarial Exam I (passed)
American Mensa
Company Management association/asian association/american socienty of Mechanical Engineers




I am looking for a position of management consulting and would like to work for McKinsey. I think it would be easy to link management with supply chain and design experience.


Schools I would like to apply are
Columbia (ED)
UCLA -anderson.
Harvard
Kellogg
Chicago
Wharton
Ross
Hass


I think beyond those programs, I don't see a huge advantage to getting my MBA. How unrealistic am I? And what programs would you suggest that I apply that I would have a better chance.
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by VP_MBA_Guru » Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:44 pm
Hi GB,
Thanks for your post. Here is my honest assessment - Your GPA is definitely a red flag. And while your high GMAT score does help, its going to be difficult to make AdCom overlook your low GPA - unless your essays, LORs, interview are stellar. Unfortunately, this year is going to be ultracompetitive for admission into top MBA programs, so its going to be tough.

That said - a few pointers.

- Make sure you explain your low GPA in the optional essay - this is the perfect place to address any weaknesses in your candidacy.

- This next point is a bit controversial... some top schools are known to place slightly less emphasis on GPA and slightly more emphasis on your story/essays/career interests. There is some debate amongst Ad Consultants whether this is true (including myself)... so take with caution. But schools like Stanford, Haas, Kellogg come to mind. Ross could be up there too..

Good luck!

NP
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by dfrndez » Mon May 31, 2010 2:55 pm
I realize this is an old post; however I ran into this post in trying to gauge how different schools look at different components of your application - specifically in this case a low GPA and had the following commentary:

I don't know if the provided advice is accurate. Haas' 10th to 90th percentile in GPA is from 3.3 to 3.86 per BW. This range is significantly higher than the range for traditionally higher ranked programs like Wharton, Kellogg, Booth and even Stanford. If anything it would appear that Haas is one of those schools in which your GPA would be that much more scrutinized...what evidence is there to support that the list of schools listed are more 'forgiving'? I 'buy' Ross but not sure about the others...