Other Candidacy Issues To Watch Out For

by Stacy Blackman Consulting, Nov 8, 2011

Many candidates have a very select memory when recalling their transcript. They seem to recall their 3.8 GPA in psychology but not their C in Economics. Your transcript cannot be changed, no matter how many classes you take now. Despite this, if you do have a low GPA, there are things you can do to mitigate the damage. To begin, review your transcript in advance to review your performance at the undergraduate level. The following are some potential issues that you can tackle head on with a bit of advanced planning:

• Low overall GPA - This may worry an admissions committee because they are looking for candidates who have a proven record of excellence, who prioritize academics, and who have the ability to succeed academically. By taking a few classes now, you can offset some of their concerns. While receiving perfect grades in courses now will not erase your original transcript, you can show your ability to succeed academically, and that you are making an effort to improve upon your earlier record. All of this will help. In addition, this will exemplify your commitment to academics and your drive.
• Low grades quantitative classes - Despite a high overall GPA, if the two classes that you did not do well in were Calculus and Statistics, this could raise concerns about your ability to excel in an MBA curriculum. For some of the same reasons as above, taking relevant classes now will help to put the admissions committee at ease. Additionally, doing well on the quantitative section of the GMAT will help to mitigate their worries in this area.
• No business or quantitative courses on the transcript - If you are currently in a business role that does not require you to deal with numbers all day, and you have never taken these types of classes, you might consider taking a class now. This will demonstrate an awareness of your deficiencies and help to provide a level of comfort around your abilities.

If you decide to sign up for classes, dont worry too much about the reputation of the school. MBA programs understand that you may not have a top program nearby, and need a convenient option. Therefore, worry less about the school, and more about the coursework. If you happen to sign up too late to actually report your grades when you apply, letting the admissions committee know that you are currently taking a class will help. Lastly, suggested courses to take are Calculus, Statistics, and Accounting. These classes will set the framework for a typical MBA curriculum.

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