Ask mbaMission

GPA: 2.35 & took 5 years to complete.
Reason: Had a part time position at a bank (35hrs) and did a startup during my school year.
Undergraduate School: University of Toronto, Econ Specialist

Work Experience:
2006 - 2010: climbed the corporate ladder in a retail bank (customer service to investment consultant)
10 - current: FX Sales & Trading at a boutique bank

Entrepreneurial projects: (Can be demonstrated)
2007-09: Career search platform built
10 - current: iPhone application developed

Target School: Columbia & Booth & LBS

GMAT: Will be written in the first week of March.

Question: With my GPA, am I just dreaming about these schools or is it possible? Also I will be applying during the last round of the admission, which I believe further weakens my chance. Help me with this dilemma, and win my business!

Hello andrewh, thanks for your question.

Of course, your GMAT score will be a significant determinant, but based on what we know:

Your 2.35 is your main challenge right now, but you seem to have a solid reason: your work during school. Your case/rationale rests on how many hours a week you worked, on top of going to school. You've said 35 hours per week at a bank - that is hardly "part" time! How many hours on entrepreneurial projects? Did you have to finance your own tuition? I think admissions committees would understand that these are legitimate reasons for a low GPA, but they'd also want to ensure that you have the academic aptitude to handle the work at business school. That's why your GMAT is more crucial than the typical applicant. Otherwise, do you have any other analogues that demonstrate your strong academic horsepower (e.g., other classes, standardized test scores, etc.)?

Round 3 can be a crapshoot, but because you would represent a non-traditional case, that could potentially work in your favor (no guarantees, of course). Without knowing the details, I'd say if your entrepreneurial pursuits stand out enough, you could still have a shot at those schools.

So, if you are intent on applying in R3, I think you have a shot - of course, acknowledging that you'd likely need to ace the GMAT to prove your academic potential, your entrepreneurial projects yield strong stories/essays, and that the schools happen to be looking for someone with your background to round out their classes. My best guess is that it's a long shot, but one worth taking depending on how confident you are in the factors I just listed.

Best of luck!
Brian

Brian,

Thanks for the reply.

I will ace the GMAT, and return to you for the application expertise.

Thanks again,

Andrew H.

Best of luck on the GMAT, Andrew!
Brian