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Hello guys I have a low UGPA of 2.8

Gmat is 710 Q 50 V 37 AWA 6 IR 8

5 Yrs pretty avg work xp

Just wanted an opinion on % chances ( if any ) at these schools if its assumed that the essays and reccos are on point and if made campus visits / met with admissions prior etc....would interview chances even be feasible for the first 3

Ross / UCLA / Cornell / USC / Georgetown / Rice

Thanks

Hi slacker2015,

Your GPA is low, no doubt. But since your GMAT is more recent (and it's close to the median GMAT of your target schools), it's more reflective of your current ability and, therefore, it atones your GPA to some extent. Moreover, your section scores are well balanced, with an excellent score in Quant, something that generally concerns B-schools more than Verbal. And, is there any reasonable explanation (Is your profile name 'slacker2015' any indication? Just kidding.) for your low GPA that you can mention in optional essay?

You mentioned your work experience has been average. In what sense is it average? Is it brand of your organization(s), were your roles more of desk jobs, or you didn't work on making a direct impact on the bottom-line/ top-line of your organization?

Average it may seem to you, but try digging out experiences/ interventions in your work-ex where you made difference (it need not be earth-shaking, million $) to your organization or people around. It could even be outside your professional work. And make use of those in your applications. Bottom-line: you can't undo your past, but you can certainly make the best use of what you have (like you blunted the negative effect of your low GPA to some extent with a 710).

Campus visits and meeting adcom are certainly positive steps, but these steps on their own don't give your application any push. What matters is how you use the information you gathered during the visit to tailor/ personalize your application.

I won't hazard guessing a % chance as it can depend on so many factors. But, I would say if you brainstorm to dig out few experiences where your performance stood out, show some sort of career progression, and personalize your essays, you stand a reasonable chance at the schools in your list.