GPA / CFA / Profile Eval

[EMAN]

State University (mid-size)
GPA - 3.42
Double Major - Economics / Business Administration
CFA candidate - waiting for Level 2 results next week (think I did well)
GMAT - just started studying
Four years progressive work experience in Corp Finance / Investment Mgmt at healthcare company
Extra-cirricular - Very involved during undergrad

I am targeting a school like Chicago and am a little concerned with my GPA, especially being from a smaller school. I had 2 C's in undergrad with the rest mostly A's and some B's. Would retaking or building an alternative transcript help in my case or should I just focus on getting a 700+ GMAT? Any insight would be greatly appreciated on my profile as well.

[Bryant@VeritasPrep]

GPA actually looks good---also, believe it or not, GPA is a little more forgivable compared to GMAT because everyone goes to different schools and takes different classes, etc. GMAT is a true apples to apples comparison vs. your applicant peers since that's exactly how they score you. I would focus on studying for the GMAT. If you had failed some key courses (accounting, finance, marketing, calculus etc.) I might recommend you go back and demonstrate competency there, but a good GMAT can speak volumes to an adcom about your aptitiude to handle b-school academics. Hope this helps.

[EMAN]

Thanks for your insight! That certainly does help me focus my direction. I plan on going full force with the GMAT here.

[Bryant@VeritasPrep]

By the way, the CFA is very impressive at b-schools as well. As you know, the CFA is perhaps the most arduous non-degree professional certificaiton out there, and to complete even level one or two demonstrates an unarguable grasp of core concepts of business and finance. Congrats on your progress so far. Good Luck going forward.

[EMAN]

Thanks. I also heard as far as gaining a leg up with the CFA charter that if the admissions representatives do not know about it or what it is, it may not mean much despite the incredible challenge which I would think everyone who knows about it unanimously agrees on. Any thoughts?

[Bryant@VeritasPrep]

Yes I would be surprised to find out that any top school would have admissions reps who did not know what the CFA was. Even if they don't, you can always ask them if they are familiar with it and enlighten them