Professional Certifications

[jsmith]

What role does a professional certificate(such as PMP) play in the admission process especially when the candidate has a low gpa? Can a prof cert make up for a low gpa?

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear jsmith,

Professional certifications might help to demonstrate knowledge of a subject and some ability, but they will not mitigate a low GPA or GMAT score. The best way to mitigate a low GPA is by a high GMAT and/or an alternative transcript.

Good luck,
Lisa

[jsmith]

Many thanks Lisa.
Can you recommend online classes that i can take to build an alternative transcript?

[Lisa Anderson]

It depends on why you are building the transcript. If you have no quantitative courses or did poorly in them, then you want to focus on quantitative courses like college algebra, finite math, and calculus. You will be expected to have a good grasp of math in your core finance and statistics courses. If you did well in quantitative courses and just want to demonstrate you are serious about school now, that you can succeed in the classroom, then you can use the opportunity to take some business classes to start learning concepts and terminology. Popular choices are accounting, finance and statistics. All of these courses can be taken at a community college or university, including online options. You just want to take them from an accredited institution and be able to get a transcript of your grades when you are done.

Regards,
Lisa

[jsmith]

A summary of my core courses
100L-1st semester
Elements of Microeco C
Intro to Maths for Economics D
Intro to MGT I B
Intro to Accounting1 B
Statistics A

100L-2nd semester
Elements of macroeco E
Intro to Maths E
Intro to MGT2 E
Intro to Accounting2 D
Statistics 2 B



200L-1st semester
Microeco1 D
Macroeco2 B
Statistics 3 C
Principles of Finance D
Mathematics 3 E

200L-2nd semester
Microeco 2 D
Macroeco 2 B
Monetary Economics B
Statistics 4 B

300L- 1st semester
Intermediate Microeco- B
Statisitical Methods & Applications B
History of economic thought A
International Trade B
Applied Monetary Economics B

300L-2nd semester
Intermediate macroeconomics C
Econometrics D
Intermediate Math B
Research Methodology C
Trade policy B

400L-1st semester
Advanced Macroeco C
Project Evaluation B
Comparative eco B
Public policy E
Taxation B

400L-2nd semester
Advanced Micro E
Project Evaluation B
Advanced math C
Final year project C

These are my core courses. My overall standing is about 56% and about 64% in my last 2 years.
Where does this place me? What courses should i take to build an alternative transcript and how many of these courses do i need to take to strenghten my application considering these scores?

[Lisa Anderson]

I would suggest taking some quantitative courses, maybe 2-4. Your performance in those courses will be of the greatest concern to the admissions committees.

Regards,
Lisa

[jsmith]

Thank you

[money9111]

jsmith your classes and grades look very similar to mine so thank you for asking these questions.

Lisa - I do have a question though. Is it OK to take these classes online? Is it frowned upon?

[Lisa Anderson]

Online courses have become more accepted over the past 5 years or so. I think it is acceptable now as long as the institution is accredited. Bottom line: pick the delivery option that works best for you, where you will do well, whether it is online or classroom-based.

Regards,
Lisa