Can a 730 GMAT cancel out a 2.7 GPA?

[mjmell]

I decided about 6-weeks ago to give the GMAT a shot. I figured that - if nothing else - it might dispel any delusions I might have of being able to get into a worthwhile MBA program.

Thanks to the study materials I found through BTG, when I took the test a week ago I (unofficially) got a GMAT score that, in and of itself, wouldn't disqualify me from most business programs out there.

However, I realize the admissions process looks at the complete package and the GMAT is but one component. Of greatest concern to me is my abysmal GPA of 2.7 from my undergraduate business program at the College of William & Mary. William & Mary prides itself on not inflating grades, but I readily concede that a 2.7 is virtually indefensible.

Since the GPA and GMAT are the two quantified portions of the application package, I was wondering if my relatively good GMAT might help to offset my unquestionably weak GPA. This would be useful for me to know as I consider whether to make a run at a top tier program or to forget the whole thing.

Just to flesh out the rest of the application package a bit, I am a 31-year-old Bermudian (and continue to live and work in Bermuda). My work experience is almost exclusively in the unglamorous retail industry (which I understand to be an underrepresented industry in business school). Whether either of these attributes is helpful or detrimental to my application I would imagine comes down to how I sell them.

I'm confident I can produce compelling application essays and procure suitably impressive recommendation letters. I also have a few extracurricular activities that I probably include.

I would be curious to know if anyone with a similar application package has met with success in the upper-echelon of business schools. Any general thoughts or advice from the sagacious BTG community would also be appreciated

Cheers,

Matt

[Jessica@VeritasPrep]

The short answer is YES, a 730 GMAT score can mitigate (perhaps not cancel out) a 2.7 GPA. While it may sound crass, admissions committees look at GMAT scores to see if you have raw brain power to succeed in a rigorous academic program. A 730 should put the admissions committee at ease in this regard. The quality of your undergraduate institution and your GPA also tells part of this story. In your case, a 2.7 looks lazy. You are obviously bright enough to have done better in school. But, school was a long time ago. Hopefully you have matured since then and have a better record of success in your professional life. If this is the case, I wouldn't worry too much about the 2.7. Don't dwell on it in your essays or application. Simply state at some point that you hope the admissions committee will put more weight on what you accomplished after college, not while in it. Stress your motivation level now and your excitement to be in an academic setting. It is fine to acknowledge your poor undergraduate performace, just don't try to hard to excuse it.

Hope this helps!

[mjmell]

Thank you for taking the time to reply, Jessica - mitigation is the concept I was groping for. And you're absolutely right about the laziness thing (though that is behind me).

I know you're typically paid for your expertise, but I'll push my luck - based on the limited information I've provided, do you think a top 10-ish school would be a stretch? I was looking at Cornell, Virginia and Dartmouth (which I see are all schools that Veritas Prep are very familiar with).

If I would do better to look into hourly consulting from you, I would certainly understand and am not averse to doing. The amount I would save in unfruitful application fees would easily pay for a couple of hours on consulting.

Thanks again for your time,

Matt

[Jessica@VeritasPrep]

Hi Matt,

Given the limited information you have provided, I do think a school like the ones you mentioned would be within reach (Cornell, Tuck, UVA). Of course, there is never a guarantee so, if you are serious about wanting to attend school next year, you may also want to apply to a school in the next "tier". As you know, most of this will depend on how you position your experience and how clearly you can convey why business school is a logical (and necessary) next step in your career. I think having a background in retail is interesting and can help differentiate you - you will need to show a record of success and progression. You will also need to show how your past experiences tie in to your future goals (this doesn't mean that you necessarily need to stay in retail, but, you should be able to explain how your experiences helped shape who you are....the more consistency, the better!).

But, yes, in short I think you would have a shot at a top school. I'd discourage you from applying to Stanford, HBS or Wharton. Otherwise, pick a few schools that appeal to you - exact rankings change from year to year but maybe one from the top 15, two from the top 15-20 range and one that is more safe (20-30).

Good luck to you!

[money9111]

Great post and great advice given! I definitely have some takeaways! Thanks Jessica