should i write an optional essay?

[sophisticat]

Hi there,

I'm a current senior and trying to get into Duke's MMS (Master of Management) program and Vandy's MSF (Master of Science in Finance) program. My GPA is 3.0 but I have a terrible 1.9 for one semester, failing calc 2, and a 2.4 for another semester. Others are all above 3.4 something. Got a 700 on GMAT. I'm not sure whether I should write the optional essay and explain the pathetic GPA, and the failed class (I retook it the next year and ended up with a B+). I just don't want to get more attention to it but there is no way the admcom would just have a look at my transcript without noticing the F. Need advice and really appreciate it!

[Stacy Blackman]

Hi sophisticat,

I do recommend you address this in one of your essays. This is a part of your application that an admissions team will not overlook.

Here is a case study of how one candidate addressed this and was accepted into a top MBA program: https://www.stacyblackman.com/comprehens ... ies/case5/

Cheers,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team