Dear Skippy13,
Thanks for your reply. Please see my additional thoughts below.
I studied Business Management at the University of Newcastle and achieved a 3rd in my degree. My first and second year results were Average and it was in my final year that everything really went wrong. I did fairly poorly across the board, including in MBA related courses (Accounting). I have yet to have my transcript evaluated but I am sure it will be fairly dismal. There were several failed courses.
>>As you have gathered, this is clearly a liability in your profile (more so than I initially expected from your first post in this thread). Since you can't rewite history, the best bet is to secure a solid GMAT result (which you've done) and to consider showcasing your current academic skills by taking a class or two in business foundation courses like calculus, statistics, accounting or economics so as to build an alternative transcript (securing top marks, of course). You will also need to craft an optional essay which pushes a "that was then, this is now" theme regarding your academic abilities.
I understand your advice with regards to my mental health. The problems I had came about through a traumatic month in Hospital where I almost lost my leg due to infection. As a result of that experience I encountered anxiety and depression....although I overcame those obstacles, admittedly not in time to salvage my degree.
>>This experience sounds like a very logical explanation for a period of poor performance in school. You should certainly mention the month-long hospital stay and leg injury in the optional essay that explains your undergraduate marks.
I dont know what to do. I really want to put my degree behind me but unfortuantely it seems like its going to prevent me from achieving my goals. It seems unfair that something from years ago can have an impact in your future.
>>This is a common opinion that is voiced by candidates with low marks in undergraduate, and I understand that it seems unfair that the schools place such an emphasis on past academic performance. Having said that, it's really their only means (along with the GMAT) of determining how you might perform in their classroom. This is why taking some outside courses (and performing well) could go a long way towards convincing them to discount your ugrad performance and put more stock in your GMAT result as an accurate predictor of your future performance in b-school.
Would there be benefits in building an alternative transcript? Should I do another undergraduate degree? This is really stressing me now....
>>Yes, building an alternative transcript is a great idea (see my comments above). I would NOT pursue a second undergraduate degree - this isn't necessary.
>>One final point I should make is that when it comes to programs like those you are targeting, you will clearly have a bit more leeway than you might with HBS, Wharton, Stanford, etc. As such, I would encourage you to focus on taking a few outside courses, earning As, and on assembling a very compelling set of application materials (essays, recs, etc). If you can do that, and apply to the range of schools on your present list, you should be able to make it through.
Best of luck,
Graham
