Where Should I Apply? Low GPA, Great Work History,

Expert replies

GMATSparts1: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 6; Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 2:55 pmFollowed by: 4 members; Thanked: 5 times

by GMATSparts1 » Mon May 19, 2014 3:07 pm

I plan on pursuing an MBA and would appreciate thoughts on gaining admission to some target MBA programs despite a low undergrad GPA (~2.75 in Real Estate @ an average state school in the US). Ideally, I believe I can score 720 or 730 on the GMAT. Here are some soft factors that I hope will help my chances of admission:
- Co-Founder/Exec of startup that has raised $6MM+ in angel and venture funding
- Admitted to the top Silicon Valley startup accelerator
- Demonstrated upward movement (promotions) in early career prior to startup
- Earned J.D. at top 40 law school w/3.4 GPA (~top 25% of class) while working full-time
- Passed California Bar Exam
- At time of application, I will have ~8 years of work experience
- Played two D-1 varsity sports in college (All-American, multiple team conference championships and national championships) (partial explanation for the low GPA)
- ADHD diagnosis post-undergrad (partial explanation for the low GPA)

Last edited by GMATSparts1 on Sat Jan 10, 2015 8:46 am, edited 3 times in total.

Source: Beat The GMAT — The Application Process | Mon May 19, 2014 3:07 pm

GMAT/MBA Expert

CriticalSquareMBA: Legendary Member; Posts: 1088; Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 3:29 pmFollowed by: 52 members; Thanked: 171 times

by CriticalSquareMBA » Wed May 21, 2014 4:11 pm

Hi there mate,

With the GPA you have, your GMAT is super important. Have you set a date for when you're going to take it?

There are definitely aspects of your profile I like but, without your GMAT score, it's close to impossible to tell you what your chances are. Also, I'd prefer a lot more info to be able to really hone in on not only your chances, but also which programs might be right for you. It seems you've just gone down the rankings and pulled the top programs but they're really different from one another.

So first things first, when do you plan on crushing the GMAT?

Bhavik

Critical Square | MBA Admissions Services

Web | Facebook | Twitter

Sign up for a free consultation today!

We love helping! Was this post helpful to you? Thank us and let me know!

GMATSparts1: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 6; Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 2:55 pmFollowed by: 4 members; Thanked: 5 times

by GMATSparts1 » Wed May 21, 2014 6:37 pm

Thanks for your response @CriticalSquareMBA! I plan on taking the GMAT around the September time frame. I would be happy to provide more detail on ideas regarding schools/planning/background via private message.

I know my school list looks strange, but there is actual reasoning behind the names on the list.

GMAT/MBA Expert

CriticalSquareMBA: Legendary Member; Posts: 1088; Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 3:29 pmFollowed by: 52 members; Thanked: 171 times

by CriticalSquareMBA » Thu May 22, 2014 6:30 am

Sounds great - looking forward to it!

Critical Square | MBA Admissions Services

Web | Facebook | Twitter

Sign up for a free consultation today!

We love helping! Was this post helpful to you? Thank us and let me know!

sultana199: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 36; Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2014 9:38 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 2 times

by sultana199 » Thu Jul 17, 2014 2:24 am

For MBA admission, GPA is very important. You should have to have it. But you have a low
GPA and great work history. Now you have a chance to show your work experience and the quality to the admission authority. A good statement of purpose can solve this problem. Write a high quality sop with the information of your GPA, work experiences, choice and the reasons, and your extra curriculum activites so that you can prove yourself eligible for the program. And send it to the top schools, hope you will get chance into a good one. This link https://www.statementofpurposeformba.com ... g-service/ may help you.

Kaneisha Grayson: MBA Admissions Consultant; Posts: 213; Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 10:15 amFollowed by: 31 members; Location: Austin, TX; Thanked: 44 times; GMAT Score:620

by Kaneisha Grayson » Fri Jul 18, 2014 5:02 pm

Hey GMATSparts1,

I've had some pretty good success with low GPA candidates in the past few years.

From my experience, your two best bets are London Business School and Cornell Johnson (I know they weren't on your original list).

I would also recommend that you strongly consider applying to business school through the Consortium (more info here: https://www.cgsm.org/), and YES, you can apply even if you aren't a U.S. minority (as long as you are a U.S. citizen/permanent resident).

If any of your schools have an optional essay, you need to rock it and explain to them why your GPA is so low (be sure to mention ADHD) and why they shouldn't worry about admitting you to their school.

Your situation definitely isn't hopeless, though I personally would not steer you toward H/S/W if you were my client. I'd try and snag you a spot (hopefully with a fellowship) at a place like Tuck, Darden, LBS, or Cornell.

Best of luck with your application process!

Kaneisha

Kaneisha Grayson, Harvard MBA + MPA '10
Founder, The Art of Applying®: get into the graduate school of your dreams and get money to pay for it
Deep experience with low GPAs, low test scores, Consortium, Knight-Hennessy, and joint-degree applicants
1,000+ clients since 2010 · $30M+ in scholarships and fellowships
Apply to work with us: https://theartofapplying.com/offer

alishakihn: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 1; Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:29 pm

Re: Where Should I Apply? Low GPA, Great Work History,

by alishakihn » Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:32 pm

Having a good undergraduate grade point average is certainly an important factor that admissions committees consider; however, GPA isn't the whole story. A strong GMAT score and evidence of relevant work experience is also very important.

Featured schoolRound 2 closes Jan 7, 2027 55 days left

Chicago Booth

Since 1982, 10 Booth faculty members have received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, more than any other business school.

#3
U.S. News rank: $175,000
Median base salary: 670
Average GMAT Focus: 635
Students in the class

Apply to Booth Visit chicagobooth.edu See the full profile

Photo: Warren LeMay, CC BY-SA 2.0

GMAT Course Reviews

563 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (563 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review