GPA Confusion

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GPA Confusion

by machichi » Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:22 pm
Context first: I'm working in non-profit field, graduated from undergrad in 2005 from a top 10 liberal arts college, and got a 730 on the GMAT.
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My undergraduate major was a unique interdisciplinary major (philosophy, history, and literature) that did not give grades. Instead, we received written evaluations at the end of each semester. As a result, my GPA is somewhat meaningless. 12 of my classes were graded but the remaining 20 or so are listed as "CR" on my transcript. Basically it's kind of silly that my major classes, which probably would've boosted my GPA, are excluded. I also find it highly unlikely that the adcomms will slog through 20 some evaluations, so I feel like I should give an explanation.

I'm not really sure how to address, or whether I even need to, in the optional essay. What are your recommendations?
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by MBAApply » Mon Jul 02, 2012 10:22 pm
Just explain it in the optional essay.

If you went to a top 10 liberal arts college, just about any adcom at any top b-school will be familiar with your situation (since chances are, there's probably been a few alums from your alma mater who went to any of the top b-schools).

For example, Brown University doesn't compute or give GPAs. But given that it's an Ivy and plenty of their alums have gone on to all the top b-schools, it's not like Brown alums have to go into immense detail about their grading system. Just a simple reminder that "oh, just so you remember, Brown doesn't give out GPAs" is enough.

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by PrepMBA.AlexLeventhal » Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:53 am
I would not worry about it. You went to a top liberal arts school and got a 730 on the GMAT. It might warrant some explanation in the optional essay, but adcoms are pretty savvy folks when it comes to the grading systems of well-known schools.
Alex Leventhal
Harvard MBA, 1998
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