Hi,

I realize that undergrad GPA is only one part of the package that adcoms look at, but I am a worried about it. I have a low cumulative GPA (3.05). My degree is from a top 25 university with a degree in accounting (top 4 accounting school). My major was difficult and I only have 2 or 3 real electives in 4 years that look like easy classes. My freshman year I got a C in calculus. I re-took the class (unfortunately during a busy semseter in which I was pledging a fraternity) first semester of my sophomore and got a C again. I understand this looks awful. However, my academic performance in business and quant classes imporved throughout my junior and senior years. I got an A- Probability for business, A- in financial accounting, B+ in managerial accounting, B+ in business finance, A in upper level macroeconomics, A- in Accounting Systems Design, B+ in Accounting Systems development and many other accounting intesive classes i received roughy B to B+ (with an occasional B-)

I would like to attend a top 10 school and I am planning on applying this Fall for matriculation in Fall 2009. I understand that there are many other aspects to the application but I am just trying to evaluate my undergraduate work here (so that I can sleep at night!). Are these grades enough to offset my low GPA and low calculus grades. I have a CPA and am aiming for 700+ on gmat. Should I consider taking classes online or at community college to try to improve my GPA or should I concentrate on other parts of my application?

Thanks!

I did very poorly my first semester. I got 6 C's throughout college. All but one were in my first two semesters of school. 2 of the C's were in Cacl 1 (very bad I know). One C+ was in "Contemporary Moral and Social Issues" (an elective as part of the general curriculum), One C in Introduction to Asian Art: 1300 to present (an elective as part of the general required curriculum), One C+ in Natural Hazards (geology elective as part of general required curriculum). Those classes are part of a group of classes which we needed a certain amount to graduate. They aren't related to my major at all The only business class where i did not get a B or better was a C+ in Organizational behavior.

All but one of my bad grades were concentrated in my first year or so of college. The classes in my major I did better in, but unfortunately they weren't enough to get my cumulative GPA above the 3.05 where it stands now.

I have heard the theory about having a great GMAT score (especially in Quant section) to offest a low GPA. I am just wondering if getting a 700+ score with scoring above 80th percentil in quant is enough to make adcoms cut me some slack on my GPA. Thus, Iwas wondering about taking a calc class online or at a community college to help compensate or should I just concentrate on studying for the gmat and getting a great quant score.

Thanks

Hi Paul,

Thanks so much for your insight.

I don't know if I will have the time to take the calc class and apply R1. I could easily do it and apply in R2. Assuming I can get a 700+ GMAT with above 80th percentile in Q and V, does the benefit of taking the calc class and getting an A outwiegh whatever advantages applying in R1 vs R2 would have? (since I will most likely have to delay my apps rom R1 to R2 in order to take the class).

Also, in general is their a big advantage in applying R1 vs R2?

Thanks in advance