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Joined: 31 Dec 1969
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
 03 Jun 2011, 08:55
I am an international applicant but with a GPA of 2.69/4.00, I was accepted to Duke, Michigan, UCLA, Cornell and UNC, some of them with full-scholarships.
As long as other parts of your application are strong, you can offset the GPA I believe. (However, I am not so sure for the top 5-6 schools).
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
09 Jun 2011, 18:00
2 questions.
1.) When is the best time to apply with a low GPA, round 1, 2 or 3? I know there are more seats in round 1, but is it true adcoms take more risk in round 2? When is the best time to apply?
2.) Are there any particular schools who are more sensitive (than the others) with low GPAs? Somebody here said MIT. Any else? I want to compare it to my target schools.
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
10 Jun 2011, 12:55
Hi gablaze23, With regards to which round to apply to, you should apply when you feel your application is strongest. The only exception to this rule is that you should avoid applying to the last round. This round tends to be the most difficult to be accepted into. Hope this was of help. Cheers, Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
11 Jun 2011, 01:46
StacyBlackman wrote: Hi gablaze23, With regards to which round to apply to, you should apply when you feel your application is strongest. The only exception to this rule is that you should avoid applying to the last round. This round tends to be the most difficult to be accepted into. Hope this was of help. Cheers, Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team Hi. What about applying late to a round? Would that make a difference? If I apply on the first day of round 2 as opposed to the day of round 2 deadline?
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
11 Jun 2011, 08:41
Hi gablaze23,
Most schools have a hard deadline for each round and as long as you have submitted your application before the deadline the application is viewed as favorably as the other applications submitted before yours.
There are some schools with rolling admissions (e.g. Columbia, Dartmouth, etc.) and those I believe that it is always better to submit your application as early as possible. That being said, definitely don't submit an application before it's ready.
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
11 Jun 2011, 21:05
GPA: 3.1 from top engineering school, downward trend
GMAT: 710
WE: Operations and Healthcare (3.5 years)
This was my second year applying to schools - wanted to share because I know I was demoralized at points during this process.
1st year: Applied only to Wharton (all or nothing!), got an interview then dinged
2nd year: Applied to Wharton, Kellogg, Duke, Vanderbilt. Ding no interview from Wharton (low point). Got into Kellogg, Duke, Vandy (w/ $$$)
Looking back, it really feels like a lot of it is figuring out your story. If your story and targeted schools all tie together in a neat package then the GPA/GMAT become data points. I was most excited about Kellogg (where I'm matriculating) and when I interviewed I honestly was so enthusiastic I'm sure it was very apparent. It's very clear when you are passionate about a program and when you are applying because "it's M7" or "it's Harvard". Spend more time figuring out what programs fit and less time applying to schools that someone told you to apply to and it will shine through in the application. Do your research, talk to alums and current students and use that information in your essays.
Best of luck! PM me if you want any more information, happy to help!
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
17 Jun 2011, 10:28
josiebella wrote: Happy to be able to post here as a success story:
1. UG GPA from Dartmouth - 2.9, major in Psychology, Pre-med (3 Ds and 1 F) - needless to say, disastrous
2. Did extra coursework at Columbia Univ Continuing Ed - 5 courses in total, cumulative GPA 3.9
3. GMAT 720
4. Applied to:
NYU R1 - admit w $$
Columbia RD - admit ($ unknown, but doubtful)
Georgetown RD - withdrawn but got interview invite
I think my secret was the extra courses helped a lot. Also I am female, not sure how much that helps. I am completely inspired. I recently (this past week in fact) graduated from UC San Diego. I rushed my courses and finished a four year education in three years. However, my gpa...not so great. 2.875. I couldn't take the quarter system anymore, and my sophomore year things went downhill. I was involved in extracurricular activities though, editor in chief of the first fashion magazine on campus...etc. I will be interning for Oscar De La Renta this summer in their finance sector in New York. I hope I'm making the right decision, because I got offered a paid internship with merrill lynch...but in San Diego. I am currently looking up Columbia's School of Continuing Education. I am very very interested. I was wondering if you have any advice on the admission process...or am I a bit too young and inexperienced to apply?
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
17 Jun 2011, 11:57
While I think it's still a bit early for you to apply to business schools, I think it's good that you are thinking about it. I would suggest that you work for a few years and make sure you know what you want to get out of an MBA program when/if you decide to apply.
I don't think your GPA is a deal breaker, but I think you do need to ace the GMAT to give yourself a fair shot at the top tier MBA programs. I was able to overcome my lackluster GPA with a solid story and a very respectable GMAT score.
Good luck!
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
19 Jun 2011, 01:03
Cheerio wrote: While I think it's still a bit early for you to apply to business schools, I think it's good that you are thinking about it. I would suggest that you work for a few years and make sure you know what you want to get out of an MBA program when/if you decide to apply.
I don't think your GPA is a deal breaker, but I think you do need to ace the GMAT to give yourself a fair shot at the top tier MBA programs. I was able to overcome my lackluster GPA with a solid story and a very respectable GMAT score.
Good luck! What do you think of post bac school?
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
19 Jun 2011, 09:19
What sort of post bac programs are you talking about? I think it can definitely help you cause if you ace the program and get a 4.0 gpa. Building an alternate transcript with solid grades will only help your case.
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
19 Jun 2011, 10:58
any advice on how to convert % into GPA system ?
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
19 Jun 2011, 11:06
Alchemist1320 wrote: any advice on how to convert % into GPA system ? http://faculty.cascadia.edu/dwhittaker/percent2gpa.htmAnd I think you just take the averages, but you might also need to weight the scores based on credits. i.e. using a pseudo weighted average formula
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
19 Jun 2011, 11:17
Cheerio wrote: What sort of post bac programs are you talking about? I think it can definitely help you cause if you ace the program and get a 4.0 gpa. Building an alternate transcript with solid grades will only help your case. I'm looking into Columbia's post bac program, and working for a Business certificate. I think my biggest challenge is writing my statement of purpose. The application is due in August so I have a bit of time. I definitely think I have some solid reasons towards my UG gpa. Thanks so much, because now I'm 100% set on looking at post bac programs.
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
19 Jun 2011, 15:20
How did you guys answer questions from the interviewer addressing the low gpa?
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
20 Jun 2011, 07:54
Hi kayo12, I recommend addressing the interviewer's questions similar to how you addressed the issue in your business school essays. The URL below has more information on how you can discuss the situation. http://www.stacyblackman.com/comprehens ... ies/case5/Hope this was of help. Cheers, Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
23 Jun 2011, 14:56
Forgive my ignorance on the topic. I have not really researched the admissions process yet. My question is, what is a ding and does it constitute immediate dismissal from the process? Posted from my mobile device  Posted from my mobile device
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
23 Jun 2011, 17:28
These are inspiring to all of us. Ultimately, we succeed or fail based on commitment, indefinable personal attributes and maybe a bit of luck!
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
23 Jun 2011, 20:43
rdylina wrote: Forgive my ignorance on the topic. I have not really researched the admissions process yet. My question is, what is a ding and does it constitute immediate dismissal from the process? Posted from my mobile device Posted from my mobile device A ding is a rejection at any point, so you could be interviewed and thin dinged or no interview and ding.
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
24 Jun 2011, 01:53
redjam17 wrote: @ jczgal2011 - Wow... congratulations. Thats absolutely fantastic!
I'm in the low GPA boat myself and when I started this application process, I was a nervous wreck about my low U-GPA. Here are my stats:
GPA: 2.7 non-US university
GMAT: 700 Q47 V38
Waitlisted: Ross, Duke
Admitted: Cornell, Rotman
W.E.: 3 yrs engineering
I realized quite early on that my UGPA might be a huge hinderence so I enrolled in a post-graduate course and aced all my papers. That brought my overall GPA to a respectable number. The rest was all about putting together some good essays + great extra-curricular achievements. Wow, awesome. Can I ask for some advice from you, and your profile too? I sent you a PM
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories [#permalink]
24 Jun 2011, 01:56
Top5Gun wrote: gablaze23 wrote: 2 questions.
1.) When is the best time to apply with a low GPA, round 1, 2 or 3? I know there are more seats in round 1, but is it true adcoms take more risk in round 2? When is the best time to apply? I think the answer to this is "It depends". Normally, in R1, ADCOM's looking to fill the slots of applicants with WE in popular industries (Banking / Consulting). If you have experience in either, then you will be evaluated amongst other peers within your industry (Banking / Consulting). If you are a minority (ethnic / work), then it might be favorable to apply in R2, IMO, since ADCOM would have already filled slots for the most common applicants (consultants / bankers) in R1 and would be looking for diversity in their demographics in R2. Downside is if you get waitlisted in R2, you might not make it to R3, since there wont be that many seats left. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but is the R1/R2/R3 admissions split something like 40/40/20? I am in the nonprofit industry. But I do want to apply in R1 because I don't be kept hanging until Feb or March.  I'll probably apply to both though.
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Re: Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories
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24 Jun 2011, 01:56
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