1. 3.17, Finance, Large State-School, (Two Fs on transcript)
2. Dinged at Booth and UCLA (Anderson)
3. Accepted at Texas and Matriculating at Kellogg

A low GPA can certainly be overcome. Remember, this isn't Yale Law School or Harvard Med School where one B will kill you.

3.17, that doesn't count as low GPA.

Success stories would be more like zoinnk -Wharton (Mat)/ H (admit), sonibubu - Chicago (Mat)/Kellogg (admit) and sleepy - Georgetown (Mat). There is a low GPA success thread but I'm too lazy to find it. (that's probably why I have low GPA)
_________________

Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

Not sure if this is "low" or not...

1. Undergrad GPA of 3.1, GPA in majors 3.7/3.8
2. Dinged at HBS (w/o interview), Columbia (w/ interview), MIT (w/o interview), Wharton (interview, WL, then ding)
3. Accepted at Booth, Kellogg, Duke, Tuck

You would think wouldn't ya? But nope, they actually list it as 2.999
_________________

Check out the recorded Interview Crash Course Webinar: interview-crash-course-webinar-nov-1st-8pm-est-122475.html
Check out my e-book on all things B-school: guide-to-business-school-application-by-rhyme-109942.html

Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

Thank you all for your responses!

@rhyme, that sure is irritating. I'd take your 2.999 over mine any day though

@GoBruins, I'll try to dig out that thread, thanks for the suggestion. And there's also this website with low GPA stories that you sent me a while ago. All that really gives me hope

@worldtraveller, thank you for sharing your story. Just sent you a msg, thanks in advance.

so they really made it up to 3 decimal points for GPA? ridiculous 2.999

I think a high GMAT and good work experience can cover up for the weak GPA... not sure how the adcoms view it. Maybe need to explain in those extra essays.

1. Something like a 3.0 at a public ivy
2. Dinged at Stanford and Yale
3. Accepted at Virginia (w/scholarship), Duke (same), Texas, UNC ($$$). Matriculating at Fuqua.

I feel like I had one kinda legit reason for the low GPA - I transferred schools after my first year, and my next school didn't count my first year GPA into my cumulative. I had a very successful first year and then took the two weed out courses for my major (Econ) in my first semester at the second school, so that hurt my average a lot, though I did better afterward.

All I did was write a little four-sentence blurb about this in the "any additional info" box on all my apps. Other than that, I didn't address it at all. My impression is that the more attention you draw to it, the more they'll think about it. The last thing you wanna do is come across as the little go-getter who's stressed out about how his/her UG GPA looks to B-schools - just concentrate on what you've done since then, and let that work speak for itself.

I'm going to add my own story to the mix...

I got a 2.8 GPA undergrad. I had a rough freshman year (I failed a high level calculus class 2nd semester) as I never learned a good work ethic. I was temporarily suspended from school (a good state school), but then came back and got on dean's list my first semester back. Unfortunately, I got lazy by the end and got just under a 3.0 my last semester in college.

My effort at work is completely different from that of my undergraduate career. I've worked for 4 years in Corp Finance at a media company and have been given an incredible amount of responsibility. Also, luckily, I scored a 750 on my GMAT (even though it took 3 times of taking it). I ended up applying to HBS (not sure why), Tuck, Darden, Fuqua, and McCombs. I was accepted at McCombs (with a bunch of money) and was waitlisted at Tuck, Darden, and Fuqua. I was recently accepted off the waitlist at Darden where I'll be matriculating.

I can offer the following advice for people with a low GPA. First, don't assume that it counts you out. I know I was waitlisted at the above schools due to my GPA (Tuck told me this), but if there's something else you can offer the school, they'll be willing to admit you. For me, I think it was my work experience, as it was very unique and my recommendations were very strong. Also, I genuinely enjoy interviewing, so I think that helped.

Also, try to find any sort of connections you have and ask for advice and ask if they can write a letter of support, it never hurts. If you're on the waitlist, don't be annoying, but try to keep a constant dialogue with the schools and give them a reason to admit you. Make it seem that it's their loss if they don't admit you. Lastly, don't give up. Getting in to school was really really hard (especially due to my GPA), but it's all worth it as I really loved Darden when I visited.

That's my story. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

Matt

You guys should stat your GMAT score. I'm sure the guys with a low GPA had very high GMATs?

Yes, I see that now