Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories

Yet another success story:

Applied and got dings from: LBS, Kellogg, Haas
Applied and matriculating: Cornell Johnson


Undergrad GPA: 2.7 from top 10 school in Computer Science. No trend, grades were all over the place.
GMAT: 710 GMAT
Experience: Software Engineer -> Technical Program Manager
WE: 5.5 years

Other:
- Some sports activities (different martial arts & running), usually 1 yr long involvement at a time, so no senior/leadership positions there.
- Provided temporary help to new immigrants in need. Did not use any organization - usually found them through friends. Shared home with them, helped find housing arrangements, purchased food, helped them to find work.
- A year into work started taking business classes at a local community college: 2 accounting classes, business stats, and microeconomics. This took me about a year. Then transferred to the local private university and completed Post Baccalureate Certificate of Studies in Business Administration. This took me 2 years, I had to take 11 classes and got 3.78 GPA.

Applied only in R1.

anyone here with a low gpa AND low gmat and still got in on the strength of their essays/recs/we/xc?

Diablo, I think I qualify as a low GPA and low GMAT applicant. Click on the link to access the Third Quadrant Applicant thread for more info.

I have a 2.9 UG GPA from a top 5 liberal arts school (where during the year, I was a senior editor on the newspaper and pretty involved in extracurriculars) and a 3.7 from summer classes taken at a top state school. I have 4 years of progressive experience working in defense, which sounds very impressive when I write out my job description. I'm currently a manager (one of the youngest in the agency). I'm taking the GMAT soon, but based on my prep tests, it looks like I'm going to get around a 700-710. Do I have a shot at the top 20?

Compelling essays, recommendation letters and resume will give you a chance to get accepted to top 10 schools even with a low GPA and median GMAT. However, I would suggest that you focus first on the GMAT before you even start thinking about the next steps.

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Take his advice. Take the GMAT, know your story, and tell it really well.

Hi,
Sonjeroo, you definitely have ashot at top 20. Definitely knock out that 700 as it will go a long way to showing you are ready for b-school and take some focus off of your GPA.

My profile:

2.83 GPA at Top 5 liberal arts college with no clear pattern in performance
Economics major
710 GMAT (over 40 in both sections, 6.0 AWA)
5 years WE in finance (worked way up from operations desk at custodian bank to investor services at large hedge fund)
Other: played top level competitive ultimate frisbee for many years, child mentor, honestly not as many extracurriculars as one would be expected to have, however I had a strong story.

I once moved cross country with no job and ended up with nothing when the financial crisis hit. I ended up moving abroad and studying in a language program and starting my own educational consulting business for a year while trying to figure out what went wrong and what i wanted next. The business didnt quite pan out and once my visa expired, I came back to the US and really focused myself on my passion for finance and worked my way to one of the largest hedge funds. I've learned a lot about myself through all of this and was able to translate that story to reflect my future goals.

The key is definitely going to be your unique story. Know yourself, good and bad, and understand how to translate your past experiences into what you want to be in the future. Don't try to make excuses or explain away what's happened but show how you've reflected on the big experiences of your life and apply it to your future goals.

24 y/o white male from Northeast US. 3.08 GPA in finance from small private university. 750 GMAT. 3 years work exp in real estate.

Columbia - ding w/ interview
Yale - ding w/o interview
Tuck - w/l
Kellogg - accepted & matriculating

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~3 liberal arts major, got into my dream school - Chicago Booth!

I do have a stellar gmat score though, including a perfect Q51

Pretty sure I take the cake w/ low GPA. However, I'm going to an Ivy MBA next year so anything is possible! Below are my stats and story;

GPA: 2.5 Horrible, was just unfocused during college but matured a ton in 4 years. Also, I went to a school you've probably never heard of unless you live in the midwest.

GMAT: 670 Passable but not exactly killing it.

W/E: 4 years at a fortune 50 company

Recs: Very strong from my managers

Matriculating to an Ivy (not Harvard or Yale)

My advice:
-You won't get in to a top tier with grades/scores like mine without a great story and good work experience. (I was lucky to land a great job through a fraternity brother. I grinded it out there, reaping a lot of accolades and responsibility in the process) If you don't get as lucky, do your best to take on as much responsibility at work and move up in the process. Its worth waiting a year till you get promoted or go to a better company than just rushing into the mix when you're 4 years out b/c your friends are.

-Know exactly why you want an MBA and prove that you are taking steps to mitigate that bad mark on your transcript (take finance and stats classes to prove you'll hit the ground running). Write good essays and make sure your recs know that you've proven yourself during your tenure at work.

-Don't be intimidated by the boards when you see people with 770 GMATs and 3.5 GPAs freaking out, take comfort in a strong profile. Make sure your optional essay tackles the bad grades head on and tells a persuasive story about your transformation into a student they would want. To be honest, I wasn't mature enough to tackle another round of school after graduating (as if my grades don't prove that) however, I grew up a lot and that was reflected in my essays and work experience.

-Most importantly, pick your schools wisely; don't waste time applying to Stanford or Harvard. Plan for AT LEAST 2 safety schools, if nothing else maybe you can get some $.

Good luck! Work hard, spend time on the essays and good things will happen...don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

I wouldn't say this. If Stanford or Harvard is your absolute dream school,...APPLY. The worst they can do is reject you,...and there is definitely a chance you may be accepted with a low GPA if your overall narrative is compelling enough. There is only one thing thats for certain,..you won't get in if you don't apply.

Although I didn't have the stats for it I applied to Wharton. I got rejected but I don't have the "what if" notion. I gave it my best shot and I'm satisfied (it helps that I got into a Top 10 program). But you don't want to have the lingering question of whether you could have gotten in.

I would like to add to this thread. To all those considering what schools to apply to and are freaked out because of your undergrad GPA, don't be!!

Major: Electrical Engineering
GPA: 2.45
W/E: 3.5 years in a top high-tech company as an engineer and product manager
1.5 years with a media/publishing company as a product manager
Have some achievements/awards at my previous jobs
GMAT: 690 (49q, 35V)
Extracurricular: A lot of leadership examples in several non-profits where I have been active.

I will be matriculating at Kellogg (my top choice). I applied to a few other top/great schools, withdrew from a couple, waitlisted at some, dinged at others etc. Basically, I did as well in this application process as anyone possibly can who wants to go to a top school.

My advice mimics some of the above. If you don't have a quant background, then I would suggest taking some courses on the side that can help you demonstrate your ability to handle a rigorous quantitative course. If you do have a quant background and have a low gpa, don't worry about taking courses. Focus on the gmat and do as well as you can. Get as much leadership experience as you possibly can in your workplace so that you can have great recommendations and also to show that you have a history of success. Finally, kill the essays!!! Understand the schools you are applying to, visit them, and show that through your essays. You essentially want to demonstrate fit, leadership, and clarity on your post-MBA goals. Have people who don't know you read your essays. It is really important to get the entire package on point so that the adcomm has a reason to overlook your gpa.

I definitely qualify as a low GPA and low GMAT success story.

GPA 2.5 from a military academy
GMAT 640 46Q, 31V

I was accepted at Cornell (matriculating) Darden, Emory (with full scholarship), Georgetown, GA Tech, and wait listed at Yale (withdrew after receiving a full scholarship to Cornell).

Honestly and in my opinion, I think compelling and honest stories with well thoughtout goals will help get you an invite to interview. Once you're invited to interview, your personality and being able to articulate your goals will get you accepted.

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Congrats on the admit!

I have an undergrad gpa of 8.3 ( out of ten ) , what does that convert to on a 4 pt scale ?

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Just want to add that reading these success stories has been very inspiring. As a low UGPA applicant myself, I hope to return here next year with the same great news

Same as the prior poster. This thread has been extremely inspiring. 2.64 downward sloping GPA here so hoping to add to this amazing discussion. Will apply to several top 30 schools this year so will update as soon as I can.