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The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps

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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant [#permalink] New post   17 Jan 2012, 11:38
I just wanted to say,

threestripes, you are an awesome person. :-D
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant [#permalink] New post   17 Jan 2012, 16:14
Firebringer wrote:
Thank you, threestripes. I had been browsing the forums for a while, and I believe that lots of info and perspectives I found here proved to be invaluable to approach my essays.

Now that I submitted, I'm taking a week off. After all, this year has truly been an emotional rollercoaster for me, and the awareness of having very slim chances to get in (in a sea of exceptional applicants) kind of drags you down momentarily while thinking "I've got to prepare for an interview that possibly will never happen".

But one thing that never leaves me is my resilience; that, coupled with my belief that things happen for a reason, will make me dive deep into interview preparation in a few days. (Hey, I have to take care of my wife who so patiently supported me this year -I was studying for the GMAT two days before my wedding-.. she has the "exclusive" on my free time for a week now :-D )

Over time, my consideration of a possibility of an MBA changed from "the thing that could change my life" to "the thing that could change me and that could enable me to pursue my life objective at the same time". It's not a matter of having a top-10 university entry in my resume, but rather having an ocean of possibilities and perspectives that could make me get dramatically better in what I want to do.

Overall I think the best way to look at the application process is to really consider it as a life experience in itself. Somewhat, one is forced to sit down and think responsibly about his own goals, actual possibilities, weak and strong points. You have to draw an imaginary bridge between where you are now and where you want to be. Most of the pillars have to be there already, but you need some other ones, not to mention the tie beams. And by actually reflecting on what those are, you are setting a path for yourself to walk on. An MBA will help you build your bridge much faster, but I believe that if you're really determined, at some point you could get there anyway.

Ok, enough with my metaphors. Looking forward to your part V :wink:


Feel free to share your thoughts and feelings here. This is what this thread is here for. :) And in case you haven't noticed, I think we are pretty similar as far as how we perceive the application experience.

Good luck to you! I hope that everything falls into place, just as you have planned.
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   17 Jan 2012, 16:52
Hi, can you elaborate on this a bit?
"Sloan was later on dropped after interaction with the Admissions Committee proved to me that Sloan would not be a good fit."
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant [#permalink] New post   18 Jan 2012, 04:33
threestripes wrote:
Feel free to share your thoughts and feelings here. This is what this thread is here for. :) And in case you haven't noticed, I think we are pretty similar as far as how we perceive the application experience.


Yes, I think so too, and that's probably what pushed me into sharing in the first place :)

Thanks again for sharing and providing such thoughtful insights into your whole experience.

Just a thought that goes beyond the admission/MBA experience:
In my opinion, the first principle you stated, "You are never too old to start wanting something new so bad", should always apply in life, even if you're 50,60 or 70. It's something I'm deeply convinced of.
I've heard a lot of people, even someone close to me, repeating the old refrain "I'm too old now to (...)". Unless you've got a health condition that impairs you, I don't really see the point in giving up beforehand.
I've seen many people fall into apathy because they started to believe they won't "fit" into something new or different, thus negating themselves the possibility of getting passionate about something again.

This experience I've been living reinforced my belief that no matter your age or situation, there isn't a 100% true excuse to giving up to reluctance. Sure, challenges get tougher with age (true for both life and MBA admission processes), but anyone should at least try to imagine themselves 20 years older: if you suspect that a "20-years older you" will wonder "what if..." with a bit of regret, then you've got no excuses.
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant [#permalink] New post   18 Jan 2012, 11:14
Firebringer wrote:
threestripes wrote:
Feel free to share your thoughts and feelings here. This is what this thread is here for. :) And in case you haven't noticed, I think we are pretty similar as far as how we perceive the application experience.


Yes, I think so too, and that's probably what pushed me into sharing in the first place :)

Thanks again for sharing and providing such thoughtful insights into your whole experience.

Just a thought that goes beyond the admission/MBA experience:
In my opinion, the first principle you stated, "You are never too old to start wanting something new so bad", should always apply in life, even if you're 50,60 or 70. It's something I'm deeply convinced of.
I've heard a lot of people, even someone close to me, repeating the old refrain "I'm too old now to (...)". Unless you've got a health condition that impairs you, I don't really see the point in giving up beforehand.
I've seen many people fall into apathy because they started to believe they won't "fit" into something new or different, thus negating themselves the possibility of getting passionate about something again.

This experience I've been living reinforced my belief that no matter your age or situation, there isn't a 100% true excuse to giving up to reluctance. Sure, challenges get tougher with age (true for both life and MBA admission processes), but anyone should at least try to imagine themselves 20 years older: if you suspect that a "20-years older you" will wonder "what if..." with a bit of regret, then you've got no excuses.


I'm always glad to share. I'm not one to broadcast anything to the whole world, but I felt that it was absolutely necessary for somebody with my stats to create this thread so that more people with mediocre stats would continue to shoot for the stars. Granted not everybody will succeed, but it never hurts to try.

I totally agree. If you want something so bad, you will find a way to succeed. This is why I really loved the Emirates' "When was the last time you did something for the first time?" campaign years ago. It doesn't focus entirely on passion, but it still speaks of people doing new things because they can (and should)!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3QYuSHz6Dk[/youtube]

Just a teaser, but I believe at least a new story will be posted here by the end of the day... Can't wait!
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   18 Jan 2012, 12:06
Dude this is amazing and just a great story man.
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   18 Jan 2012, 14:47
Your story is truly inspirational. I was waiting for you to post the part V to say that.
Thanks for writing this post.
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   19 Jan 2012, 19:49
Thank you for sharing your experience :) I recall another thread about applicants who are 30 years or older that I thought is appropriate to share here as well:

-https://gmatclub.com/forum/mba-in-early-30s-112215.html

Depending on the result of my application (only apply to 1 school in 2nd round), I sort of feel the itch to share my story as well :lol:
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   20 Jan 2012, 23:39
Super helpful points, you are a gem Threestars. Especially loved this pointer:

"Quantify, quantify, quantify! The best way to illustrate your impact to your company’s operations is to let them know how many people you have managed, or the dollar amount that your group earned over a certain time frame, or the percentage of increase in a certain process’s efficiency because you took the initiative to research on how to make things better."

I've been wondering how to show that impact and this makes the most sense.
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   22 Jan 2012, 20:09
Aximili85 wrote:
Super helpful points, you are a gem Threestars. Especially loved this pointer:

"Quantify, quantify, quantify! The best way to illustrate your impact to your company’s operations is to let them know how many people you have managed, or the dollar amount that your group earned over a certain time frame, or the percentage of increase in a certain process’s efficiency because you took the initiative to research on how to make things better."

I've been wondering how to show that impact and this makes the most sense.


Thanks, Aximili85. I'm glad that you thought so highly of my essay that you decided to change my name to Threestars. :P

Please feel free to continue posting here if you have any other questions or concerns.

P.S. I took a 30-second break to post this. Now, it's time to watch the Giants-49ers OT! Let's go Giants!
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   23 Jan 2012, 03:08
Threestripes! haha, my apologies for that!
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   23 Jan 2012, 12:48
That was a story that touched me. I think you are underplaying your exceptional story telling skills which actually might have been the clincher for you in securing the adcom's approval.
Inspiring stuff. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   31 Jan 2012, 01:57
Awesome post threestripes. Normally when i see the post this long, I move on. But for your post, I kept coming back to read more. Really thanks for writing. Inspiring stuff.
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   31 Jan 2012, 13:16
threestripes, thank you so much for writing this all out. After staring at the graphs on school app threads, reading the profile evaluations on poetsandquants, and just seeing countless 750/3.8/Ivy profiles, its great to see something like this. Although my gpa is 3.32, its from an unknown school, and I've been fighting with myself over weather to even apply to any top 15s, and just assume that I'm destined for a region school.

This is really coming at a perfect time, as I start to whittle down where to apply for next year, and plan where I'll be dragging the fiancée on road trips for visits. Fuqua is quickly rising up the list, and if the students I interact with on campus are as passionate about the program as you are, I have a feeling it'll also be on top of my list.

Thanks again, so many great tips!

Good luck this fall.
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   08 Feb 2012, 02:33
threestripes,

I am completely inspired by your experience!!!

I, myself, am currently in the third quadrant. I have taken the GMAT once and received a score of 610 (V31/Q44/AWA6.0). My undergraduate GPA was 2.91, with an overall upwards trend and an average GPA of about 3.6 in the last two years. As if that isn't bad enough, I am 30 years old without any significant work experience. I worked a few jobs for a few years right out of high school, then enrolled in college at the age of 25 to complete my BA in Art History. (And yes, this means I do not have classwork completed in business or finance).

I am scheduled to retake the GMAT in May. I'm hoping, praying, crossing my fingers... whatever it takes... that I will score above 700. I'm really going to focus most of my studying on the Verbal, since I did so poorly. :(

My dream school, at this point, is Marshall (USC) because I don't want to be too disappointed if I were to aim too high. I would even be jumping for joy if I was admitted at Merage (UCI - where I attended undergrad). Honestly though, I would love to go to Fuqua or Tepper. I am just terrified that with my low GPA, low GMAT (which won't be as low after the retake), age, and lack of substantial work experience, I'm just chasing an unattainable dream by trying to pursue an MBA degree.

I hope that next year, at this time, I will have a similar story to share! :)
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   08 Feb 2012, 10:44
cheetarah1980 wrote:

Hi elleesie! I know I'm not threestripes, but I am an older applicant with a low GPA (2.7). I'm 31 (will be 32 at matriculation) and was admitted to Kellogg in R1. You can definitely get into the schools you are aiming for. You are on the right track by retaking the GMAT. While a 700+ GMAT will definitely help, it's not the end all and be all. Even if you got a 680 you'd still be in a much improved position.

As for your work experience, thinking quality over quantity. You graduated college later so obviously you won't have the 7-8 years of experience that other 30 year old candidates have. Depending on your employer and professional achievements you might even be stronger than a lot of candidates with more years of experience. I don't know your full story but I do think that you should aim as high as you want. You may get denied or waitlisted at Fuqua or Tepper but you'll definitely never get in if you don't apply.


Hi cheeterah! Congratulations on getting into Kellogg and thank you for your encouragement!!

I have been so inspired by this thread knowing that while I do have an uphill battle ahead of me, getting accepted to a great program isn't impossible. I am not afraid of the hard work I need to put in studying for the GMAT... in fact, I welcome it!

I will own the GMAT... I will apply confidently to great programs... I will get in! (and, I will repeat this mantra to myself, everyday!) :)
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   08 Feb 2012, 13:34
elleesie wrote:
cheetarah1980 wrote:

Hi elleesie! I know I'm not threestripes, but I am an older applicant with a low GPA (2.7). I'm 31 (will be 32 at matriculation) and was admitted to Kellogg in R1. You can definitely get into the schools you are aiming for. You are on the right track by retaking the GMAT. While a 700+ GMAT will definitely help, it's not the end all and be all. Even if you got a 680 you'd still be in a much improved position.

As for your work experience, thinking quality over quantity. You graduated college later so obviously you won't have the 7-8 years of experience that other 30 year old candidates have. Depending on your employer and professional achievements you might even be stronger than a lot of candidates with more years of experience. I don't know your full story but I do think that you should aim as high as you want. You may get denied or waitlisted at Fuqua or Tepper but you'll definitely never get in if you don't apply.


Hi cheeterah! Congratulations on getting into Kellogg and thank you for your encouragement!!

I have been so inspired by this thread knowing that while I do have an uphill battle ahead of me, getting accepted to a great program isn't impossible. I am not afraid of the hard work I need to put in studying for the GMAT... in fact, I welcome it!

I will own the GMAT... I will apply confidently to great programs... I will get in! (and, I will repeat this mantra to myself, everyday!) :)


Hi elleesie,

I am glad that this thread has inspired you. This is why I shared my story, and I look forward to reading your story soon. :)

In my opinion, your GPA and age can definitely be addressed. So long as you focus on the upward trend of your GPA and the 3.6 in the last two years, you should be okay. My upward trend was a 3.1 in my senior year, but I still got in. As for your age, you really just have to be able to explain why you feel you need to go back to school at this stage in your life. You can definitely say that you weren't ready a couple of years ago, so you decided to wait a while so you could gain more experience that would help you contribute more in class now.

As for the GMAT, I absolutely support your decision to retake the test. The great thing about the GMAT's verbal portion is that it can be studied. Don't completely ignore the quant concepts though as I believe that with enough effort, one can get a raw score of at least a 46 in Q. While a two-point increase in the raw score may not sound very impressive, going up to 46 will bring you much closer to the 80th percentile that can convince the Admissions Committee that your lack of quant background should not worry them.

Good luck! Please do let us know if you have any other questions. :)
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   11 Feb 2012, 00:18
threestripes wrote:

Hi elleesie,

I am glad that this thread has inspired you. This is why I shared my story, and I look forward to reading your story soon. :)

In my opinion, your GPA and age can definitely be addressed. So long as you focus on the upward trend of your GPA and the 3.6 in the last two years, you should be okay. My upward trend was a 3.1 in my senior year, but I still got in. As for your age, you really just have to be able to explain why you feel you need to go back to school at this stage in your life. You can definitely say that you weren't ready a couple of years ago, so you decided to wait a while so you could gain more experience that would help you contribute more in class now.

As for the GMAT, I absolutely support your decision to retake the test. The great thing about the GMAT's verbal portion is that it can be studied. Don't completely ignore the quant concepts though as I believe that with enough effort, one can get a raw score of at least a 46 in Q. While a two-point increase in the raw score may not sound very impressive, going up to 46 will bring you much closer to the 80th percentile that can convince the Admissions Committee that your lack of quant background should not worry them.

Good luck! Please do let us know if you have any other questions. :)


Thank you for the advice threestripes! :) I will definitely try to raise my quant score as well as my verbal. I really need all the points I can get, especially because I will be a very non-traditional applicant, in almost every aspect: age, work experience, low GPA, and hopefully not a low GMAT score. :)

Hopefully, 3 months of dedicated prep will raise my score to 700+.
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   11 Feb 2012, 01:12
three cheers threestripes......u made my day. I would count myself in this forum....though have not cleared GMAT yet, but our stories pre application pretty much matches....ur experience sure energizes me!i feel refreshed to apply this year.cheers
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink] New post   13 Feb 2012, 14:14
elleesie wrote:
threestripes wrote:

Hi elleesie,

I am glad that this thread has inspired you. This is why I shared my story, and I look forward to reading your story soon. :)

In my opinion, your GPA and age can definitely be addressed. So long as you focus on the upward trend of your GPA and the 3.6 in the last two years, you should be okay. My upward trend was a 3.1 in my senior year, but I still got in. As for your age, you really just have to be able to explain why you feel you need to go back to school at this stage in your life. You can definitely say that you weren't ready a couple of years ago, so you decided to wait a while so you could gain more experience that would help you contribute more in class now.

As for the GMAT, I absolutely support your decision to retake the test. The great thing about the GMAT's verbal portion is that it can be studied. Don't completely ignore the quant concepts though as I believe that with enough effort, one can get a raw score of at least a 46 in Q. While a two-point increase in the raw score may not sound very impressive, going up to 46 will bring you much closer to the 80th percentile that can convince the Admissions Committee that your lack of quant background should not worry them.

Good luck! Please do let us know if you have any other questions. :)


Thank you for the advice threestripes! :) I will definitely try to raise my quant score as well as my verbal. I really need all the points I can get, especially because I will be a very non-traditional applicant, in almost every aspect: age, work experience, low GPA, and hopefully not a low GMAT score. :)

Hopefully, 3 months of dedicated prep will raise my score to 700+.


Good luck again! I'm sure you'll do well! :)

sdas wrote:
three cheers threestripes......u made my day. I would count myself in this forum....though have not cleared GMAT yet, but our stories pre application pretty much matches....ur experience sure energizes me!i feel refreshed to apply this year.cheers


Glad to know that this thread has inspired another person. Wish you all the best as you start this amazing journey! :)
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Re: The Third Quadrant Applicant: Thread for Low GMAT/GPA Apps [#permalink]
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