JanWindrug wrote:
Dear Everyone,
My name is Jan. In September I will start my final year of economics & business. When I graduate I plan on pursuing a MSc in finance. Then I plan on working for a few years before enrolling in an MBA program. My preference is a top business school in the US.
Due to health problems of myself and a family member my study performance has suffered. This has resulted in a (very) low GPA of around 2.2.
- What is the best way to inform an MBA admissions committee of these issues and would it help if did?
- Suppose I score (well) above the average on the GMAT, could this help offset the impact of my GPA?
- What other things could I do to increase my chances of getting accepted?
Many thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
Jan Windrug
Jan,
I'm sorry to hear about your health issue but I hope that you have / are in the process of recovering from it. Extenuating circumstances are usually explained in the optional essay. The first question adcom will have is how long did the health issue affect your grades? Explanations usually are most convincing if something had an impact on your performance for a period of time vs the entire four years. That said, every situation is different and I would want to explore yours before giving specific advice.
Regarding GMAT, a high GMAT will begin to offset poor performance in undergrad. You will definitely want to far exceed the average for the schools you are interested in to show your abilities. If you do go for a masters, your performance there (while not completely) will make up for a small part of your undergrad performance.
You could also take some classes in areas that you didn't perform well in to demonstrate some ability, though you should consider the ROI there and choose wisely.
Good luck and reach out if you want specific guidance throughout the process.
Scott@personalmbacoach.com