2.6 GPA, 750 GMAT, 3yrs WE

Question

Hi Everyone,

2.6 undergrad GPA from a top University in Pakistan. Though grading is harsher than US, main reason for such a low GPA was just switching off from academics
Solid extracurricular in college but nothing spectacular
3 yrs of work experience so far at a multinational commercial bank in Pakistan.
Recently took the GMAT and scored a 750

Major weakness in app is the undergrad gpa. Feel its not a true reflection of my academic ability, but too immature to care when in college, wasn't thinking of grad school at the time, just getting minimum required to pass. Obviously feel differently now. Not sure if I should write an essay about this, might draw even more unwanted attention to it. Work experience has been unspectacular so far.

Would appreciate if someone could review my details and suggest where to apply and how best to tackle the low gpa.

jordanhendrix · Answer

Where to apply depends on many factors.....what you want to do and where you want to live/go to school is info we need before we can tell you anything. Do you want US? Europe? India? there are hundreds of choices

I think your GPA is low enough that you should absolutely bring attention to why it happened and how its not indicative of your ability....its a hard sell but your GMAT is what i would point at first, perhaps taking a few business classes and getting A's would help your cause also.

Look up alternative transcript.....there are plenty of people who get into decent programs with a 2.6 but you have to mitigate as much as possible.

Now give us more info about your goals and start doing your own research into schools also, i would be weary of any school suggestions considering on the limited data you gave us

mirfan2 · Answer

For starters, search for "low GPA" on this forum, there are few good pointers available. If you can take some evening classes in Accountng and Economics, if possible, and get good grades in those classes to show that you can do well in business school. You can address weak undergrad performance in the optional essay question, it's not going to be easy, but lack maturity during undergrad can suffice as a plausible explanation. If you can zoom in on your post-MBA goals, I might be able to suggest some programs to ya.

supereco87 · Answer

In my opinion its hard and bit useless to compare gpa between countries. It s already hard to compare gpa´s between different schools. Maybe its harder to get a 2.6 in Pakistan than a 3.5 in a school in USA. A much better way to compare grads would look at your percentile score in your school. Furthermore the GMAT is probably the most
objective criteria. So don t worry too much ,because you did better than 98 % of all testtakers on the GMAT. 
Wish you all the best

MBAUncle · Answer

If it is difficult even to compare GPAs within american colleges, imagine how difficult it is to do the same with "GPAs" from other countries.

Contrary to jordanhendrix, I believe that the ADCOMs will not give any importance to your GPA. You are from Pakistan with a 750 GMAT, so it already makes you a strong candidate.

I have read somewhere that US schools consider only the GPA from US students and those from countries which have a GPA system strictly equal to that of the USA.

2.6 GPA, 750 GMAT, 3yrs WE

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