3.36 GPA from FSU and 720 GMAT

Question

Hi everyone,

I have been working in Commercial Banking for 2 years and I am getting ready to apply to top 15 programs with the goal of breaking into Investment Banking.

My question is, I attended my undergrad for 5 years as I changed my major from Engineering to Finance and my GPA took a roller coaster ride. I started off with a 3.8, but it plummeted during sophomore and junior year. During that time, I failed 2 courses: Intermediate Accounting and Corporate Finance, and retook them getting B+'s in them.

I graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.36.

My question is, how badly will this hurt me once AdCom sees my official transcript? I have leadership experience outside of work as I am on the board for my county's Boys and Girls Club and volunteer at another organization.

Thank you for your help.

politricks · Answer

It will definitely raise eyebrows, but the fact that you took them again and performed well should ameliorate some concerns. I would suggest using the optional essay to explain why you failed the courses. Clearly, you were capable of the work since you got a B+.

unspokenword89 · Answer

Thank you. Do you think an alternate transcript is necessary?

Posted from my mobile device

politricks · Answer

Your current GPA-GMAT combo makes you competitive for a lot of the top schools. I would really utilize the optional essay to highlight what happened after you switched majors and your GPA crashed. An alternate transcript might be helpful, but I've gotten the sense that it is more for non-quant majors to prove they can do quant. Retaking the classes and performing as well as you did definitely helps your cause. If you feel like taking some extra classes to supplement classes from your finance major where you may not have performed as well, maybe not a complete lost cause. However, I assume you will be applying this fall, which won't leave you a lot of time for extra classes and getting applications ready.

ana1331 · Answer

Hi,

If you're aiming at a top 5, I would suggets re-taking some of these courses (online? as long as they give you credit), and ace them.
Otherwise, I truly believe you are a competitive candidate with those stats, so, no worries.

Just my 2 cents!

unspokenword89 · Answer

How competitive would I be at applying to Darden, Fuqua, Yale SOM, and Tuck?

Thank you for your help everyone!

asimov · Answer

You should not worry about your GPA. It's not horrible, and I would not recommending calling attention to it. The bigger concern is your work experience. At 2.5 years during time of application, it is harder to demonstrate career progression and work place leadership. You should focus on crafting a compiling story on how your professional experience will allow you to make positive contribute in the classroom, and set you up for success post-MBA.

The average work experience at the top 15 schools are ~4 years. The lower end of work experience are usually consultants/investment bankers doing b-school and returning back to their prior industry.

The average work experience at the top 15 schools are ~4 years. The lower end of work experience are usually consultants/investment bankers doing b-school and returning back to their prior industry.

unspokenword89 · Answer

Thank you for the sound advice. Just to clarify, I will be applying next year for a 2016 matriculation which puts me exactly at 4 years of work experience.

politricks · Answer

I agree it's not horrible and in fact is competitive for his target schools. However, having two Fs on a transcript is pretty startling coupled with the fact that the GPA dropped from a 3.8 during freshmen year.

Assuming the rest of your application is solid, you have the numbers to make a solid run at all four schools. Your GMAT is just slightly above the averages for SOM and Tuck, while you are well above the averages for Darden and Fuqua. Your GPA sits just below the averages for each school. Use the next year to craft a good narrative, visit schools, and start putting your career and personal accomplishments in perspective. Come 2016, you will be well placed to apply.

unspokenword89 · Answer

Thank you. I guess the reason I am pursuing an MBA is because I was a F-Up in high school and ended up going to a very mediocre college. It was not til  after  I graduated that I realized how important education is. I networked hard and got a job at PNC commercial lending and met determined co-workers from respectable schools such as Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Villanova. Since meeting these people, I always felt as if I had a chip on my shoulder. Every single work function I got to, I notice that one of the first things that always comes up is where one went to school. To no surprise, whenever my coworker tells clients he attended Georgetown, they always make a comment along the lines of "wow great school." However, whenever I drop FSU, it is always like "Cool" or "Go 'Noles." Ever since this realization, I was determined to bust my ass to get into a top 15 MBA program to help "prove" myself and build some credibility. This is the TRUE reason I want to get my MBA. however - is this what I should tell AdCom?

politricks · Answer

Top MBA programs want to admit confident leaders, not individuals who are insecure about their pedigree. You should be proud that you work at a place where your coworkers come from higher-ranked schools -- it shows that you bat above your weight and that you can compete with the best and brightest. It's something b-schools look for: how competitive an applicant's employment is and where the applicant stands with respect to his/her peers. The fact that a kid from FSU is lining-up with Hoyas and Fighting Irish means you are legit -- you should own that. Having a chip on your shoulder is good, it makes your hungry, but have the chip to prove people wrong, not to bring yourself down. Tom Brady works as hard as he does not because he feels bad about being drafted in the 6th round, but because he wants to prove all those people who passed on him wrong. The client doesn't respect you because you didn't go to G-town? Wow them and make them respect you. It's about results and that's what b-schools respect. Sorry for the diatribe, but with a GMAT score and GPA like yours I think you owe it to yourself to know you don't need the chip irrespective of pedigree. Just keep crushing it and keep your head up. (On a side note, FSU is a good school! It may not be a top-15 MBA feeder, but that also gives you an element of "uniqueness.")

I think you can make the case that you want to go further and faster in your career and an MBA is a way to do that because of the management and leadership training it provides. In addition, the MBA is an instant credibility reminder, so if you're interested in switching fields you know that your credentials will be respected.

unspokenword89 · Answer

When I matriculate, I will have exactly 4 years of work experience. I know that most M7 programs have an average of 5 years. Do you think I should apply at my fourth year (4 years of commercial banking experience) or should I try to break into Investment Banking now, prior to applying, do that for 1-2 years and then apply with 5 years of work experience.

I am trying to make my application as strong as possible to make me competitive for M7. I am in no rush to get in but would like to be in BSchool before I am 29 years old.

Thank you everyone for your help.

I am trying to make my application as strong as possible to make me competitive for M7. I am in no rush to get in but would like to be in BSchool before I am 29 years old.

Thank you everyone for your help.

unspokenword89 · Answer

bump

politricks · Answer

sorry you haven't received a reply yet. I would offer my two cents, but I know very little about the banking career ladder.

Psyched · Answer

If you think that you can break into i-banking now, then why do you need an MBA at all? Anyhow, it's a good idea to try out i-banking to see whether you like it. Admissions officers like employable candidates, and one could argue that being a former i-banking makes you very employable as a post-MBA i-banker. Then again, bankers typically get promoted every 1.5 - 2 years, so if you love the job, it may make sense to stay in the function.

However, I did want to add that I have plenty of friends who dreamed of i-banking for their whole lives, tried it for a summer or a year, and then never wanted to do it ever again.

However, I did want to add that I have plenty of friends who dreamed of i-banking for their whole lives, tried it for a summer or a year, and then never wanted to do it ever again.

3.36 GPA from FSU and 720 GMAT

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