Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 05:56 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 05:56
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Raabend
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 16 May 2008
Last visit: 17 Mar 2016
Posts: 884
Own Kudos:
156
Given Kudos: 29
Location: Earth
Concentration: Brand
Schools:Cornell '11
Posts: 884
Kudos: 156
A question for bschool students & those accepted 01 Jul 2008, 16:43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Profile evaluation please:

Age: 47
Undergrad: Springfield Community College
GPA: 1.9
Sex: Yes Please
Nationality: Texan
GMAT: 130
Work Experience: 33 years as Burger King french fry technician (oversaw some teams)
EC: Avid klansman, hunter, love dipping (it involves strategically placing tobacco under lip as not to cause the cancer as fast)

Targets:

Harvard Round 3
Stanford Round 3
Wharton Round 4
User avatar
kidderek
User avatar
Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Last visit: 13 Jul 2019
Posts: 1,960
Own Kudos:
364
Posts: 1,960
Kudos: 364
A question for bschool students & those accepted 01 Jul 2008, 17:10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
raabenb
Profile evaluation please:

Age: 47
Undergrad: Springfield Community College
GPA: 1.9
Sex: Yes Please
Nationality: Texan
GMAT: 130
Work Experience: 33 years as Burger King french fry technician (oversaw some teams)
EC: Avid klansman, hunter, love dipping (it involves strategically placing tobacco under lip as not to cause the cancer as fast)

Targets:

Harvard Round 3
Stanford Round 3
Wharton Round 4
Show more


Damn, I can't believe you're taking a jab at my profile. That's cold.
User avatar
terp26
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Last visit: 06 Apr 2020
Posts: 1,210
Own Kudos:
380
Given Kudos: 12
Schools:Chicago Booth '11
Posts: 1,210
Kudos: 380
A question for bschool students & those accepted 01 Jul 2008, 17:23
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think your diverse leadership experience (Burger King Technician) and diverse EC's (klansman) will make you competitive at Harvard and Stanford. Try emphasizing how great your french fries were compared to other burger kings quantatively and you stand a chance at Wharton.
User avatar
lepium
User avatar
Joined: 24 Sep 2006
Last visit: 22 Oct 2012
Posts: 1,359
Own Kudos:
208
Posts: 1,359
Kudos: 208
A question for bschool students & those accepted 01 Jul 2008, 18:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sudden
It's kind of discouraging that UCLA / UW-Madison / UVA / U Washington and other top state schools are so poorly represented at top b-schools. I wish that when I was in high school, someone had told me that what you get on the SAT basically determines the rest of your life.
Show more

I did not go to college in the US so I don't know what constitutes a top 50 undergrad. However if U Washington = "U-dub", basically the one in Seattle, I know 2/90 guys in my section who went there.

L.
User avatar
kidderek
User avatar
Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Last visit: 13 Jul 2019
Posts: 1,960
Own Kudos:
364
Posts: 1,960
Kudos: 364
A question for bschool students & those accepted 01 Jul 2008, 18:08
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
lepium
sudden
It's kind of discouraging that UCLA / UW-Madison / UVA / U Washington and other top state schools are so poorly represented at top b-schools. I wish that when I was in high school, someone had told me that what you get on the SAT basically determines the rest of your life.

I did not go to college in the US so I don't know what constitutes a top 50 undergrad. However if U Washington = "U-dub", basically the one in Seattle, I know 2/90 guys in my section who went there.

L.
Show more

I think he may be referencing University of Washington at St. Louis, which is quite a good school.
User avatar
terry12
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Last visit: 18 Jun 2010
Posts: 313
Own Kudos:
69
Concentration: Healthcare
Schools:Attending Stanford
Posts: 313
Kudos: 69
A question for bschool students & those accepted 01 Jul 2008, 18:29
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
You sure, kid? I thought "the U" or "U-dub" meant University of Washington-Seattle, while "Wash U" referred to Washington University in St. Louis. Very confusing in any event :P
User avatar
kidderek
User avatar
Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Last visit: 13 Jul 2019
Posts: 1,960
Own Kudos:
364
Posts: 1,960
Kudos: 364
A question for bschool students & those accepted 01 Jul 2008, 19:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
terry12
You sure, kid? I thought "the U" or "U-dub" meant University of Washington-Seattle, while "Wash U" referred to Washington University in St. Louis. Very confusing in any event :P
Show more

You're right, I got the "University" and "Washington" flipped around. Now if you know the diff between Miami U and U of Miami, I'll send you some kudos.
User avatar
terry12
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Last visit: 18 Jun 2010
Posts: 313
Own Kudos:
69
 [1]
Concentration: Healthcare
Schools:Attending Stanford
Posts: 313
Kudos: 69
 [1]
A question for bschool students & those accepted 01 Jul 2008, 19:40
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I'm a Steelers fan. How could I not know Roethlisberger's alma mater, Miami U?
User avatar
kryzak
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 5,452
Own Kudos:
744
Given Kudos: 14
Status:Um... what do you want to know?
Location: SF, CA, USA
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment
Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010
GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE
WE 1: Social Gaming
Posts: 5,452
Kudos: 744
A question for bschool students & those accepted 01 Jul 2008, 19:46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
oh terry, we'll convert you (into a hippie) yet! :P

But yes, there's a lot of grade inflation at the top private schools (Stanford is guilty of this, as I observed, but probably not as bad as some Ivys), but the deflation is also true at some public schools. UC Berkeley is known for a pretty ruthless grading system, especially in engineering. I used to see people looking at their final grades in the hallways (yeah, time before internet was widespread, I'm old :P) and screaming with joy, "I got a C, I got a C!!!" :wink:
User avatar
sonibubu
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 20 Aug 2007
Last visit: 18 Aug 2011
Posts: 810
Own Kudos:
158
Given Kudos: 1
Location: Chicago
Concentration: Strategy, Management, Finance
Schools:Chicago Booth 2011
Posts: 810
Kudos: 158
A question for bschool students & those accepted 02 Jul 2008, 05:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
kidderek
Now if you know the diff between Miami U and U of Miami, I'll send you some kudos.
Show more

Miami University is in Oxford, OH (I know a few people who went there).
University of Miami is in Coral Gables, FL (I don't know anybody that went there, but the football team is quite thuggish).

+1 KUDOS PLEASE!!!! :idea:
User avatar
isa
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 04 Dec 2007
Last visit: 21 Jan 2010
Posts: 1,687
Own Kudos:
224
Given Kudos: 31
Concentration: Healthcare, Strategy, MC
Schools:Kellogg '11
Posts: 1,687
Kudos: 224
A question for bschool students & those accepted 02 Jul 2008, 05:49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
kryzak
oh terry, we'll convert you (into a hippie) yet! :P

But yes, there's a lot of grade inflation at the top private schools (Stanford is guilty of this, as I observed, but probably not as bad as some Ivys), but the deflation is also true at some public schools. UC Berkeley is known for a pretty ruthless grading system, especially in engineering. I used to see people looking at their final grades in the hallways (yeah, time before internet was widespread, I'm old :P) and screaming with joy, "I got a C, I got a C!!!" :wink:
Show more


So do you think adcoms know about which schools have a reputation for deflation? I know for instance that at Boston U (where i went), a lot of the super large classes (e.g. MacroEcon 101) were known for deflating - the profs would look at the grades and then curve down to make sure that class fit into a bell curve. So you would never be sure what your final grades would be (super aggravating!). :(
User avatar
kryzak
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 5,452
Own Kudos:
744
Given Kudos: 14
Status:Um... what do you want to know?
Location: SF, CA, USA
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment
Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010
GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE
WE 1: Social Gaming
Posts: 5,452
Kudos: 744
A question for bschool students & those accepted 02 Jul 2008, 11:20
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I'm pretty sure the adcoms know about inflation and deflation. It's part of their job to be very knowledgeable with all the bigger schools (not in terms of size, but reputation and application volume) in the US and in the world.
User avatar
sonibubu
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 20 Aug 2007
Last visit: 18 Aug 2011
Posts: 810
Own Kudos:
158
Given Kudos: 1
Location: Chicago
Concentration: Strategy, Management, Finance
Schools:Chicago Booth 2011
Posts: 810
Kudos: 158
A question for bschool students & those accepted 03 Jul 2008, 04:18
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
kryzak
UC Berkeley is known for a pretty ruthless grading system, especially in engineering. I used to see people looking at their final grades in the hallways (yeah, time before internet was widespread, I'm old :P) and screaming with joy, "I got a C, I got a C!!!" :wink:
Show more

According to their EECS (Elec Eng & Comp Science) website, 2.7-2.9 is to be the avg GPA (depending on class level) with no more than 1/6th of students getting an A.

Mad respect for anybody with a >3.0 coming out from Berkeley Engineering.

https://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Policies/ugrad.grading.shtml
User avatar
xerox
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Last visit: 21 Jun 2021
Posts: 462
Own Kudos:
54
Given Kudos: 8
Location: Silicon Valley via Russia, China, Canada and Wharton/Lauder
Concentration: Finance, International Studies (South East Asia)
Schools:Wharton/Lauder (Mandarin Chinese)
GPA: 5 out of 5
Posts: 462
Kudos: 54
A question for bschool students & those accepted 03 Jul 2008, 11:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
This discussion is pointless.

I am the living example that schools care very little about the brand of your undergrad school. They care about your impact, your leadership, your innovation, your ethics, your story, your entrepreneurship, your intellect, your maturity, your uniqueness, but brands of companies you worked for, or your undergrad school's brand are not that important.

Both American and international UG schools are weighted on a scale that defines intellectual challenge, (I have seen the "Document", but some UG schools could have three or four different reviews in the database, each with a different conclusion/challenge grade, so go figure), but this is used when they evaluate certain aspects of your application. I guess some well-known schools stand for a high level of academic rigour, hence this discussion.
User avatar
kryzak
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 5,452
Own Kudos:
744
Given Kudos: 14
Status:Um... what do you want to know?
Location: SF, CA, USA
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment
Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010
GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE
WE 1: Social Gaming
Posts: 5,452
Kudos: 744
A question for bschool students & those accepted 03 Jul 2008, 12:06
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
xerox
This discussion is pointless.

...

I guess some well-known schools stand for a high level of academic rigour, hence this discussion.
Show more

Not quite sure why you called the discussion "pointless" and then ended up explaining why this discussion not so "pointless". :)

But the reason why UG brand matters (as gathered from the discussion here) is one of two reasons:

1. The accomplishments (whether GPA, the curriculum, or the competition) of those who graduated from a famous/rigorous UG is probably looked upon favorably by the adcom.

2. The stringent admissions criteria at the famous/top UGs act as a filter just like top B-schools do.

Just because some people (including yourself) get into top b-schools without a top UG background doesn't "prove" that adcoms at the b-schools do not take UG brand name in as a factor. As I said before, it may not be a big factor, but when all else is equal/similar (and with that many applicants, you will have lots of people with very similar accomplishments, especially from the more impacted industries), who would the adcom pick? Someone from Harvard or someone from a local college? (exaggerated to prove a point, not to diss local colleges :) )
User avatar
pelihu
User avatar
Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Last visit: 11 Jan 2010
Posts: 2,208
Own Kudos:
526
Schools:Darden
Posts: 2,208
Kudos: 526
A question for bschool students & those accepted 03 Jul 2008, 20:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think adcoms are well aware of grading standards at schools where they regularly admit students from (BTW, going back a few posts, Pepperdine has some of the most out of control grade inflation around, but I agree that 9s and 10s abound...anyhow...). There are definitely schools that are known to be ruthless graders (UCLA, Berkeley, MIT come to mind).

When talking about the big public schools, you really need to differentiate between "just big" and "big and good". For example, Michigan is really big, but it's also really well respected. Michigan, Virginia, Berkeley, UCLA and possibly North Carolina and Texas make up the public elite. Students from these schools regularly get into top graduate programs all around the country. They can be distinguished from other schools that are just big, like Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma, etc...

As has been discussed many times before, schools with national pull are the 4-6 public elite schools from above, ivys, the big names you know and love like Stanford, MIT, Duke, etc., a handful of top liberal arts colleges, and for the purposes of business school, the miliary academies (don't find as many of these folks in law, and probably not med either). A majority of your classmates at any E/UE school will come from these two or three dozen places. Not 90% or anything, but definitely more common than not. The rest of your classmates will come from one of the other 3,000 colleges in the US (I'm just talking about US here, too hard to think about global).

So, as Kidderek pointed out, it does in fact get tougher if you're not at one of those regular feeders. Is it because of the impact of school name and reputation? Probably. Is it because those three dozen schools draw the cream of the crop, and there are just more quality candidates? Probably. Is it because a school's brand will be bolstered by having a lot of students with elite backgrounds? Probably. Yes, those things probably all play into it.

But, of course, lots of others are admitted as well. First, most schools do have some sort of regional affinity. At Darden, for example, there are quite a few people from William and Mary. I understand it's a well regarded school in the mid-atlantic region, and it's supposed to be pretty challenging academically. I knew nothing about it before getting to Darden and I'm pretty sure that W&M grads do not share the same reputation at other schools around the nation. The same was true at Michigan Law School. In my class, if I recall correctly, Michigan State was the 3rd most common undergraduate school, behind only Michigan and Harvard, but this doesn't suggest that Michigan State is the 3rd best college in the country. There are quite a few schools that enjoy strong academic reputations in their regions; the other UC's, UW (U-dub as in Washington) and Illinois come to mind.

Beyond that, a lesser undergrad background can be overcome with top grades. If you start flipping through b-school resume books and such, it will be quite clear that most of the folks from schools outside the 2-3 dozen national names and top regional schools (in a given region of course) have lots of latin and greek words after their degrees, like magna, summa, phi, beta & kappa, not to mention dean's list, valedictorian, and things like that. It truly is the exception to find someone from an average school with only average grades.
User avatar
Raabend
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 16 May 2008
Last visit: 17 Mar 2016
Posts: 884
Own Kudos:
156
Given Kudos: 29
Location: Earth
Concentration: Brand
Schools:Cornell '11
Posts: 884
Kudos: 156
A question for bschool students & those accepted 03 Jul 2008, 21:24
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
So my Magna and Deans Lists might help :-D

pelihu
If you start flipping through b-school resume books and such, it will be quite clear that most of the folks from schools outside the 2-3 dozen national names and top regional schools (in a given region of course) have lots of latin and greek words after their degrees, like magna, summa, phi, beta & kappa, not to mention dean's list, valedictorian, and things like that. It truly is the exception to find someone from an average school with only average grades.
Show more
User avatar
kryzak
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 04 Jun 2007
Last visit: 10 Aug 2013
Posts: 5,452
Own Kudos:
744
Given Kudos: 14
Status:Um... what do you want to know?
Location: SF, CA, USA
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media & Entertainment
Schools:UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA 2010
GPA: 3.9 - undergrad 3.6 - grad-EE
WE 1: Social Gaming
Posts: 5,452
Kudos: 744
A question for bschool students & those accepted 03 Jul 2008, 21:52
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
raabenb
So my Magna and Deans Lists might help :-D
Show more

Yes it would. I definitely emphasized it in my applications. :-D
User avatar
rhyme
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
Last visit: 02 Dec 2024
Posts: 5,909
Own Kudos:
3,172
Given Kudos: 7
Affiliations: HHonors Diamond, BGS Honor Society
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2009
GMAT 1: 730 Q45 V45
WE:Business Development (Consumer Packaged Goods)
Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2009
GMAT 1: 730 Q45 V45
Posts: 5,909
Kudos: 3,172
A question for bschool students & those accepted 06 Jul 2008, 15:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
xerox
stuff
Show more

Your avatar always freaks me out. Where is this from? Why is she making love to a flower?
   1   2   3   4