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27 Jul 2020, 08:33
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Hi,
I just finished my first year at a global consulting firm and I think I still have a few years till I actually apply for MBA programs but I'm trying to plan ahead. A little bit about me: I am a South Korean citizen but did my undergrad in the U.S. I also worked in the U.S. after my graduation for an year and then recently moved to Hong Kong for a job. I graduated from university in the States but I was a transfer student. I did my first 2.5 years at a 4-year institution (university, not community college) in Seoul, South Korea and then transferred to the U.S. college where I earned my Bachelor's degree. I know that most MBA programs require their applicants to submit transcripts from all colleges attended. I wonder, in my case, if I have to submit a transcript from the first college I attended before I transferred. Since I transferred from a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, I didn't earn any degree from the first school and the credits/courses I took at the first college and accepted to my second school do appear on my final transcript from the second college from which I actually graduated.
Also, I have another concern about my transcript. I have many Ws(Withdrawals) here and there on my transcripts. I believe I have 4 on my final transcript from the second school and another 3 or 4 on the transcript from the first institution. I know it looks bad but at that time I felt like I had no choice. I transferred internationally, which was not very common and sometimes I had no choice but to withdraw from a class for strategic reasons. For example, in the first institution, sometimes I found out that some of the credits/classes I had already enrolled in would not be accepted and transferable to the second school. So I decided to withdraw from those classes and focus on transferable courses. Also, to be honest, I struggled a bit after I transferred to the second institution mainly because the whole academic system was so different. I transferred as an undecided major and failed to plan accordingly in terms of choosing courses. And I think I kind of used the withdrawal system as a strategy to obtain a higher GPA. My final GPA is 3.67 and I think it is about average for top mba admissions. However, I'm really worried about the Ws because I heard the admission officers would look at all the details on your transcript instead of just looking at the final GPA. Do you think it would be a huge negative factor in MBA admissions? FYI, my gpa from the first institution was 3.83/4.0(mostly As and A+s) and even though I have a few Ws on my final transcript, the GPA for my major had improved over time. For example, I had a few Bs in the beginning but after the first semester I mainly got As or A-s on my major courses. But I'm still concerned that this might imply that I'm a quitter or the admission officers view this as my lack of ability to follow through challenging courses.
Unfortunately, GPA isn't something I can fix now so I am trying to focus on other factors which I can actually improve. I'm trying to get more promotions at work, participate in good extracurricular activities, and most importantly, get a high GMAT score. But, I am really concerned about my GPA and Ws on my transcript. And I'd like to know If I'd still have a chance to get accepted to top MBA programs or Should I lower my target range to be realistic. I'd like to know if having multiple Ws is a huge negative factor and if so, how important it is. Is it something that can be compensated by other factors like work experience, recommendation letters, GMAT score, etc.?
Thank you in advance.
I just finished my first year at a global consulting firm and I think I still have a few years till I actually apply for MBA programs but I'm trying to plan ahead. A little bit about me: I am a South Korean citizen but did my undergrad in the U.S. I also worked in the U.S. after my graduation for an year and then recently moved to Hong Kong for a job. I graduated from university in the States but I was a transfer student. I did my first 2.5 years at a 4-year institution (university, not community college) in Seoul, South Korea and then transferred to the U.S. college where I earned my Bachelor's degree. I know that most MBA programs require their applicants to submit transcripts from all colleges attended. I wonder, in my case, if I have to submit a transcript from the first college I attended before I transferred. Since I transferred from a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, I didn't earn any degree from the first school and the credits/courses I took at the first college and accepted to my second school do appear on my final transcript from the second college from which I actually graduated.
Also, I have another concern about my transcript. I have many Ws(Withdrawals) here and there on my transcripts. I believe I have 4 on my final transcript from the second school and another 3 or 4 on the transcript from the first institution. I know it looks bad but at that time I felt like I had no choice. I transferred internationally, which was not very common and sometimes I had no choice but to withdraw from a class for strategic reasons. For example, in the first institution, sometimes I found out that some of the credits/classes I had already enrolled in would not be accepted and transferable to the second school. So I decided to withdraw from those classes and focus on transferable courses. Also, to be honest, I struggled a bit after I transferred to the second institution mainly because the whole academic system was so different. I transferred as an undecided major and failed to plan accordingly in terms of choosing courses. And I think I kind of used the withdrawal system as a strategy to obtain a higher GPA. My final GPA is 3.67 and I think it is about average for top mba admissions. However, I'm really worried about the Ws because I heard the admission officers would look at all the details on your transcript instead of just looking at the final GPA. Do you think it would be a huge negative factor in MBA admissions? FYI, my gpa from the first institution was 3.83/4.0(mostly As and A+s) and even though I have a few Ws on my final transcript, the GPA for my major had improved over time. For example, I had a few Bs in the beginning but after the first semester I mainly got As or A-s on my major courses. But I'm still concerned that this might imply that I'm a quitter or the admission officers view this as my lack of ability to follow through challenging courses.
Unfortunately, GPA isn't something I can fix now so I am trying to focus on other factors which I can actually improve. I'm trying to get more promotions at work, participate in good extracurricular activities, and most importantly, get a high GMAT score. But, I am really concerned about my GPA and Ws on my transcript. And I'd like to know If I'd still have a chance to get accepted to top MBA programs or Should I lower my target range to be realistic. I'd like to know if having multiple Ws is a huge negative factor and if so, how important it is. Is it something that can be compensated by other factors like work experience, recommendation letters, GMAT score, etc.?
Thank you in advance.
27 Jul 2020, 09:19
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Hi lauren7158,
Thanks for reaching out to discuss your transcript. It is good you are thinking ahead! First, let me assure you that MBA admissions is holistic, which means that admissions will not just look at one number on your application and decide based on that. There are many factors at play, and strong work experience, rec letters, GMAT, etc. can definitely compensate for a weak transcript.
To answer some of your questions, yes you should be prepared to submit both transcripts. Most schools will ask for transcripts from any school you attended, even if you didn't earn a degree. Admissions will also review your transcripts in detail, so you are right that you cannot hide the withdrawals. One withdrawal, maybe two, is not usually cause for concern. But more than that, I think will raise a red flag. In your case, I would plan to write an optional essay to explain the context and be transparent that you realize it is a weakness on your transcript. The fact that your GPA ended up in a strong place will help too.
Otherwise, I would for sure dedicate time to test prep so you can apply with a high (ideally above average) score, so that means 740 for most top US schools. I would also try to show commitment / follow-through in other areas of your life, like having long-standing extracurriculars, or having your recommenders highlight those qualities in their letters.
If you can do those things, and execute strong applications, I think top programs are still possible for you.
Hope that helps!
Kate
Thanks for reaching out to discuss your transcript. It is good you are thinking ahead! First, let me assure you that MBA admissions is holistic, which means that admissions will not just look at one number on your application and decide based on that. There are many factors at play, and strong work experience, rec letters, GMAT, etc. can definitely compensate for a weak transcript.
To answer some of your questions, yes you should be prepared to submit both transcripts. Most schools will ask for transcripts from any school you attended, even if you didn't earn a degree. Admissions will also review your transcripts in detail, so you are right that you cannot hide the withdrawals. One withdrawal, maybe two, is not usually cause for concern. But more than that, I think will raise a red flag. In your case, I would plan to write an optional essay to explain the context and be transparent that you realize it is a weakness on your transcript. The fact that your GPA ended up in a strong place will help too.
Otherwise, I would for sure dedicate time to test prep so you can apply with a high (ideally above average) score, so that means 740 for most top US schools. I would also try to show commitment / follow-through in other areas of your life, like having long-standing extracurriculars, or having your recommenders highlight those qualities in their letters.
If you can do those things, and execute strong applications, I think top programs are still possible for you.
Hope that helps!
Kate
lauren7158
