can a low GPA(LESS THAN 3/4) get into HBS? got a 750 GMAT?

Question

I've worked 5 years ,will GPA matter that much ?

a high GMAT can compensate it or not ?

thx a lot

KINGHADES · Answer

ANY ONE HERE

jtyee · Answer

I feel like you already know the answer. Yes, in the history of Harvard Business School, people with sub 3.4 GPA's have gotten admitted.

EnigmaD · Answer

I'm sure at some point, someone got in. However, those with a poor showing in one area, have to make up for it in spades in others.

Take Dominique Foxworth (HBS'15) as a famous recent example. He got in with a GMAT of 570, which is obviously significantly lower than his peers. On the other hand, he played in the NFL for years, and served as the President of the NFL Players Association, where he represented all football players in negotiations with the League. Certainly a unique experience relative to all the other bread and butter bankers, analysts, and consultants.

There are a lot of people out there with high GMATs *and* high GPAs. In fact, your five years of work experience may even work against you. In any case, you have to have something that makes you especially unique to overcome those other factors.

kanes · Answer

GPA is certainly important but the Harvard Admissions folks I have spoken to always stress that they look at the entire application of which GPA is only one data point. A high GMAT may help persuade them that you can handle the academic rigors of the program but it would help to have a good reason why your GPA was low. Ultimately your application will have to be better than others who have higher GPA's in other areas to compensate but it isn't an automatic rejection for you even if it does make it that much harder.

bb · Answer

can a low GPA(LESS THAN 3/4) get into HBS? got a 750 GMAT?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards