sohard wrote:
Please help! I have a low GPA but I am about 4-5 years into my career and I really would like an opportunity to take the next step by obtaining an MBA program from a top university. I am unsure how my Low GPA impacts even my chances before I start my application process or if I should consider going back to undergraduate studies before I even consider applying to business school. I am currently looking into online programs at different universities for possibly a post bacc degree (BS in computer science/engineering from a brick & mortar school with online programs i.e. Oregon State Uni/University of Illinois) as well as masters opportunities. Unfortunately, the Universities close to my location (Baton Rouge) do not offer part-time/night/weekend masters or bachelors options, so online might be the only feasible opportunity. However, I might consider looking at different options if business schools do not look at online degrees with much respect.
Undergraduate Degree:
BA Economics (Specialized in Financial Economics) - US News Top 30 University
GPA 2.4 (No real story behind it, first time away from home and had a hard time adjusting)
GMAT:
On my practice exams I have been getting between the 720-780 range, I hope to take the exam in the following month and apply for the spring semester
Professional:
- 2 Years Shipping company, promoted to Overseas Marketing Manager as well as headed as Commercial Manager for the company's high risk, 5 million - 100 million dollar value projects. (Was Promoted to Manager role after 1 year, traveled over a dozen countries representing my company to major Energy clients i.e. Chevron, BP, Exxon, Shell, Inpex)
- 1 Year Recruited/Headhunted by a Vice President at Samsung, key role in their first project in the United States
- Current (Several Months at this point) Recruited/Headhunted by Jacobs Engineering, I entered as the youngest level III in my department, also the project contract lead on a major Exxon Mobil project
Extracurricular
- President of my Fraternity for 1 year and executive board for 3 years
- Executive board for a Cultural Organization
- Board member for the Greek Counsel
- Volunteered for several English Camps in South Korea for underprivileged elementary school students.
- Currently involved in two start-up companies, one as an adviser and other as the co-founder/coo
Desired MBA:
Most Desired: HBS, Columbia, Kellogg, Sloan, Stanford, Booth
Desired: Duke, Stern, Haas, CMU, UCLA,
Schools I would be willing to go to: Indiana, UT-Austin, Rice, Marshall, LSU, Michigan
MBA Reasons:
While I have experience in oil & gas/engineering, I do have a goal of getting into consulting, specifically the top companies (Mckinsey, Bain, BCG, etc) or moving into business development for a major Oil and Gas company (Chevron, Shell, etc). My final goal is to leverage my early experience in market entry, international business and cross-cultural business to be a country manager/country executive for a major American company in a Korean office or vice versa. Academically I would also like to tie in a dual masters degree (Engineering) to solidify my technical qualifications and add to my professional credibility assuming that I do not get an additional degree prior to b-school.
What do you think my chances are, and more importantly what can I do to improve my chances???
Given your
low GPA, from an admissions perspective the point of getting the masters before the MBA is to show that you know how to apply yourself in a traditional, but demanding classroom setting. If you get an online masters it definitely would show self-discipline, but clearly it's not in a traditional classroom setting and since online degree programs are still fairly new, their rigor is not quite as credible. On the other hand, they are gaining credibility and I don't know if you are better off getting the online degree from a higher ranked engineering program (but online) or from a lower-ranked local (and traditional) school.
If you create the alternate transcript at close to 4.0 and get the GMAT score you are anticipating, I still think the "most desired" programs would still be a big stretch for you. You probably would then be competitive at the desired programs and have a good chance at the schools you are willing to attend.
To address the GPA, you need to:
* Get a high GMAT.
* Get close to a 4.0 on your future classes.
* Address the low grades in an optional essay.
* Get strong letters of recommendation.
* And present your experiences as impressively as possible through your
MBA essays and interviews.
Best,
Linda
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Linda Abraham
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