Low Undergrad GPA Success Stories

Thought I'd write my story here and the other low GPA thread since I read through all of the low GPA threads a bunch of times when applying because I was so nervous about my chances. Hopefully I will give another low GPA-er some hope!

Profile:
Age/gender: 28 y/o female
GPA: 2.9 from a top 10 liberal arts school, economics major
GMAT: 700 and 690 (yes did worse the second time), don't remember my split but my quant was nowhere near that 80% everyone says to get.
WE: 3 years in a rotational program for a well known financial services firm, 3 years in risk at a global investment bank
Extracurriculars: Captain of sports team in college, consistent volunteering since college (some leadership positions and unique stuff), very involved with former college, and have a lot of hobbies I mentioned in my apps to sort of differentiate myself.

Schools I applied to and results (all Rnd 1 or Regular Decision):

Wharton: Waitlisted (after a terrible interview mind you, Team Discussion was great, but interview, yikes)
Kellogg: Waitlisted
Columbia: Accepted
Fuqua: Accepted
Stern: Accepted

I think the following helped my case:

1. A clear idea/and description in my apps of my career goals, why an MBA would help them, why that specific school's MBA would help them, why now was the time I was pursuing MBA, and how my prior work experience would help me achieve those goals. I had heard that schools worry career changers won't find jobs if it is too great of a change, so I highlighted aspects/stories of my work experience that directly applies to my goals. I also made sure to show why I was passionate about my goals and what had led me to realize my goals.

2. In addition to tying my work experience to my goals, I tried to give examples of leadership at work. I told a couple of stories that demonstrated me taking initiative and leading teams. I also told my recommenders that schools like that so if they had any stories to put in their recommendations that would be great. Don't know what my recommenders ended up writing, but I did send them both an email with what my goals are and some of my professional and personal accomplishments.

3. Once you start doing in depth research on a school and its programs, it is pretty easy to figure out what is important to that school (what type of candidate they are looking for). So in each of my essays, I made sure to pick examples and tailor my message to that specific school's values.

4. I took two classes in the summer before I applied, 1 accounting class and 1 math class (not calculus level) to show that I have quant skills and can be a good student, got A's in both courses. Was told specifically by one of the schools that they really liked that I took the initiative to take those courses.

5. I visited every school I applied to. Luckily for me this was easy and the only two schools I really had to fly to were Duke and Kellogg which meant I could self-initiate an interview while I was there. Just felt like this showed my interest but more importantly allowed me to speak of my visit in my application.

6. In general I just really tried to show that I was ready to fully engage in the program and the school's community. Also tried to show a coherent story as to how my career goals were formed, how MBA would help achieve them, and what I hoped to do in the short term and long term.

7. Just a note about the optional essay since I wondered about this. I chose note to come right out and say "I have a low GPA because...". Instead I chose to use the essay to highlight the two courses I took in an effort to prepare myself for the rigors or the MBA program and since I had been out of school for awhile.

Hope that is helpful to someone! Nothing earth shattering above, but there are so many things to keep in mind and think about in this whole process it's easy to just get stuck on your low gpa or gmat and think that means you're not a strong candidate. Especially looking on this board, it's amazing how many people have such strong stats. But you never know, you see people with 750 GMATs and 3.8 GPAs get rejected from top schools all the time while someone with much lower stats gets in. To me, that really shows that the adcoms really do take a look at the holistic picture. Good luck!

I had a 2.88 undergrad GPA in Engineering, with 2 F's and it took me 6 years to graduate, and then another year and a half to get a job in the engineering field.

I applied to only one school and got in with a scholarship to Emory, and had an extremely successful first year, looking forward to my second.

Sometimes, I think schools are looking for someone who can overcome adversity and failure.

I'm going to add my own story to the mix...

I got a 2.8 GPA undergrad. I had a rough freshman year (I failed a high level calculus class 2nd semester) as I never learned a good work ethic. I was temporarily suspended from school (a good state school), but then came back and got on dean's list my first semester back. Unfortunately, I got lazy by the end and got just under a 3.0 my last semester in college.

My effort at work is completely different from that of my undergraduate career. I've worked for 4 years in Corp Finance at a media company and have been given an incredible amount of responsibility. Also, luckily, I scored a 750 on my GMAT (even though it took 3 times of taking it). I ended up applying to HBS (not sure why), Tuck, Darden, Fuqua, and McCombs. I was accepted at McCombs (with a bunch of money) and was waitlisted at Tuck, Darden, and Fuqua. I was recently accepted off the waitlist at Darden where I'll be matriculating.

I can offer the following advice for people with a low GPA. First, don't assume that it counts you out. I know I was waitlisted at the above schools due to my GPA (Tuck told me this), but if there's something else you can offer the school, they'll be willing to admit you. For me, I think it was my work experience, as it was very unique and my recommendations were very strong. Also, I genuinely enjoy interviewing, so I think that helped.

Also, try to find any sort of connections you have and ask for advice and ask if they can write a letter of support, it never hurts. If you're on the waitlist, don't be annoying, but try to keep a constant dialogue with the schools and give them a reason to admit you. Make it seem that it's their loss if they don't admit you. Lastly, don't give up. Getting in to school was really really hard (especially due to my GPA), but it's all worth it as I really loved Darden when I visited.

That's my story. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

Matt

My story is different than most others here..... and please don't take my advice, I think I got lucky

29 year old Asian (born in US, grew up in New Zealand) living in LA

UG GPA (Operations Management/Statistics): around 2.6 to 2.7 (got better as the years went on), NZ uses a different scale, so not exactly sure
MSc GPA (Statistics): low 3s
GMAT: 700
WE: 5 years, biggest video game publisher, biggest entertainment/media company (in Video game division)

Applied to:
Duke - R2, invited to interview, accepted
MIT - R2, waitlist, ding
UCLA - R3, interviewed, withdrew

I wished I had applied to more schools, I studied for around 2 weeks and took the GMAT in Dec thinking I would need to retake anyway, turned out ok, didn't want to study again for a higher score (new born son to look after )
So I ended up with 2 weeks to write essays, again thought I would get dinged anyway so I didn't want to rush and apply to a lot of schools since writing the additional essay about how you have improved and not to mention new topics scared me.... So I only applied to two schools I really wanted to go to.
Didn't like my chances because of the following:
1) Didn't visit any schools nor attend any info sessions/lunch sessions/online chat, etc...
2) Low GPA, it got better as the years went on though (I failed like 4 papers in the first year... Diablo 2...)
3) No writing skills... no english related classes since form 6 in high school (2nd to last year)
4) Didn't have anyone to proof read my essays since I had such a short time frame
5) absolute zero community/extra-curricular activities though Under and Post Grad. (Video Games/Cars/Gambling was my life)
6) GMAT was ok... not excellent especially compared to most of people here.

Not saying my results were a huge success by most peoples standards here.. but here are what I think worked for me
1) I explained about my GPA - I played video games, as simple as that, I logged 600 real life days on Final Fantasy XI MMO during the last 10 years. Other people like doing community work, clubs, etc. I just like Video Games and Modifying cars.
2) My other essays were focused on things I really enjoy - Games and Fast cars and a little about family
I wrote about being one of the only 10 people in the FFXI server that has this sword which can only drop from a monster that comes out in game once every 3 real life days and the drop rate is around 10% if you do claim and kill the monster, then you have to win the dice roll for it against your team members... you do the math.
3) My recommenders were awesome, both have had their MBAs and have known me a long time and writes well
4) My essays were not proof read by anyone, I think that helped me.... it probably reads different than some really refined essays, I wrote more like how I speak in real life.
5) Maybe the Company I worked at are well know and that helps (not really sure about this one)
6) I wasn't really sure about putting down around 5 extra-curricular activities that were all things like FFXI guild leader, WOW guild member, Car clubs, but guess it didn't hurt me... better than blanks I guess
7) All the papers I failed, I had DNS (did not sit, which means I didn't even go to the exams, and all those papers I later got A's or high B's on, but yeah DNS really hurt my GPA). I guess this is a good sign? shows I can do the work, just that school wasn't most important, getting my Windforce in Diablo 2 was more important .. for all the Diablo players out there

So yeah, I hope anyone that reads this won't be put off trying to go to schools they dream about, it is very easy to do that if you read these forums a lot....
I would recommend writing the real you, show passion, and just try to show who you are.

Sometimes I think about applying to more schools this year since I will have more time to study GMAT, visit schools, network, etc. But what the hell, Duke is awesome, I was born there (left when I was 1 though) and I just don't want/have the time to study and write more essays... I have boxes of games I need to finish and a son to look after.

Best of luck to everyone applying

i think my gpa takes the cake on this one - 1.9 (and that's rounded up). a bunch of F's, especially in 2nd yr when i broke up with my ex and just didn't even sit for any of my finals.

i have pretty good work experience though and a 760 gmat.

here's the link to my story. my-road-to-oxford-sbs-and-insead-89413.html

2.999 undergrad GPA here... Ya, they actually list it as 2.999 on my transcript. How irritating is that?

3.17, that doesn't count as low GPA.

Success stories would be more like zoinnk -Wharton (Mat)/ H (admit), sonibubu - Chicago (Mat)/Kellogg (admit) and sleepy - Georgetown (Mat). There is a low GPA success thread but I'm too lazy to find it. (that's probably why I have low GPA)

Not sure if this is "low" or not...

1. Undergrad GPA of 3.1, GPA in majors 3.7/3.8
2. Dinged at HBS (w/o interview), Columbia (w/ interview), MIT (w/o interview), Wharton (interview, WL, then ding)
3. Accepted at Booth, Kellogg, Duke, Tuck

2.54 GPA from a top Liberal Arts school.
Dings from uh...everywhere except georgetown w/l. I got in off the waitlist.

I got a 750 on the gmat. absolutely necessary if you're applying with a low UG gpa. My essays were kind of weak as well, or I think I would have been more successful. I spoke to the people at Tuck and Columbia and basically they said that because of my GPA I needed to have stellar essays to show them why they needed to ignore my past failure. Since I wasn't able to do that they felt like I just didnt' have good experiences to talk about and might have been a decent enough candidate in a few years, but that I seemed under prepared at present.

With any severe weakness in your application materials the onus is on you to MAKE them ignore it. You may know that you're not the bad risk you were as an 18 year old idiot, but the admissions department has never met you, so you have to show them why they should ignore the evidence that you've been a complete idiot in the past. I have more thoughts on this, but I'm in costa rica and the hotel computer kinda sucks so...

I've applied to six schools - Ross, Fuqua, CBS, Chicago, Kellogg, and Stern.
Currently, I'm...
Dinged - Chicago, CBS
WL - Stern
Admitted - Ross
Pending - Kellogg, Fuqua

As promised, below is my success story. Although it's not quite over yet as I am still waiting for a few schools, I'm just overjoyed to know that I will be going somewhere this fall. I think it'll be a good encouragement for many people with low gpa, because my gpa was pretty damn low. I don't think many people can top that.

I graduated as an engineer with a 2.36 from an Ivy League school. I consider myself to be a pretty bright kid. Did well in high school and hence got admission to an ivy league school. However, while I was in college, definitely did not take advantage of the education. Instead I drank drank and drank....partied hard. Almost flunked out one semester. I still party but I think my priority is somewhat back on track

After I graduated, I realized I really really f'ed up my career because of my lackluster grades. Couldn't land an interview at any big reputable firm because of my low gpa. It was tough man... I made my life even tougher for myself when I decided that my passion was Finance and switched from engineering. The transition was not simple. I always knew that I wanted to get an MBA, but I decided to do a masters in finance because I figured that was the quickest way to start doing finance upon receiving my masters of finance and a good way to build an alternative transcript, hence killing two birds with one stone.

After my masters, I got a respectable consulting position at a top tier consulting firm, where I'm currently at. I have been with this company for almost 4 years now and got promoted once.

Sooo the point is.......sorry if I come off rambling a bit, but my point is low GPA can be overcome.
For me, it was
1) build an alternative transcript
2) score a 730 on the GMAT (I chose to talk to point 1 and 2 in the optional essay for all the schools I applied to. I talked about how my undergrad performance was not indicative of my ability to perform in a rigorous academic setting and stressed about my more recent performance in my masters program and gmat score are more relevant. I also talked about how I've matured over the years...)
3) get 5+ yrs of work experience
4) volunteer in 1 or 2 leadership roles at a few organizations


Hope this helps! Good luck!

Great thread. Had an unusual undergrad history myself. I'm one of those candidates that had to answer both the "Have you ever been on academic probation?" and "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" questions

It took me 3 undergrad schools to graduate from college. (Withdrew from first school after a year, took non-degree classes at another while I tried to get back on track, and finally graduated from the 3rd.) Bizarre transcripts to say the least. While I was an excellent drinker and partier, these apparently are not officially recognized extracurricular activites in college Add in a run-in with the law in my early 20's after college - I've got a "colorful" past. GPA was technically a 3.3ish, but my transcripts oscillate between good grades and then periods of poor grades, incompletes and withdrawals. I was a bit of a mess back then.

GMAT: 720
Rejected: Last Year (2009-2010) - Kellogg, Booth, Yale
This Year: MIT
Accepted: Last Year - Nobody!
This Year: Ross, UNC, Emory, GT, waiting on one more

Utilized the additional essay to briefly own up to my past transgressions and reflect how they've increased my desire to attend bschool and pursue my current career goals.

Good luck to other prospective candidates!

I'm here to tell a story. A story about hard work and luck, but mostly luck. There's hope.

University: University of Southern California
Major(s): Mechanical Engineering
GPA: 2.88
GMAT: 770 (99%), Q:50 (93%), V:44 (97%), AWA:4.5 (37%)
Nationality: US, Caucasian
Age: 29
Gender: M

Application Results:
R3 - Fuqua - Dinged without interview
R3 - Ross - Accepted
R3 - Booth - Matriculated after being waitlisted
R3 - Kellogg - Withdrew from WL upon acceptance from Booth

My GPA was terrible, I applied in R3, and I certainly didn't have anything to offer in terms of demographic diversity. My GMAT obviously helped a ton and having significant work experience help distance me from my grades. Beyond that, my essays were solid and I very deliberately addressed my shortcomings. I took a risk for my 2nd rec by having a classmate from an executive education program I completed write about my contributions in an academic setting and devoted my optional essay to addressing my GPA and reasons for applying R3.

Good luck!

I read this thread obsessively for months leading up to and throughout the application process. They definitely gave me hope to actually get an admit despite my GPA. I hope my story will do the same for others:

26 yr old white female US Citizen first generation college student
GMAT: 740
GPA: 2.6
U/G Major: Biology
Top 10 Public University

I had multiple F's and D's on my undergraduate transcript. I worked throughout college and supported my own way 100% which made balancing school and work difficult. I also had significant involvement in a community organization that I was very passionate about. I struggled with not knowing how to handle college due to my first gen status, immaturity in not prioritizing school, and just general mental overload especially when I started working an even more demanding job.

I applied to 10 schools all up and down the rankings:

Harvard: Denied w/o interview
Wharton: Denied w/o Interview
Kellogg: ADMITTED w/ $
Haas: Denied w/o interview
Yale: Denied w/o interview
Ross: ADMITTED
UCLA: Waitlisted w/o interview
McCombs: ADMITTED w/ full scholarship
Tepper: ADMITTED w/ full scholarship
ASU: ADMITTED w/ full scholarship

I really could not believe that I was admitted to Kellogg...much less that I received some money from them. I nearly fainted when I got the call and I cannot wait to start there this fall!

1. Something like a 3.0 at a public ivy
2. Dinged at Stanford and Yale
3. Accepted at Virginia (w/scholarship), Duke (same), Texas, UNC ($$$). Matriculating at Fuqua.

I feel like I had one kinda legit reason for the low GPA - I transferred schools after my first year, and my next school didn't count my first year GPA into my cumulative. I had a very successful first year and then took the two weed out courses for my major (Econ) in my first semester at the second school, so that hurt my average a lot, though I did better afterward.

All I did was write a little four-sentence blurb about this in the "any additional info" box on all my apps. Other than that, I didn't address it at all. My impression is that the more attention you draw to it, the more they'll think about it. The last thing you wanna do is come across as the little go-getter who's stressed out about how his/her UG GPA looks to B-schools - just concentrate on what you've done since then, and let that work speak for itself.

I had a 2.8 as well, no Fs but I did have a D. I wrote an essay explaining a lot of personal issues I had gone through in college, and in my interviews I was very honest about how I didn't take education seriously. I ended up getting a 700 on the GMAT after a lot of studying, and I think this was a good way to prove I was now focused on school. I have been accepted to Foster so far, have had several other interviews, and am waiting to hear back from the other schools I have applied to in rd 2.

3.2 is not low....

I'll share my story too.

Undergrad/Post-Bac: 5-years of Electrical Engineering at top 20 engineering school (top 10 in public schools), graduated with 2.986 GPA (last three semesters I averaged 3.8). Spent an extra semester doing post-bac research/classes in financial mathematics, got a 3.8. I count this as a total undergrad of 3.06 (who knows what schools think of it).

GMAT: 770 (V44 Q50) AWA 4.5 - I studied like crazy for this from Sep 7 to 21, took the exam once on Sep 22. I found that focusing on verbal was able to boost my score the most and I was a bit arrogant about doing well on quant; however, my overall outcome was great and possibly makes up for my undergrad performance.

Work Experience: 2 years of financial modeling, 3 years of asset management research. Have passed all three levels of the CFA program.

Extra-curriculars: Was a DJ in college, have had no ec's since college

Applied:
1) NYU - Accepted with $$$
2) Chicago Booth - Rejected w/o Interview
3) MIT - Rejected w/o Interview
4) CBS - Rejected w/o Interview