Online Classes

Thank you for the advice. I intend on returning to Europe/ the Middle East after graduation so I definitely feel that I cannot stray too far away from the cream of the crop due to network/name recognition issues back home. For example, a school like Ross is obviously great but the name/network is not so strong outside of the states. For me once I move past the M7 schools it makes more sense to apply to LBS/Insead (at least in my head).

[quote="bgbeidas"]Hi all,
hi bgbeidas, ahh yes I think the combo of the 2.9 and 760 GMAT makes you a very interesting candidate. So yes- classes could help you and I agree that HBX Core could be good or possibly just any accounting, stat, calculus or micro econ class. The other thing you could think about is changing your school mix. HBS and Stanford can get people who have BOTH the 3.9 GPA and the 760 GMAT but there are some other excellent schools that might be prioritizing the GMAT and they would LOVE to have your 760 and probably would be more forgiving of your 2.9. Some schools that come to mind are Michigan, UNC Kenan-Flagler, Darden, maybe Fuqua, possibly Kellogg, Cornell. The fact that you had the interview at Booth means you were close and passed the biggest screen- if you had any kind of rapport with folks there they might give you feedback - and for them they might be impressed with the extra classes. I would also suggest doing possibly some mock interview training to make sure that you convert your interviews to admits when you get them. I think if you take some classes this spring, expand your school mix (you don't have to give up on H/S/W (although for the odds I suggest you might drop H/S but add the Booth back along with adding Kellogg, Ross, Fuqua, Darden and possibly UNC Kenan-Flagler as a safety. You might even get able to get a fellowship at some schools if you can bolster your academic performance through some additional courses and you pick the right schools- you are not going to get any money at top 10 I don't think with that GPA, but with your GMAT I could see you maybe getting some money at a program in top 20-30 and there are some excellent schools in that bunch- and if they have relationships with recruiters that you want- you could get to get your dream job and have it paid for you to do MBA. So I would just broaden a bit beyond H/S/W to make sure you get the full look of options. If you want to see how we could help you devise a strategy of say 3/3/3 - 3 reach/3 target and 3 safety with the possibility of trying to get some money then go to this link for a free consult:https://stratusadmissionscounseling.com/admissions/business-school-admissions-consulting-gmat-club-visitor/
Best wishes to you!

Last year, I worked with a candidate who had a 3.0 GPA and a 730 GMAT. On top of that, he was an Indian in IT, had zero extracurriculars, zero hobbies, no promotions, really nothing beyond work. He did complete this program https://www.extension.harvard.edu/academics/professional-graduate-certificates/principles-finance-certificate - the Strategic Management option - and had accrued 3 A/A- grades by the time he submitted his application, which on top of a good essays and recommendations, I feel was instrumental to him being accepted to Ross & NYU.

Do try again - being dinged by Stanford & Wharton can hardly be considered failures. The acceptance rate at GSB is 6% and just imagine the caliber of those who apply. It's more about selection than evaluation as they say.

However, given the value of the opportunity and all the foundation dollars they spend on you - they need to hedge their bets. And, it's quite likely they found a candidate like you but with good grades (or solid proof that said candidate would be more serious this time around.) So I would recommend the alt transcript path and also doing a ding analysis with a couple different consultants.

The fact that you got an interview at Booth is indeed encouraging. I notice a lot of candidates are very disciplined when it comes to essays but very casual about interview prep, which is the biggest mistake ever and painful to watch.

Definitely think that with some tweeks (and maybe apply more broadly within top 10) you'll have a very different experience next year.

Hi there! Sorry to hear about R1 - it was a tough year last year. But I agree with the others here - sounds like you have a great shot this year! And starting now is a great way to make sure you cover all of your bases. So, to answer your question, HBX Core is popular but my former clients have found it to be quite demanding (it's like business bootcamp). If you already have an undergrad degree in business, I'm not sure that it's going to add so much value, and I might recommend focusing more on good classes in accounting, stats, etc. This depends entirely only what your job is now and what drove down your GPA in undergrad.

More importantly, did you use the optional section of the application to explain your GPA and how those issues won't arise during an MBA program (eg. time management skills, etc)? The former admissions directors on our team always say that it's more important to be honest and show self-reflection. Your GMAT is strong - so that will go a long way. But I'd err on the side of caution and make sure that you directly address any potential question they may have about your ability to handle coursework.

I'm always happy to chat more about how you can think about your app for this year. I work with a lot of reapplicants every year.

Anyway, best of luck!!

meredith@vantagepointadmissions.com