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Optional Essay? Low Initial Grades, Ending GPA 3.6

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edlc313
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Optional Essay? Low Initial Grades, Ending GPA 3.6 [#permalink] New post   15 Jun 2019, 15:05
If those who are familiar with the application process could shine some light for me, I would be very grateful. I will be applying this fall to several MBA programs and I'm not sure whether I should include an optional essay.

Early in my college career at a local state college, I had failed multiple classes and transferred to a community college to save money and to obtain an Associates degree, completing the program with below average performance (GPA ~ 2.8/4). Upon entering a 4-year program at a different state school than the first, I had a clear direction of my goals and completed my Bachelor's Degree in a quantitative business discipline with a 3.6/4 GPA.

Is an optional essay required? I can't decide whether a strong finish is enough to forego the optional essay, or if the slow start is reason enough to include one.
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Optional Essay? Low Initial Grades, Ending GPA 3.6 [#permalink] New post   19 Jun 2019, 00:32
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edlc313 wrote:
If those who are familiar with the application process could shine some light for me, I would be very grateful. I will be applying this fall to several MBA programs and I'm not sure whether I should include an optional essay.

Early in my college career at a local state college, I had failed multiple classes and transferred to a community college to save money and to obtain an Associates degree, completing the program with below average performance (GPA ~ 2.8/4). Upon entering a 4-year program at a different state school than the first, I had a clear direction of my goals and completed my Bachelor's Degree in a quantitative business discipline with a 3.6/4 GPA.

Is an optional essay required? I can't decide whether a strong finish is enough to forego the optional essay, or if the slow start is reason enough to include one.



If its part of your transcript that you will submit along with the application, then you should definitely mention it to remove any doubts/speculations from the adcom's minds.
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Re: Optional Essay? Low Initial Grades, Ending GPA 3.6 [#permalink] New post   20 Jun 2019, 19:52
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I agree with MBADecoder -- you are likely going to HAVE to account for the time you were in the local state college and the community college, so I think it's likely you'll have to include your transcripts with the low GPA and therefore you should definitely address it in an optional essay. Keep it short and sweet and matter of fact as to why you did so poorly at that time -- don't make excuses. Then point to how you were able to turn your academic performance around in the following program. (If you're able to do well on the GMAT, that will further help your case!)

Best of luck.

edlc313 wrote:
If those who are familiar with the application process could shine some light for me, I would be very grateful. I will be applying this fall to several MBA programs and I'm not sure whether I should include an optional essay.

Early in my college career at a local state college, I had failed multiple classes and transferred to a community college to save money and to obtain an Associates degree, completing the program with below average performance (GPA ~ 2.8/4). Upon entering a 4-year program at a different state school than the first, I had a clear direction of my goals and completed my Bachelor's Degree in a quantitative business discipline with a 3.6/4 GPA.

Is an optional essay required? I can't decide whether a strong finish is enough to forego the optional essay, or if the slow start is reason enough to include one.
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Re: Optional Essay? Low Initial Grades, Ending GPA 3.6 [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2019, 02:31
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edlc313 wrote:
If those who are familiar with the application process could shine some light for me, I would be very grateful. I will be applying this fall to several MBA programs and I'm not sure whether I should include an optional essay.

Early in my college career at a local state college, I had failed multiple classes and transferred to a community college to save money and to obtain an Associates degree, completing the program with below average performance (GPA ~ 2.8/4). Upon entering a 4-year program at a different state school than the first, I had a clear direction of my goals and completed my Bachelor's Degree in a quantitative business discipline with a 3.6/4 GPA.

Is an optional essay required? I can't decide whether a strong finish is enough to forego the optional essay, or if the slow start is reason enough to include one.


Hi there,
I recommend watching this video for guidelines and tips on how to use the optional essay in the MBA application:
GMAT Club Bot
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Re: Optional Essay? Low Initial Grades, Ending GPA 3.6 [#permalink]
23 Jun 2019, 02:31

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