MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
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Location: Los Angeles CA
Re: Relevance of Undergraduate GPA
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27 Jul 2008, 21:01
leoneidas,
Business schools generally have people on staff who know the Indian grading system and make the appropriate conversions. I do think they would appreciate it if you would also translate the grading system and your grades for them in your optional essay. If you really want to convince them you could pay an organization like WES.org to do the conversion for you. If your GPA is as good as you say it is, the schools will not need any further convincing.
If your GPA is average or worse, then, yes, the following can help to mitigate that negative: a strong GMAT score (say, 720 or higher), evidence of good performance in quant courses, matriculating at a selective or rigorous university, a difficult undergraduate major.
Taking additional "pre-MBA" or quant-related courses, and doing well in them, can also help to offset a mediocre GPA, but not IMO as much as the four factors I listed in the previous paragraph.
Hope this helps,