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finbe
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GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q86 V85 DI85
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Pre-MBA Courses to offset low GPA despite having high GMAT Quant Score 23 Jun 2025, 13:06
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Hello,

I am seeking advice regarding whether I should take pre-mba courses, such as MBA Math or HBS CORe. My undergrad GPA was a 3.23, but I had some low Quant courses.

However, I scored a 715 on the gmat with an 86 Quant score.

I am a lawyer so not much quant experience, and my GPA in law school was not stellar either, so I am wondering if it would still be worthwhile to take any premba courses to show my aptitude for business school. I Time constraints should not be an issue right now so if it is worth it at all I am able to take these course.

Any insight would be appreciated!
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Pre-MBA Courses to offset low GPA despite having high GMAT Quant Score 23 Jun 2025, 13:15
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finbe
Hello,

I am seeking advice regarding whether I should take pre-mba courses, such as MBA Math or HBS CORe. My undergrad GPA was a 3.23, but I had some low Quant courses.

However, I scored a 715 on the gmat with an 86 Quant score.

I am a lawyer so not much quant experience, and my GPA in law school was not stellar either, so I am wondering if it would still be worthwhile to take any premba courses to show my aptitude for business school. I Time constraints should not be an issue right now so if it is worth it at all I am able to take these course.

Any insight would be appreciated!
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Wouldn't hurt to show academic readiness through Quant heavy courses in finance, Accounting and Data analytics. Finance is relatively easy. Data analysis is simple and straightforward. Accounting wastes a lot of time to get the hang of.

HBX CORe has all you need. Not much else would be needed. If you need additional stuff, coursera allows you to audit the courses for free.
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Pre-MBA Courses to offset low GPA despite having high GMAT Quant Score 23 Jun 2025, 22:36
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Since time isn't a constraint, taking up MBAMath or HBS CORe should be a good idea. At the very least, it signals to the AdCom that you're putting in efforts to be academically ready for the MBA.

The difference between MBAMath and HBS CORe is that the former is more quant/ analytical driven while the latter is more holistic about business.

If your goal is to showcase quant abilities, MBAMath is better, and if your goal is to showcase overall business sense (particularly if your work-ex hasn't been in any business role), HBS CORe is good. This might be a slight generalization, but I hope you get the directional clarity.

Regards,
Arvind
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W: https://admitstreet.com | Request a free profile evaluation­

finbe
Hello,

I am seeking advice regarding whether I should take pre-mba courses, such as MBA Math or HBS CORe. My undergrad GPA was a 3.23, but I had some low Quant courses.

However, I scored a 715 on the gmat with an 86 Quant score.

I am a lawyer so not much quant experience, and my GPA in law school was not stellar either, so I am wondering if it would still be worthwhile to take any premba courses to show my aptitude for business school. I Time constraints should not be an issue right now so if it is worth it at all I am able to take these course.

Any insight would be appreciated!
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Pre-MBA Courses to offset low GPA despite having high GMAT Quant Score Updated on: 25 Jun 2025, 08:30
Originally posted by MBAandBeyond on 24 Jun 2025, 01:15.
Last edited by MBAandBeyond on 25 Jun 2025, 08:30, edited 1 time in total.
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finbe
Hello,

I am seeking advice regarding whether I should take pre-mba courses, such as MBA Math or HBS CORe. My undergrad GPA was a 3.23, but I had some low Quant courses.

However, I scored a 715 on the gmat with an 86 Quant score.

I am a lawyer so not much quant experience, and my GPA in law school was not stellar either, so I am wondering if it would still be worthwhile to take any premba courses to show my aptitude for business school. I Time constraints should not be an issue right now so if it is worth it at all I am able to take these course.

Any insight would be appreciated!
Show more
Admissions committees, particularly at competitive schools, assess academic readiness through multiple lenses: GPA trends, transcript rigor, test scores, and evidence of quantitative ability. While your GMAT Quant score offers reassurance, it doesn't eliminate concerns from weak undergraduate Quant grades or a non-quantitative professional background. (If you feel like this, don't; it's a good score.)

Pre-MBA courses like MBA Math or HBS CORe have become valuable tools for applicants in similar situations. For candidates from law, humanities, or other non-STEM fields, these courses signal initiative and help bridge academic gaps. Admissions officers appreciate applicants who proactively demonstrate their readiness, especially when transcripts or GPAs raise potential concerns.

Given that you have time and flexibility, enrolling in MBA Math or HBS CORe would be a strategic, low-risk choice. MBA Math is a quicker, more accessible option that reinforces fundamentals in statistics, finance, economics, and quantitative reasoning, skills essential for MBA coursework. HBS CORe, while more intensive, provides deeper exposure to business analytics, economics, and financial accounting, with a prestigious certificate that can add credibility to your application.

If you're aiming for M7 programs, top European MBAs, or schools known for analytical rigor, HBS CORe offers stronger signaling value. For other top 20-30 programs, MBA Math is generally sufficient and well-regarded.

While your GMAT score helps, supplementing your application with pre-MBA coursework can strengthen your academic narrative, boost your confidence in the classroom, and mitigate concerns for admissions committees. (You can proceed, especially given your non-quantitative background, and if your law school GPA wasn't particularly strong either)

Good luck finbe
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Pre-MBA Courses to offset low GPA despite having high GMAT Quant Score 24 Jun 2025, 04:48
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Quote:
Any insight would be appreciated!
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With that GMAT score, I don't think any school will have any doubt about your academic readiness or your ability to handle the quant coursework. If you have 4-5 years of experience or more, then no need to pursue any additional courses since your experience will take centre stage. However, if you are only 2-3 years in your job, then you could consider the HBS CORe. It at least requires more commitment than MBA Math, so will signal good things to the Adcom.
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Pre-MBA Courses to offset low GPA despite having high GMAT Quant Score Updated on: 25 Jun 2025, 12:11
Originally posted by MBADecoder on 25 Jun 2025, 03:34.
Last edited by MBADecoder on 25 Jun 2025, 12:11, edited 1 time in total.
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Hi Finbe,

Congratulations on a stellar GMAT score. I feel sorry you still have to worry about GPA and your academic profile despite such a good GMAT score.
If you are planning to apply in Round 1 you must use your time on the applications now onwards, which will not leave you with a lot of time to build your quant profile. HBS core is a demanding course that will have you finishing assignments and tests, so i would not recommend enrolling if R1 is the target.
MBA math takes lesser time - you can complete it within a week. Its nice to have but will not move the needle in your favour as such because its a common course and easy to complete. that said, you could consider taking this and finish it over a weekend.
In my opinion, if you must take a course, it could be a math/ calculus/ accounting course from an extension college - these are paid, credit courses and can be more helpful because you need to take one course. And yes, this would be academically challenging as well.

Parallelly, you must begin to work on your applications. if you are a corporate lawyer, you will have the chance to prove your quant and analytical capability through your work, which will also help in showing your academic readiness.

Additionally, having a balanced profile with extra curricular achievements will do you more good than just demonstrating very high quant efficiency, and I would not overlook presenting this aspect properly in the applications.


Feel free to reach out for a more thorough discussion.

Namita Garg,
Founder, MBA Decoder
Email: contact@mbadecoder.com
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Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011


finbe
Hello,

I am seeking advice regarding whether I should take pre-mba courses, such as MBA Math or HBS CORe. My undergrad GPA was a 3.23, but I had some low Quant courses.

However, I scored a 715 on the gmat with an 86 Quant score.

I am a lawyer so not much quant experience, and my GPA in law school was not stellar either, so I am wondering if it would still be worthwhile to take any premba courses to show my aptitude for business school. I Time constraints should not be an issue right now so if it is worth it at all I am able to take these course.

Any insight would be appreciated!
Show more
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Pre-MBA Courses to offset low GPA despite having high GMAT Quant Score 25 Jun 2025, 08:34
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Good luck finbe
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And yes, you should start preparing and working on your applications as well.
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Pre-MBA Courses to offset low GPA despite having high GMAT Quant Score 26 Jun 2025, 22:28
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finbe
Hello,

I am seeking advice regarding whether I should take pre-mba courses, such as MBA Math or HBS CORe. My undergrad GPA was a 3.23, but I had some low Quant courses.

However, I scored a 715 on the gmat with an 86 Quant score.

I am a lawyer so not much quant experience, and my GPA in law school was not stellar either, so I am wondering if it would still be worthwhile to take any premba courses to show my aptitude for business school. I Time constraints should not be an issue right now so if it is worth it at all I am able to take these course.

Any insight would be appreciated!
Show more
Hi finbe,

Congratulations on a superb GMAT score! Courses like MBA Math or HBS CORe are often used to supplement your academic readiness and quantitative aptitude. MBA Math might be easier to take up as it has a flexible/self-paced schedule and usually takes a week as opposed to HBS CORe which is miuch more rigorous and can take 80-12 weeks (also is a more expensive program).

With a low GPA & non quant background primarily, these courses would demonstrate your initiative and position you stronger in terms of managing the rigour of the programs.

Feel free to book a free call with our MBA experts for a more detailed discussion. You can also contact us directly at team.mba@theredpen.com or +91-7780769732.