Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Nov 2007:30 AM PST
-08:30 AM PST
Learn what truly sets the UC Riverside MBA apart and how it helps in your professional growth
Nov 2010:00 AM EST
-10:30 AM EST
If you’re applying to Columbia, NYU Stern, or Yale SOM, you need more than strong stats. Each school defines “leadership” differently, and your essays must reflect that. Join Sia Admissions founder, Susan Berishaj on November 20th
Nov 2009:00 PM IST
-10:00 PM IST
Join our free expert-led Essay Workshops to discover how to choose impactful stories, highlight your core values, and align your background with each school’s distinct culture, making every word truly count.
Nov 2108:30 AM EST
-09:15 AM EST
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.
Nov 2112:00 PM EST
-12:30 PM EST
Join Assistant Dean for Admissions Laurel Grodman for a live walkthrough of the 2025–2026 MBA application. Laurel will provide insights into what the Admissions Committee looks for and offer tips on key components of the application.
Nov 2109:30 PM IST
-10:30 PM IST
Learn how to craft powerful, authentic essays by mastering the 3 “WHYs” every top MBA program looks for: Why MBA, Why Now, and Why This School.
Nov 2408:00 PM PST
-09:00 PM PST
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
13 Aug 2013, 10:24
Kudos
Bookmarks
Age: 29
Work Experience: Current- Equity Analyst- research the consumer staples sector for a large buy side investment management firm think (Fidelity, Wellington, T Rowe, American Funds) for the past two years. Previously was in a research support role supporting portfolio managers for non-stock research and before that traded international equities and currencies.
GMAT: Haven't Taken
College: University of Vermont- 2.7 GPA Business Admin/Finance, had 3 really bad semesters 1 my uncle died, and the other 2 my mom spent a lot of time in ICU with an undiagnosed kidney ailment, I was young and incapable of dealing with my personal issues and school at the same time, I just didn’t go to class, without the my other 5 semesters my GPA averages over 3.3. I knew my low GPA and non-target school would hurt me so I enrolled at Boston College for their MSF program, graduated last year with a 3.75 GPA.
Extra-Curricular: Treasurer for my fraternity, managed a 200k budget. 100 hours of community service in college. I plan to get involved with a local charity to volunteer now that I have a lot of free time back in my life; I just finished the CFA program.
Certifications: CFA
Targets: Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, Tuck, Sloan, and Booth.
Timeframe: 2014-2015
Post MBA Goal: Become a portfolio manager at mutual fund company or analyst at a leading hedge fund.
What GMAT score range do I need to be in to even be considered at any of these schools? I know each of these schools are very difficult to get in to especially with my poor undergrad. Harvard and Wharton are probably extreme reaches for me and I am more realistically hoping for Columbia or Tuck but understand those my also be out of the question.
Is there anything else you would recommend I do between now and applying to try to overcome my poor undergrad? I believe I will have strong recommendations; I will be able to select alumni from each school to write them for me. I am hoping my MSF GPA, a strong GMAT, and passing the 3 CFA exams 3/3 consecutively can overshadow my 2.7 that I got when I was a lot younger and a much different person.
Basically I want to find out if it is possible to get in to one of my targets with my undergrad, I want to weigh my options before putting the time in to getting a GMAT over 700.
Thank you very much for you time and consideration.
Work Experience: Current- Equity Analyst- research the consumer staples sector for a large buy side investment management firm think (Fidelity, Wellington, T Rowe, American Funds) for the past two years. Previously was in a research support role supporting portfolio managers for non-stock research and before that traded international equities and currencies.
GMAT: Haven't Taken
College: University of Vermont- 2.7 GPA Business Admin/Finance, had 3 really bad semesters 1 my uncle died, and the other 2 my mom spent a lot of time in ICU with an undiagnosed kidney ailment, I was young and incapable of dealing with my personal issues and school at the same time, I just didn’t go to class, without the my other 5 semesters my GPA averages over 3.3. I knew my low GPA and non-target school would hurt me so I enrolled at Boston College for their MSF program, graduated last year with a 3.75 GPA.
Extra-Curricular: Treasurer for my fraternity, managed a 200k budget. 100 hours of community service in college. I plan to get involved with a local charity to volunteer now that I have a lot of free time back in my life; I just finished the CFA program.
Certifications: CFA
Targets: Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, Tuck, Sloan, and Booth.
Timeframe: 2014-2015
Post MBA Goal: Become a portfolio manager at mutual fund company or analyst at a leading hedge fund.
What GMAT score range do I need to be in to even be considered at any of these schools? I know each of these schools are very difficult to get in to especially with my poor undergrad. Harvard and Wharton are probably extreme reaches for me and I am more realistically hoping for Columbia or Tuck but understand those my also be out of the question.
Is there anything else you would recommend I do between now and applying to try to overcome my poor undergrad? I believe I will have strong recommendations; I will be able to select alumni from each school to write them for me. I am hoping my MSF GPA, a strong GMAT, and passing the 3 CFA exams 3/3 consecutively can overshadow my 2.7 that I got when I was a lot younger and a much different person.
Basically I want to find out if it is possible to get in to one of my targets with my undergrad, I want to weigh my options before putting the time in to getting a GMAT over 700.
Thank you very much for you time and consideration.
15 Aug 2013, 19:28
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi and thanks for posting...
You have some competitive (!) schools on that list, and some challenging issues you've mentioned, but you've also shown a maturity and self-awareness of past weaknesses and challenges and ways you've overcome them that I think will serve you well as you put together your application, essays, and interviews.
You are correct that your masters degree with the high GPA will help out that undergrad GPA, and you would likely use the optional essay to explain more about your undergrad situation.
You should as you probably know aim for over 700 on the GMAT for those top programs, and yes HBS and Wharton will be a stretch. There's not too much more you can do at this point unless you take on any particularly interesting projects/accomplishments at work between now and when you apply, or get involved in a community activity... with your masters degree it's less pressing to say, take some additional coursework. So I'd focus on the things you CAN affect-- your GMAT and your essays! Don't underestimate the importance of the essays, nor the time it takes to really create strong essays.
Wishing you the best!
You have some competitive (!) schools on that list, and some challenging issues you've mentioned, but you've also shown a maturity and self-awareness of past weaknesses and challenges and ways you've overcome them that I think will serve you well as you put together your application, essays, and interviews.
You are correct that your masters degree with the high GPA will help out that undergrad GPA, and you would likely use the optional essay to explain more about your undergrad situation.
You should as you probably know aim for over 700 on the GMAT for those top programs, and yes HBS and Wharton will be a stretch. There's not too much more you can do at this point unless you take on any particularly interesting projects/accomplishments at work between now and when you apply, or get involved in a community activity... with your masters degree it's less pressing to say, take some additional coursework. So I'd focus on the things you CAN affect-- your GMAT and your essays! Don't underestimate the importance of the essays, nor the time it takes to really create strong essays.
Wishing you the best! 
