Profile Evaluation - Military with low GPA

Question

URM: Black/Asian (First Generation College Student) (Not sure if that matters anymore)

GRE: 331 (169Q/162V)

GPA: 2.4 in International Affairs from >100 ranked school. No good excuse for low GPA besides poor time management and immature. Plan to use the optional essay to write about self development after undergraduate. I have earned my PMP and Lean Six Sigma certificate (Black Belt). Currently, taking and planning to complete Berkeley Extension Math for Management prior to submissions.

Work Experience: I will have 9 years in the military, if admitted Fall 2024. I’m a military logistician with two overseas deployment/assignment (Iraq and Korea). My positions showed upward trend in responsibilities. My current position as a company commander includes managing 140 personnel. Throughout my career, I have been consistently rated in the top 10-25% of my peers. With the Korea assignment, I worked on a 3-month special project that involved working directly with the Korean military and government.

Extracurriculars: Worked monthly at Habitat for Humanities as construction volunteer and crew leader. Created a small group that meet bi-weekly that help young officers professionally and personally. One of my hobbies is scuba diving (wreck diver)

Career Goals: Short term goal is management consulting with a focus in operations or operations. Long term, I want to climb to an executive leadership position, more specifically COO. Overall, MBA would help further develop my leadership and management skills while teaching me business skills.

Targeted Schools: Tuck, Stern, Johnson, Ross, Tepper, Georgetown

I know my GPA is my biggest handicap that I trying to overcome especially in a short time. So any tips or advice is more than welcome.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hello AnxietyAndTrying , I hope you are doing well. It's great to see that you have a clear set of goals and a strong military background. As an underrepresented minority (URM) candidate with a unique background (Black/Asian, First Generation College Student), you bring diversity and varied perspectives to the MBA cohort, which many top business schools actively seek. A GRE score of 331 (169Q/162V) is competitive and falls within or above the average range of admitted applicants at many top MBA programs. Your 9 years of military experience, with deployments and a demonstrated upward trend in responsibilities, showcases your leadership, teamwork, and adaptability skills, which are highly valued in MBA programs. Your PMP and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certifications demonstrate your commitment to professional development and add value to your profile. Your dedication to community service and your efforts in helping young officers demonstrate your commitment to making a positive impact beyond your professional pursuits. Your undergraduate GPA of 2.4 is on the lower side and could be a potential challenge in the MBA application process. However, your plan to address it through the optional essay and by taking additional coursework shows your determination to overcome this weakness. Focus on showcasing your personal growth, self-development, and how you've overcome challenges to become a stronger candidate. Strong letters of recommendation can play a crucial role in your application. Choose recommenders who know you well and can speak to your leadership potential, work ethic, and accomplishments. These letters should complement the narrative you present in your application. Remember that the MBA admissions process is holistic, and schools consider multiple factors when evaluating candidates. Overall, your profile has several strengths that can make you a competitive candidate for top MBA programs. Your military background, leadership experience, certifications, and diversity add value to your application. However, the low GPA remains a challenge, but addressing it honestly and proactively in your optional essay can help mitigate its impact. We offer a limited number of complimentary profile evaluations each week . We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools. In this call, the experts will try to dig out your USP for top B-schools and provide you with honest feedback on your profile and chances to your target schools. Book a free profile evaluation call now! Neha Hadke Strategy Manager Testimonials Meet our Panel of Consultants. Email: neha@mbaandbeyond.com MBA and Beyond

MBADecoder · Answer

HI, You are taking the right steps to overcome the low GPA, which unfortunately is what it is. A 331 GRE score+ the Math course can be a smart way to overcome this challenge. Go ahead and take the math course for sure. Also, use the optional essay to tell how you have come a long way since the college days to prioritize/ use the opportunities before you. Military applicants are always welcomed at b-school, so you do start from a good place. Use the application to bring out your leadership skills - both in terms of leading people and in terms of initiating projects, being result oriented and influencing others to achieve common objectives. Your goals are in line with your past experience and you can have a favorable run with consulting companies as they value military folks. So, its all down to the application execution now. Namita Garg Founder, MBA Decoder contact@mbadecoder.com

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  AnxietyAndTrying ,

Thanks for writing in.

You have a differentiated profile with career goals that sync well with your background as well as your target schools. The GRE score too looks in good shape and will help compensate for your low GPA to a large extent.

In short, a set of compelling essays that highlight your strengths as well as your need for an MBA in an appropriate manner is all that you should be taking care of at the moment; if you do so, you have a very strong chance of making it to at least a few of your target schools (if not all).

All the best!

MBAGuide · Answer

AnxietyAndTrying you are on the right track. Here are some valuable tips and ideas that can help you address a low GPA in your MBA application: Read- Navigating a low GPA in B School Applications Overall, I really like your profile, and I am sure the schools will too! Military applicants are highly sought after by top B-schools and top tier consulting firms. These profiles remain unaffected by excessive character traits, by the politics of the situation, which makes them highly desirable, especially in consulting fields that require significant personal sacrifice. Military personnel are accustomed to making sacrifices during their service and have a remarkable propensity for action, which gives them a distinct advantage over other applicants. What are the chances that you will encounter stiff competition at Tuck, Stern, Johnson, Ross, Tepper, Georgetown with very similar profiles? Very likely, but even though there are many other applicants from the military, I can certainly imagine that an officer with your unique experience and demographic profile will bring unique insights from working at the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures. If you focus on your distinctiveness in your application (without overdoing it with storytelling) and balance your application with evidence of strong analytical skills (LORs or course certificates, if available), you should do well. Best wishes Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex admissions interviewer) MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message: +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

AnxietyAndTrying · Answer

Thank you everyone for your guidance and advice.

Posted from my mobile device

TheIvyLeagueEdge · Answer

Much has already been said about the great GRE score you have and the course/s you could pursue to overcome your GPA handicap. 
Given your profile, and your major in International affairs, you do have more than a decent chance. 
However, what really stands you out is your role as a Company Commander, having managed the large numbers and your roles in key assignments. Additionally, with your job description, you will also be seen as eminently employable by Consulting firms, and therefore most of the schools will consider your case with interest.

Important to note: 
1. Your experience is just about on the threshold of the higher age bracket. In other words, at your current age you would be the most attractive to 2 year FT MBA programs (compared to anytime later, ever)
2. For your case therefore, it is critically important to not just form compelling application essays, but also strategize with your consultant to help your bosses draft your LORs well, mostly because most military bosses have never written recommendations in the way the BSchools consider impactful.
3. Finally, even if among your collegaues you found yourself to be just one of the many pursuing similar ECs, hobbies and/or activities, understand that these ECs, hobbies and activities will really help you stand out in the B School Resume and essays.

Happy to discuss your profile 1-to-1

Profile Evaluation - Military with low GPA

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards