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May 0408:30 AM PDT
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A low GMAT score does not automatically end your MBA admission chances. Every year, top business schools admit candidates whose GMAT scores fall below the class average — not because the score doesn’t matter, but because the rest of the application....
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Antarc
Joined: 10 Apr 2014
Last visit: 21 Dec 2015
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
Location: Singapore
Concentration: General Management, International Business
Schools: Kellogg '18 (D) CBS '18 (D) Duke '18 (D) NUS '18 Sloan '18 (D) Wharton '18 (A) Stanford '18 INSEAD Jan '17
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V41
GPA: 3
WE:General Management (Media/Entertainment)
Schools: Kellogg '18 (D) CBS '18 (D) Duke '18 (D) NUS '18 Sloan '18 (D) Wharton '18 (A) Stanford '18 INSEAD Jan '17
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V41
Posts: 22
Kudos:
8
16 Apr 2014, 18:18
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hey Jon,
Thanks for your excellent work here.
I am preparing for 2015 fall MBA application. My major concern now is my undergrad GPA. I have got a GPA (converted directly) 2.90 from National University of Singapore in one of the top engineering programs. Like you said, I won't find excuses for myself. I was just losing focus during undergrad time, taking CFAs, starting third language, rolling in to sports and business games. So I am here asking for some suggestions on dealing with this awkward number. And with my full profile, maybe you could give me some advice on my school choices.
Here we go:
Male
26
China passport
Career goal:
Short term: I want to join NBA for international strategy and business development. This has always been my dream. I am a huge basketball fan, having watched all NBA finals from 1991 to 2013 (2014 around corner~), at least 3 times.
Long term: To promote professional basketball in Asia, maybe by entrepreneurship.
Backup: Strategic consulting towards Asia
Education Background:
B.Eng from National University of Singapore, class of 2012, 72.5% out of 100 (UK CAP), at least 90% for all quant modules. Full scholarship.
CFA Level II candidate
GMAT 760, Q51, V41, IR8.
Japanese N2 pass, frequent user
Work Experience:
2 years in entertainment industry by time of application, Japanese company, top 3% in promotion speed
Assisted senior manager to start up the Europe subsidiary (by two of us)
Introduced company to mainland China by negotiating and contracting with major distributor
Audited USA subsidiary, set up standard record and report procedures, demonstrated to new manager from Japan
Coordinated first audit of company
Reformed tax agreement with major media partners to avoid penalty
Organized events in various countries
Internship at energy corporation:
Modeled and analyzed electricity market of Singapore, to support the board in a S$15 million tender evaluation of power plant project
Extra-curriculum:
Led a team of four participating Bain & Co case challenge, ending final four in Singapore
Volunteered to serve mental health institution, became a leader of ten
Basketball player of department team
Active in drama and Chinese cross talk performance
Coordinated several Japanese culture event in undergrad
With my career goals and self-initiative, I feel Kellogg is the best fit of me, so is Fuqua (Duke's splendid history in NCAA basketball being very attractive). Other interested schools include Tuck, Anderson, Ross, Johnson, CBS, Yale, and UNC K-F. I need some advice on school choice as well as the arrangement of rounding. Also, I wanna try my full efforts for HBS. Is it still within my reach?
Or my GPA has already kicked me out of the range 
Thanks for your excellent work here.
I am preparing for 2015 fall MBA application. My major concern now is my undergrad GPA. I have got a GPA (converted directly) 2.90 from National University of Singapore in one of the top engineering programs. Like you said, I won't find excuses for myself. I was just losing focus during undergrad time, taking CFAs, starting third language, rolling in to sports and business games. So I am here asking for some suggestions on dealing with this awkward number. And with my full profile, maybe you could give me some advice on my school choices.
Here we go:
Male
26
China passport
Career goal:
Short term: I want to join NBA for international strategy and business development. This has always been my dream. I am a huge basketball fan, having watched all NBA finals from 1991 to 2013 (2014 around corner~), at least 3 times.
Long term: To promote professional basketball in Asia, maybe by entrepreneurship.
Backup: Strategic consulting towards Asia
Education Background:
B.Eng from National University of Singapore, class of 2012, 72.5% out of 100 (UK CAP), at least 90% for all quant modules. Full scholarship.
CFA Level II candidate
GMAT 760, Q51, V41, IR8.
Japanese N2 pass, frequent user
Work Experience:
2 years in entertainment industry by time of application, Japanese company, top 3% in promotion speed
Assisted senior manager to start up the Europe subsidiary (by two of us)
Introduced company to mainland China by negotiating and contracting with major distributor
Audited USA subsidiary, set up standard record and report procedures, demonstrated to new manager from Japan
Coordinated first audit of company
Reformed tax agreement with major media partners to avoid penalty
Organized events in various countries
Internship at energy corporation:
Modeled and analyzed electricity market of Singapore, to support the board in a S$15 million tender evaluation of power plant project
Extra-curriculum:
Led a team of four participating Bain & Co case challenge, ending final four in Singapore
Volunteered to serve mental health institution, became a leader of ten
Basketball player of department team
Active in drama and Chinese cross talk performance
Coordinated several Japanese culture event in undergrad
With my career goals and self-initiative, I feel Kellogg is the best fit of me, so is Fuqua (Duke's splendid history in NCAA basketball being very attractive). Other interested schools include Tuck, Anderson, Ross, Johnson, CBS, Yale, and UNC K-F. I need some advice on school choice as well as the arrangement of rounding. Also, I wanna try my full efforts for HBS. Is it still within my reach?
Or my GPA has already kicked me out of the range 
18 Apr 2014, 01:09
Kudos
Bookmarks
Wow! What an amazingly high GMAT! And what a low GPA! 
So obviously your GPA is your sticky point. And I'm afraid that yes, it pretty much places HBS out of range. (they take I think 2 people per year with a GPA less than 3.0). But no reason you can't focus on other great schools. With your NBA goals, Duke is the foremost obvious choice, although your GPA might make things challenging there too.
Your work experience seems very strong, although on the other hand, maybe not long enough. (2 years is on the short side of things, but setting up a subsidiary is pretty cool).
The first question I would ask myself is: should I present these NBA goals to the AdCom? If you don't have basketball in your past or sports management then it may seem odd, so you may want to present the AdCom other goals.
Second, I see that your school list is a bit ambitious, given your GPA. Now I think you have two possible paths here: 1. Decide to apply to ambitious schools only, knowing that the chances are less 2. Expand your range of schools to top 25 schools. With number two you have better chances of getting an accept and going to Bschool right now. But if your job is great and you are in no rush, option one can even be the better option. I mean you are very young. So what's the worst that can happen? You don't get into top 10 schools? No big deal. You improve your profile, gain more experience and try again the year after.
It all depends on what is best for you.
Since you are starting early, try to aim for all schools round one. start thinking about your essays TODAY! (you can even start making light drafts based on last years questions).
Make sense?
Let me know your thoughts,
So obviously your GPA is your sticky point. And I'm afraid that yes, it pretty much places HBS out of range. (they take I think 2 people per year with a GPA less than 3.0). But no reason you can't focus on other great schools. With your NBA goals, Duke is the foremost obvious choice, although your GPA might make things challenging there too.
Your work experience seems very strong, although on the other hand, maybe not long enough. (2 years is on the short side of things, but setting up a subsidiary is pretty cool).
The first question I would ask myself is: should I present these NBA goals to the AdCom? If you don't have basketball in your past or sports management then it may seem odd, so you may want to present the AdCom other goals.
Second, I see that your school list is a bit ambitious, given your GPA. Now I think you have two possible paths here: 1. Decide to apply to ambitious schools only, knowing that the chances are less 2. Expand your range of schools to top 25 schools. With number two you have better chances of getting an accept and going to Bschool right now. But if your job is great and you are in no rush, option one can even be the better option. I mean you are very young. So what's the worst that can happen? You don't get into top 10 schools? No big deal. You improve your profile, gain more experience and try again the year after.
It all depends on what is best for you.
Since you are starting early, try to aim for all schools round one. start thinking about your essays TODAY! (you can even start making light drafts based on last years questions).
Make sense?
Let me know your thoughts,
Antarc
Joined: 10 Apr 2014
Last visit: 21 Dec 2015
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
Location: Singapore
Concentration: General Management, International Business
Schools: Kellogg '18 (D) CBS '18 (D) Duke '18 (D) NUS '18 Sloan '18 (D) Wharton '18 (A) Stanford '18 INSEAD Jan '17
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V41
GPA: 3
WE:General Management (Media/Entertainment)
Schools: Kellogg '18 (D) CBS '18 (D) Duke '18 (D) NUS '18 Sloan '18 (D) Wharton '18 (A) Stanford '18 INSEAD Jan '17
GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V41
Posts: 22
Kudos:
8
18 Apr 2014, 04:46
Kudos
Bookmarks
JonAdmissionado
Hey Jon,
Thank you for your thoughtful analysis and advice. It is more helpful to receive some straight forward comments rather than those "Yeah! Go for it!" slogans haha.
Regarding to career choice, I am currently working in entertainment industry. Although it is still different from what NBA do, I can figure out some similarities. Well, I also admit whether the adcoms buy it or not is another issue.
I set up the ambitious school list because this is what I want from an MBA program. If I could not get any good offer this year, young as I am, I would go for another master program to get my academic record solid.
So let's get back to this more practical and technical problem: HOW TO OVERCOME MY GPA TRAP STONE?? I am open to any of your advice or past experience. I am still confused about whether to explain this in optional essay or not.
BTW, I am working on my school research and essay writings now. I am preparing my own curriculum for each school. Do you think this will be a sign of initiative if I mention it in the essay?
Let me know you opinions.
Regards
