Profile Evaluation Request -Low GPA Scenario

Hi Abhinav, thanks for your post.

I'd say a low GPA like yours is not insurmountable. It's just one number on your application so there are many other factors a school will consider. Your GPA is quite low though so it's going to be a red flag for schools, as they use GPA as an indicator of your ability to handle the b-school curriculum. There are a lot of "distractions" in b-school too so you'll need to demonstrate what you learned about yourself and prove you can handle all those demands on your time.

A couple of ways to address a low GPA are 1) get a high GMAT, which you've done, so congrats! and 2) take supplemental pre-MBA courses, which you've also done. For the MOOCs you've taken, did you receive grades? If not then I would strongly recommend taking more courses where you are graded and try your hardest to get A's. If you've already got good grades in the four you've taken then I don't see a need to take more.

By the way, you should also plan to write an Optional Essay to explain your low GPA and reflect on how you've matured since then.

One other thing to be thinking about -- making the transition from a technical / IT role to a top strategy consulting firm can be tough. So perhaps think about an alternative near-term goal, perhaps IT consulting, or just be prepared to demonstrate very clearly what transferable skills you have and how you're preparing yourself to make that transition.

Take a look at GPA ranges for schools to get a sense of where you'll fit. You're definitely going to be below average for all the top US programs, so I'd primarily target schools below the top 15. I just think top 15 programs are going to be too concerned about your GPA, especially given the competitive demographic you're applying from.

Good luck with the process and keep us posted if we can help!