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15 Jan 2018, 15:58
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Should I write the optional essay to explain a DOWNRIGHT awful last semester GPA. Below are my stats:
1. GMAT = 720(48Q, 41V)
2. Boston College, GPA 3.0 on the dot, Economics Major and History Minor
3. Job Experience: 2.5 Years at Top Boutique consulting firm focusing on consulting E&P companies.
4. List of Schools I have applied to: Darden, Mccombs, Mcdonough, Keenan Flagler, Tepper, Owen.
So all my applications are in and I reached out to each school saying I was really struggling with if I should write the optional essay. They all responded that if you believe you have something else to add to your application they would love to hear it. So long story short see below for my break down of my GPA per semester:
Fall 2011:
2.866(Received a D in Statistics)
Spring 2012:
3.188
Fall 2012:
2.975
Spring 2013:
3.55
Fall 2013:
Study Abroad at Saint Andrews. Grades did not transfer but credits did (A-, B+, B+,B-, C+)
Spring 2014:
3.34
Fall 2014:
3.22
Spring 2015:
1.864 (This included a D+ in Financial Economics, a C in Environmental Economics, and a C- in Public Finance)
Overall my GPA, is low but not abysmal in my mind but that last semester is just BRUTAL. To be totally honest it was a mixture of a few things:
1. My grandmother was dying(All 3 of my other grandparents had passed away and my dad passed away when I was 3)
2. I became totally obsessed with investing and focused more on this than academics, started my own investing blog, just fell in love with it.
3. My mom shattered the bottom 3 bones of her spine and was confined to a bed for 3 months and a walked for 6 months. Thank god 3 years later she has been able to return to normal activity although at times with pain.
4. I just went out to much, was not mature enough, and did not understand the long term consequences a terrible semester like this could have.
PLEASE SOMEONE RESPOND...
1. GMAT = 720(48Q, 41V)
2. Boston College, GPA 3.0 on the dot, Economics Major and History Minor
3. Job Experience: 2.5 Years at Top Boutique consulting firm focusing on consulting E&P companies.
4. List of Schools I have applied to: Darden, Mccombs, Mcdonough, Keenan Flagler, Tepper, Owen.
So all my applications are in and I reached out to each school saying I was really struggling with if I should write the optional essay. They all responded that if you believe you have something else to add to your application they would love to hear it. So long story short see below for my break down of my GPA per semester:
Fall 2011:
2.866(Received a D in Statistics)
Spring 2012:
3.188
Fall 2012:
2.975
Spring 2013:
3.55
Fall 2013:
Study Abroad at Saint Andrews. Grades did not transfer but credits did (A-, B+, B+,B-, C+)
Spring 2014:
3.34
Fall 2014:
3.22
Spring 2015:
1.864 (This included a D+ in Financial Economics, a C in Environmental Economics, and a C- in Public Finance)
Overall my GPA, is low but not abysmal in my mind but that last semester is just BRUTAL. To be totally honest it was a mixture of a few things:
1. My grandmother was dying(All 3 of my other grandparents had passed away and my dad passed away when I was 3)
2. I became totally obsessed with investing and focused more on this than academics, started my own investing blog, just fell in love with it.
3. My mom shattered the bottom 3 bones of her spine and was confined to a bed for 3 months and a walked for 6 months. Thank god 3 years later she has been able to return to normal activity although at times with pain.
4. I just went out to much, was not mature enough, and did not understand the long term consequences a terrible semester like this could have.
PLEASE SOMEONE RESPOND...
15 Jan 2018, 22:03
Kudos
Bookmarks
AWalsh599
AWalsh599,
Several important issues raised.
1) Generally, no Ad Com likes excuses. As long as you can pose your "reasons" as sound justifications (Even those do not redeem you, but with a well written essay, you can use it to show other achievements - not those already mentioned - and really turn this into your strength), you should write the optional part
2) Specifically, D in stats is not good. An additional course in Quant to show your capability will help you a lot.
3) Assuming an average strength application, and strong goals, you have somewhat of a chance in Tepper, and a very weak chance with Mcdonough & Owen.
I strongly suggest to not hope too much out of this time. Instead, start looking up good consultants and apply to safer schools as well.
