What MBA programs are unforgiving of a low undergrad GPA?

Question

I know we have applicants on this sub that managed to get into decent MBA programs despite poor undergrad grades by reinventing themselves in their career and destroying the GMAT. While there are MBA programs out there that will forgive a poor undergrad GPA (I am talking in the ballpark of a 2.0 to 2.5) if the person has reinvented themselves in their career, done well on the GMAT, and has a strong application; I want to know of which ones are so unforgiving that outside of some once in a lifetime sort of miracle, it would be borderline impossible to get into them without a strong undergrad GPA.

To put this question in other words, if someone had a poor undergrad GPA, what MBA programs would you tell them to immediately cross of their list regardless of what the rest of their application may look like?

To put this question in other words, if someone had a poor undergrad GPA, what MBA programs would you tell them to immediately cross of their list regardless of what the rest of their application may look like?

99Colleges · Answer

Hi Underdogbiograd,

I don’t think you’ll get credible data on what you’re looking for. GPA data is in fact scarcer than GMAT data. On GMAT, you would at least see the middle 80 percent range at most programs, but less so for GPA. So it’ll be hard to find where GPA bottoms out for different programs.

Having said that, you should focus on what’s in your hand. If you’ve any reason(s) for the poor GPA, explain it. A high GMAT score can offset poor GPA to some extent, but the best insurance would be some solid professional trajectory or coveted industries or marquee names. The few outliers who get into top programs despite outlier academic stats usually have some solid professional credentials.

Last, if schools like you, it’s easier for most of them to accommodate a poor GPA than poor GMAT. It carries lesser weight in most rankings and if your GPA happens to be on non-4 scale, it will likely not be reported on the school website as well (most schools are silent on the methodology they follow, but few, including HBS, disclose this).

Underdogbiograd · Answer

Nice post, anyone else want to comment?

redfield · Answer

Second this, pretty much summarises the fact schools really do take a holistic view of applicants. That said, of course certain schools place a stronger emphasis on certain qualities and I can't provide a list or anything but Berkeley is quite unforgiving of low GPA's with pretty much every one of their graduate programs. But even with a low GPA if the school is a perfect fit for what you want to do it's worth applying as they may agree with the fit as well. The odds aren't so awful it isn't worth the shot.

ab_gmat · Answer

From what I have heard, UK Universities scoff at low GPAs. While it may still vary from college to college but a friend who studied at a UK Bschool told me how GPAs are an important consideration in UK.

What MBA programs are unforgiving of a low undergrad GPA?

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