Low GPA with excellent extra-curricular experience

Question

Dear Team,

I am an engineering graduate (graduated in 2012) from one of the good colleges here in India but have a low GPA (<3.00) and GMAT score (660)

Apart from being an engineer, I am also a free-lance music artist. Currently, I work for an MNC here in India (International Marketing and Business Development)

During my college days, I was engaged in getting freelance work and also engaged in the council work for college.

I have an effective experience of 6 years (2 years of corporate experience and 4 years of freelancing) and want to start my own company after completing the MBA.

I cannot apply to every college due to the hefty application fees.

I am considering the following colleges:
1. Harvard Business School
2. Stanford Graduate School of Business
3. Tuck School of Business
4. Kellogg Business School
5. Booth School of Business

Can you please help me to evaluate where do I stand the best chance to get through.

Should I apply to some other colleges apart from the ones stated above, considering my profile and the aim.

Regards

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Thanks for sharing your profile. You have identified some very elite schools as targets for your MBA. Your target list will be difficult for you to secure admission to. A few things work against you, you are below average in both GMAT and GPA at all of these schools. Also, you are coming from a very competitive applicant pool with a generic background which makes these schools a reach.

I would broaden your search to the top 20-25 if you want to most efficiently gain admission and not waste your application fees.

Hope this helps!

I would broaden your search to the top 20-25 if you want to most efficiently gain admission and not waste your application fees.

Hope this helps!

desiapplicant · Answer

Which colleges do you think have the best scope to attract venture capitalists?

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

I would say look at this from the perspective of where the hubs for venture capital and entrepreneurial activities are in the US. I would say SF (Haas/Stanford), Boston (HBS/MIT), NY (Columbia/Stern), and to a lesser extent Chicago (Kellogg/Booth) and Austin, TX (UT-Austin). So schools in these areas have leveraged their proximity over time to serve as close to a feeder system as is possible in this space. I would also say VC is generally a small industry and dominated by Harvard and Stanford so not too many school will really be primed to attracted VC gigs but your best plan is to focus on schools in these VC hub cities because where entrepreneurship thrives VC firms will be close by

Hope this helps!

Hope this helps!

Low GPA with excellent extra-curricular experience

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