Art museum/nonprofit background low GPA/high GMAT-- HELP!

Question

Hello, I would very much appreciate some input on my case - I have a bit of an odd situation with an atypical background and I'm not sure what sort of schools I have a shot at. I'm interested in H/S, Haas, Yale, Columbia, Stern, maybe Kellogg -- is that totally unrealistic? What can I do to make myself a more competitive applicant?

-28 year old, white, female
-Top 20 liberal arts college (think: Wesleyan, Vassar, Oberlin) 
-Major: Art History
-Undergraduate GPA: 3.1 (polarized grades -- one year of extenuating life circumstances that can be written about in an application, but not on an internet forum).
-Nonprofit Management Graduate Certificate (6 courses) from a well known national university w/ 4.0 GPA
-After the graduate certificate, I took: Intro Finance, Intro Accounting, Intro Microeconomics, Stats I, and Calculus I w/ 4.0 GPA
-GMAT: 760 (I've only taken it once - might be able to raise it to something like a 770-780)

-I volunteer weekly at a domestic violence shelter and maintain an active feminist/socio-political blog, but most of my free time, over the past few years, has been taken up by studying math in order to make myself a more competitive MBA applicant.

-Work experience: interned at art galleries and an art museum, managed a women's clothing boutique, worked as an art gallery assistant at three galleries (press releases, sales, managing client files, marketing strategizing, etc.), marketing and development assistant, and also promoted from gallery assistant to development and executive assistant at an international, well-publicized start-up art gallery (which is my current position).

Why I'm interested in an MBA:

Directors of galleries and museums have, in the past, typically come from curatorial backgrounds, but it seems ludicrous to me that the directors - the people at the helm of these multi-million and often, in the case of major museums, multi-billion dollar ships - do not have the requisite management and financial backgrounds to run these nonprofit organizations in a more efficient manner. I would like to move from my position of assisting the directors to becoming a director myself. I would like to gain the business acumen I believe is necessary to positively influence the way these institutions are managed.

What are your thoughts?

My last comment: if my low undergraduate GPA and atypical background is too much for top 10 schools to blink at, would investing in an MA in Art Business or trying to get a management/directorial related position (or even something in nonprofit management consulting) and then applying in a couple more years improve my lot?

Thank you so much!

redfield · Answer

I just popped in to see what was going on in this thread as someone with a similar situation with GPA (hopefully with GMAT as well once I take it!) except just came out of undergrad so haven't built up the profile much.

That being said I just have to say this one thing; I've stalked these forums like a mad man and can tell you it is the consensus that unless your GMAT score had an uneven split (all verbal/low quant) there will be almost zero additional benefit to that final 10-20pts as every school has already checked the "gmat score" check box. In fact it's a high risk low reward scenario as you could also lose a couple 10 points if you're having an off day. Just my two cents on your profile as a novice; but I'd expect the admissions specialists that will follow my post will say you have a very unique background with great extra check marks to compensate for the GPA and a lot of schools actually like unconventional backgrounds.

Also if you have any GMAT preparation tips I wouldn't mind hearing them! Haha best of luck in your goals both MBA and what that leads to

ARINGO · Answer

Hi mbb64,

I'm Zooey from Aringo. After evaluating your profile, I'd say you have a pretty fair shot at gaining acceptance into a top MBA program. I certainly encourage you to describe the extenuating circumstances that resulted in your 3.1 GPA, though your impressive GMAT score, unique background, and successful achievements in other academic arenas should be enough to compensate for that weakness. As it is important for the admissions council to understand your decision, as an art history graduate, to pursue an MBA, your essays should highlight the void in your line of work regarding management and finance expertise and explain why you see these skills as essential for a gallery director.

I invite you to browse our website for helpful tips in shaping your application and to try our "chances calculator" (https://www.aringo.com/MBA_admission_cha ... ulator.htm) to give you a more quantifiable overview of your odds of admission.
I also welcome to you email our North America CEO, Chrissy ([email protected]), to set up a free assessment call (with no attached commitment) so that she can offer you more insight and advice for developing an individualized and impressive portfolio.

Best of luck!
Zooey

PersonalMBACoach · Answer

Atypical backgrounds are actually quite common for folks applying to business school. My biggest question for you is how long have you been at your current job and how have your roles / responsibilities / salaries progressed over time? Feel free to give me more details, including a complete resume and I will be able to give a better recommendation. Send a note to: [email protected]

That said, your profile is attractive and you definitely have a good chance at the programs you mentioned. Absolutely do not take the GMAT again, don't even consider it. Seeing your transcript would answer this question, but did you have closer to a 3.7-3.8 other semesters? If so, I wouldn't worry about the GPA if it can be explained and I also wouldn't spend much time on other courses. Frankly those help to some extent but in your situation, its not worth the time. The ROI is simply not there and you could better use your time elsewhere to prepare and improve your application.

Just be sure your story is tight and essays are strong and convincing. Happy to discuss in more detail but those are the right schools for you to be looking at.

Admissionado · Answer

The short of it, is that with a GMAT of 760, amazing grades, and your unique background, you are inline for Top Business schools, should you wish to apply. One thing you should think about though, is what you REALLY want to do. Although I totally agree with you that this business knowledge is useful, I think most museum directors tend to be experts (i.e. PhDs with credentials and contacts) rather than business people, and they have the MBA people advising them. So it can be useful, but you should have a greater interest on the business side than the art side, and find appropriate positions which fit you (Auction houses, galleries, financial advisers). But if you want to become something like the director of a large museum, then a PHD might be a better path for you. Everything depends on your goals, and you should also advise within industry.

Hope this helps!
Best,
Jon

Art museum/nonprofit background low GPA/high GMAT-- HELP!

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