770 GMAT, 2.6 cgpa, should I even bother with top 10 programs?

Question

Dear GMAT club community,

I realized my GPA is going to greatly hurt my chances, I am wondering if I should bother with applying to the top 10 programs? The ones I specifically want to get in are NYU and Columbia. And what are my chances for schools in the 10-25 range? The ones I am particularly interested in are Cornell, UCLA, and USC.

UG: Engineering at a top Canadian school. I don't have any other explanation for my low gpa besides the fact I was not interested in my program at all and as a result I slacked off. Our class average was also low. In a couple of first and second year courses our class average was C- or D. 2.6 is not a "bad" gpa coming out from our program, but it is a very average one.
Post-grad courses: took 3 classes after undergrad at a different university, Formal Logic, Marketing and Macroeconomics. Got A in all of them.
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Ethnicity & Citizenship: Asian, Canadian
WE: 3 years by Sept 2015. Technology Consulting. Was recognized company wide for playing a crucial part in winning a $800,000 contract
Extra-curricular involvement: I am on the executive board of the local riding association of a major provincial political party. I am also a Public Relations Manager for a local NPO that organizes career development conferences for university students and young graduates.

I am thinking of waiting for another year to apply (take more courses to build an alternative transcript, hopefully get a promotion at work or switch to a brand name company). If I did not get in this year, will it hurt my chances of re-applying next year?

Any admission consultants that have worked with applicants like myself feel free to leave your comments here or PM me. I am considering hiring one.

Thanks!

EDIT: for GMAT, my V/Q is 44/51, IR is 8, yet to hear back for the AWA score but I think it should be at least 5.

CriticalSquare · Answer

Hi there!

Thanks for sharing your background. While your GPA is certainly a weak point in your candidacy, it sounds like you're doing exactly what you should be doing to address it. A 770 GMAT is extremely impressive, so congratulations on that! A killer GMAT in conjunction with the three post-grad courses for your alternative transcript send a strong message to the AdCom that you are serious about your education from here on out. Applying next year certainly gives you time to build on your alternative transcript, but what are you hoping to get out of it? What other classes do you plan on taking next? In terms of using this time to progress in your work experience, if a promotion is a reasonable expectation, that could be a good use of your time, however switching firms is risky - you should think deeply about how this move matches with your goals before you make any decisions. Moving to a "brand name" firm just as a resume builder won't help you. Applying next year won't necessarily hurt you, however, to truly assess when you should apply, we'll need to know more about what you want to do post MBA both short and long term. We have indeed helped candidates with similar profiles, so if you'd like to chat more about how we could help, feel free to sign up for a free consultation below.

jz4analytics · Answer

It's definitely worth applying. Cornell is a great school and it seems to be forgiving for low GPAs. Columbia is pretty equitable towards a wider range of undergrad institutions and grades than other top 10 programs, as it cares more about high GMAT scores (bumps up rankings). The most important thing to do now is nail the essays and convince these programs why an MBA is good for you.

Consider applying Early Decision to Columbia if that is your first choice. ED helps your chances.

Consider applying Early Decision to Columbia if that is your first choice. ED helps your chances.

dtse86 · Answer

It looks like you've done an excellent job at counteracting that low GPA with examples of success at work and getting an amazing score on the GMAT. Congrats!

Bhavik and jz4analytics have given you some great advice as well. I 100% agree with them that you are on the right track.

Besides needing to explain the low GPA (which you seem to have already thought about), you will need to also make sure that you come up with realistic (and honest) goals for your post-MBA career. Personally, I found that part of the application process the most revealing and the most helpful when I had to come up with my list of schools. It'll also help you get to the "Why THIS school?" answer while you do your school research and write your essays.

:gl

with your applications and don't worry about applying to the top schools. There's not too much that you can do about your GPA now, but it seems like you've done well to show adcoms that you've moved past it to become successful anyways! As a fellow 2.XXer, I'm rooting for ya!

with your applications and don't worry about applying to the top schools. There's not too much that you can do about your GPA now, but it seems like you've done well to show adcoms that you've moved past it to become successful anyways! As a fellow 2.XXer, I'm rooting for ya!

GeneralEducation · Answer

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations for such a great GMAT Score. I totally agree with the above comments here and you have done well in your GMAT to offset your low GPA. If you are expecting a promotion in your current job, I would definitely recommend you to stay in the same job and apply next year with an improved profile. I don't think switching a job at this stage would be a good idea. To shortlist your B-Schools we need more details about your work experience, short term and long term goals etc. However, I would recommend you to shortlist your B-Schools soon and start doing the ground work for your shortlisted B-Schools.

I would also recommend you to take some professional help in drafting your B-School application essays to improve your chances of getting admitted in a B-School.

You may also gauge your chances of getting admission to top business school by trying this amazing tool https://bit.ly/1C9o2Md For free profile evaluation, please send your resume at [email protected]

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

fxMBAconsulting · Answer

If your GPA was average for your class that would mean you are in the 60th to 40th percentile in terms of class rank - that is not so bad. Your GMAT is very strong and I think that the 3 classes you took are sufficient to act as an alternative transcript.

You need to move beyond the GPA. If you apply this September you'll have 4 years of work experience when you begin your MBA - and 4 years is the sweet spot employers are looking for. Your extracurricular activities look decent/strong on the surface. I'd suggest you apply this year. You said that one of your big achievements at work was participating in a $800k contract - I'm wondering where you work and if your role is continually evolving or if you've settled into a routine. Are there any must-not-be-missed projects on the horizon in the next 24 months, such that you can't start an MBA till September 2017? If your employer is anything less than gold-standard, staying there less time, rather than more is going to be the way to go.

I'm always happy to jump on a call and discuss further.
Best,
Leah

770 GMAT, 2.6 cgpa, should I even bother with top 10 programs?

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