Law graduate with a 3.0 GPA and 700 GMAT : which BS would accept me ?

Question

I graduated with a 3.0 GPA from a good law school in France, with a specialization in financial law and a complementary diploma in Common law ( I don't think it is recognized by other universities but I actually had better grades in the Common law part of my degree ). I had bad grades during my first years, and I have a good GPA for my last year ( around 3.5 ).I have a 700 GMAT, 4 months internship in a law firm and I am fluent in 4 languages. Please, what are my best options for master in Business schools ? Could I improve my situation by doing a master in law and working hard to get a better GPA ? My university has exchanges for one year to countries where I could learn a 5th language.

I am interested in Finance, MiM, and basically anything that would accept me. I try to be realistic, but I would like to get the best Master as possible regarding my situation.

Thanks for any advice guys !

I am interested in Finance, MiM, and basically anything that would accept me. I try to be realistic, but I would like to get the best Master as possible regarding my situation.

Thanks for any advice guys !

Admissionado · Answer

Secretlawyer :

Thanks for posting in our community. It's good that you are very open to different types of programs though at some point in the admissions process you are going to have develop specific interests. Responding to your questions:

Q: Please, what are my best options for master in Business schools?

A: So, there are a few factors. Are you only looking at Europe? Are you considering the US or CAN? How important is ranking for you? Do you really care between MiM and MFin or other programs? Do you have ANY preferences? They are different degrees that have different career implications.

Q: Could I improve my situation by doing a master in law and working hard to get a better GPA?

A: Doing so won't improve your chances. You don't need another degree, especially in a field that isn't your target. If anything, you should retake the GMAT to improve your score at least another 30 points. Even though you have a great score with a 700, a higher score is the most effective way to balance out a perceived lower GPA.

Q: My university has exchanges for one year to countries where I could learn a 5th language.

A: This will definitely not make a difference. Learn the 5th language if it's interesting to you, but not to improve your chances of being admitted.

In short, please provide additional context about your preferences and we can help you out!

-Admissionado

Secretlawyer · Answer

Hello and thanks for answering !

Mi dream master would be a Master of Finance in Europe, ideally in one year and outside of France ( Spain and UK have a lot of MSc in one year ).

I don’t know if I am a good fit due to my background in law.

I am open to any BS but I would prefer it to have a good ranking. To be honest with you I was really interested in ESADE BS when writing my post.

Thanks again my friend !

Posted from my mobile device

Secretlawyer · Answer

I do consider the US and Canada though, although the US programs may be too expensive for me.

Posted from my mobile device

Admissionado · Answer

Secretlawyer :

Your background in law is not really an issue. There's a common misconception out there that one must have a business background to pursue a degree in business - simply not true. In fact, you might have a stronger argument for needing a MFin (or another masters degree in a business field) because you don't have the business background!

The bigger issue for you, as you note, is your GPA. Masters degree programs take undergraduate academic performance very seriously as it's an indication of a candidate's ability to handle the rigors of their program's curriculum. Thankfully you have a good GMAT as discussed in our previous post.

What about extracurricular activities? Do you have any leadership or community-related achievements you can showcase in a CV/resume and/or essay?

-Admissionado

Secretlawyer · Answer

Not really unfortunately. I did play rugby at a good level in France during my undergraduate studies and during high school and I have good references. But that's about it.

I play guitar since I am 5 and piano since a few years. I lived in Italy during 2 years in elementary school. I obtained some national prizes for poetry in middle school. That's all I can think about.

Thank you.

Secretlawyer · Answer

Hi any advice ? What if I retake the GMAT and score a 730 ?

Admissionado · Answer

Secretlawyer : Yes, a 730 would really help. For masters programs, getting to the 700 mark is most important, but since you have a potential GPA issue, having those extra 30 points would not doubt help. As for the specific degree, fit does matter. These programs wants to understand why you want the exact degree. So, yes, there are overlapping aspects to MFin, MIM, MSBA, etc. degrees you should do a little research on which one you think would be most appropriate for your career goals. MFin has become very popular, so it tends to be slightly more competitive, but MiM isn't far behind. That being said, they're all generally competitive so going for the "easiest" program isn't exactly the right strategy. Also, think about the schools that resonate with you most. ESADE feels like it could be a great match for you. If you want to stay within EU you could consider Imperial, Essec, IE, and Bocconi. LSE, LBS, INSEAD, and HEC Paris are probably the schools you might have a hard time with given their selectiveness. If you need additional help mapping out a plan (including a school list), don't hesitate to get in touch with us for a free consultation. We can set you up with one of our graduate school experts to talk through all of this with you. https://admissionado.com/free-consultation/

Secretlawyer · Answer

Hello,

First and foremost thank you so much for taking your time to answer.

I am planning to get a better score at the GMAT. Also, I didn't convert my French grade properly. I might be closer to a 2:1 ( 3.3 GPA ).

I will still try to apply to LBS for a MiM, and Mfin in other BS in Spain and the UK. I hope they will take into account the fact that my last 2 semesters are incredibly good compared to my bad first years of college ( I was playing rugby at a good level and couldn't handle both daily trainings and law school ).

Thank you my friend !

Admissionado · Answer

Secretlawyer :

It's our pleasure.

A 3.3 GPA is definitely better. It's not too bad, especially if you do manage to bump up your GMAT score. That will certainly help! Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You'll do great.

The admissions committee will definitely take into account improvement over time. It's not a major factor, but it's definitely something they consider when looking at your overall academic performance. I am not sure I would mention rugby as it might look like you can't juggle multiple things at once. Just focus on the stronger elements of your profile and don't let details like that bog you down, especially if they run the risk of sounding like excuses.

Again, please reach out if you want to chat with someone tenured on our team about these programs and how to optimize your chances.

elseco · Answer

I think that you will get admitted to both ESADE and IE MSc Finance with your profile

Law graduate with a 3.0 GPA and 700 GMAT : which BS would accept me ?

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