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gater
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 08:25
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I'm applying to McCombs and I'm worried that my undergrad institution wasn't prestigious enough. I went to a local state school instead of a big name school. I graduated in 4 years with a 3.91 "major" GPA. Will this knock me out of the running?

I'm 29
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lagomez
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 08:37
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gater
I'm applying to McCombs and I'm worried that my undergrad institution wasn't prestigious enough. I went to a local state school instead of a big name school. I graduated in 4 years with a 3.91 "major" GPA. Will this knock me out of the running?

I'm 29
6 years WE
700 GMAT
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No.
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 08:40
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Unless you went to a school called University of Phoenix (basically paying tuition for a degree), you have nothing to worry about.

Brand of your UG institution has nothing to do with your qualification. I've met a lot of students from obscure state universities who are now matriculating at some of the top bschools.

In addition, I've also met a Chicago Booth MBA alumni with undergraduate degree from DeVry University......true story. (He was exceptionally brilliant, so your UG has nothing to do with your qualification)
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 08:51
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Unless you went to a school called University of Phoenix (basically paying tuition for a degree), you have nothing to worry about.

Brand of your UG institution has nothing to do with your qualification. I've met a lot of students from obscure state universities who are now matriculating at some of the top bschools.

In addition, I've also met a Chicago Booth MBA alumni with undergraduate degree from DeVry University......true story. (He was exceptionally brilliant, so your UG has nothing to do with your qualification)
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Hey don't knock my alma mater U of Phoenix. I didn't pay for my degree. I made a "donation" for my degree. It feels better that way. Just kidding.

As nink says, not to worry. What is your overall GPA? If that is low then perhaps you might be at a disadvantage. You mention "major" GPA but what major? Also what is the GMAT breakdown? Those items will be more important than the actual institution.
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 09:50
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lagomez
nink
Unless you went to a school called University of Phoenix (basically paying tuition for a degree), you have nothing to worry about.

Brand of your UG institution has nothing to do with your qualification. I've met a lot of students from obscure state universities who are now matriculating at some of the top bschools.

In addition, I've also met a Chicago Booth MBA alumni with undergraduate degree from DeVry University......true story. (He was exceptionally brilliant, so your UG has nothing to do with your qualification)

Hey don't knock my alma mater U of Phoenix. I didn't pay for my degree. I made a "donation" for my degree. It feels better that way. Just kidding.

As nink says, not to worry. What is your overall GPA? If that is low then perhaps you might be at a disadvantage. You mention "major" GPA but what major? Also what is the GMAT breakdown? Those items will be more important than the actual institution.
Show more

I went to the state school and got a 3.78 overall, but McCombs asks for "major" GPA. I also took summer classes at a local CC and got a 3.72 and took a few 500 level classes at a different local state school to make sure I wanted to go into Finance and got a 3.93.

I'm not sure what my breakdown was on the GMAT, my print out is at home.

Thanks for your replies, I feel much better about my undergrad.
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 11:23
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gater
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nink
Unless you went to a school called University of Phoenix (basically paying tuition for a degree), you have nothing to worry about.

Brand of your UG institution has nothing to do with your qualification. I've met a lot of students from obscure state universities who are now matriculating at some of the top bschools.

In addition, I've also met a Chicago Booth MBA alumni with undergraduate degree from DeVry University......true story. (He was exceptionally brilliant, so your UG has nothing to do with your qualification)

Hey don't knock my alma mater U of Phoenix. I didn't pay for my degree. I made a "donation" for my degree. It feels better that way. Just kidding.

As nink says, not to worry. What is your overall GPA? If that is low then perhaps you might be at a disadvantage. You mention "major" GPA but what major? Also what is the GMAT breakdown? Those items will be more important than the actual institution.

I went to the state school and got a 3.78 overall, but McCombs asks for "major" GPA. I also took summer classes at a local CC and got a 3.72 and took a few 500 level classes at a different local state school to make sure I wanted to go into Finance and got a 3.93.

I'm not sure what my breakdown was on the GMAT, my print out is at home.

Thanks for your replies, I feel much better about my undergrad.
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Breakdown is more important if you have a non-quant degree. I'm sure you'll be fine.
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 11:37
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Gater, you have nothing to worry about, you can look on UT's website and see other schools that are represented in the MBA program.

Historically UT doesn't care very much about what school you come from. Pedigree is much more important at the Ultra elite level.
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 11:40
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Great! I have an engineering degree and I want to back for a MBA with a Corporate Finance emphasis, so the quant shouldn't be an issue!
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 14:27
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I agree with what everyone else here has stated for the most part, especially as it pertains to UT. Don't kid yourselves into believing that where you went to Ugrad doesn't matter though. Adcoms most definitely take that into account. How much it matters to each school is another story.
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 16:57
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So the honest answer is your school matters...it is definitely something that is evaluated, along with major, etc. That said just because you go to a no name program doesn't mean you can't get into a top school. From my class at a 150 person a year no name school there is a Sloan alum, UCLA alum, and I graduated from Kellogg. Our year is definitely unual but it shows that you can overcome lack of a brand name undergrad.

Your high GPA is and if you are an engineer thats a harder major than getting some joke major from an ivy.
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Worried About Undergrad School 21 Oct 2010, 17:09
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Quote:
Your high GPA is and if you are an engineer thats a harder major than getting some joke major from an ivy.
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True that.
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Worried About Undergrad School 22 Oct 2010, 09:15
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Your high GPA is and if you are an engineer thats a harder major than getting some joke major from an ivy.

True that.
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What would qualify as a joke major? History majors that I know, often joked about, do well in law school.