Alternative transcript. I need a strategy.

I will start applying to MBA programs next November and I have decided to pursue an alternative transcript to supplement my current stats.

What classes should I take? I was thinking of taking things that I was really interested in learning about but the more I look into it the more I realize that the consensus is, either take Accounting or take heavy quant courses like Stats and Calculus.

I was a finance major and accounting minor in undergrad so I feel like taking those classes again will be a little redundant.

Also, how many classes is enough? I was thinking 3 courses should be enough.

Should I do an online program like the UCLA Extension (I live in Houston) or should I just go to a local community college?

Thanks,

pacman

 

I have been looking at the same exact thing today and joking with my boss that I am taking the screen writer class. I am interested in the responses. I am from Houston too. What MBA's are you looking at?

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.- JFK
 

Well I bleed burnt orange so I am biased. I want to go FT UT but my life might not allow that (Married, Im 28 and poor). So I might have to do the dreaded PT MBA. UT has a top 10 PT program and allows for OCR. If I can do FT it will prolly be Rice.

When it comes to you I wish I could help but I am in the same boat as you. I know if you want to work in Texas that UT is a great value. Rice is very strong in Houston. The others seem on par for OCR and education so I would look at social life. I think the good news is all these schools will set you up for success if you can take advantage of the program to its full potential.

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men.- JFK
 

Nobody knows what an alternative transcript is.

-------------------------------------------------------- "I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcom
 

I'm sorry to bump an old thread like this, but I actually had a very similar question. Has anyone here ever taken any classes in the NYC area in order to build up their "alternative transcript" in order to strengthen their resume or business school profile? This whole "taking part-time classes" thing seems really complicated when you're not actually working towards a degree.

It looks like BMCC or one of the other CUNY schools might be my best bet -- anyone have advice to share here?

 
holla_back:
I'm sorry to bump an old thread like this, but I actually had a very similar question. Has anyone here ever taken any classes in the NYC area in order to build up their "alternative transcript" in order to strengthen their resume or business school profile? This whole "taking part-time classes" thing seems really complicated when you're not actually working towards a degree.

It looks like BMCC or one of the other CUNY schools might be my best bet -- anyone have advice to share here?

Doesn't really matter where you take it. If you are in for the learning (and not just the transcript) try and find out who are the good teachers, and choose like that. Otherwise go for convenience (close + cheap works usually)
 

Mediocre UG gpa --> high masters GPA --> alternative transcript --> chicago booth here

I did my alternative transcript courses at UC Berkeley Unex. All online, very convenient. I did accounting 1 and corp finance because I was an engineer before school. The courses you take should complement your background, i.e. they should be courses that are naturally part of an MBA curriculum yet you don't have experience in those fields. I'd say stay away from calc, a strong GMAT math score should suffice. Stats is useful, acct and corp fin as well.

 

If I were to do what you're saying, I would either do the certificate course I mentioned above or take Mathematics classes (only) at my local schools...not community college but something like "Tufts Univ, Pace Univ, St Johns" Get A's in Calculus, Linear Algebra, shit like that.

 

Is george mason good enough? I qualify for instate tuition so it would be much cheaper attending classes there instead taking classes at george washington or georgetown

 

Schools generally don't care where you take the class, they understand it's going to be a function of what's affordable and what's available. Also, they aren't going to really care about really hard core quant classes like linear algebra because you won't use any of that in an MBA. Classes generally recommended are: calc, stats, acct, econ. Make sure you get A's. Also, a 3.1 isn't stellar but it isn't horrible either. Most of the average gpa's are 3.3-3.5 so it really isn't going to kill you.

 

I am wondering this as well. Is there a typical core of classes to take for an alternate transcript?

"We're not lawyers, we're investment bankers. We call you for the paperwork. We didn't go to Harvard, we went to Wharton, and we saw you coming a mile away."
 

Hi OP,

Checkout UC Berkeley Extension school. They offer on-campus and online graduate certificates in a variety of business related fields including Finance/Marketing/Accounts. Each course costs around 850 dollars and you receive a letter grade/transcript.

Sayonara
 

I've been working on developing an alt transcript as well through a nearby university I think doing well in courses such as stats, econ, accounting, and finance can definitely help

 

I go to one of the schools listed so am naturally biased. (Message me if you want me to do a little research at my school.)

That said, I think a 5 on the Calculus AP exam + a killer GMAT quant score would be enough + your GPA is enough in my book. I don't necessarily think taking another math class will negate that C anymore. You may have to explain it in interviews, but it's clear that you're good at math.

 

UC Berkeley has a very accessible program, as do all the other UC's, but most of my students who have done the Berkeley programs have found it manageable and liked the process.

I did UVA for an alternative transcript before they invented the internet, and I used it to get into HBS. I don't know if their current set-up is "open" or an actual grade.

To be honest, as long as the school is a regular accredited school that someone has heard of, it shouldn't matter. All of the schools you mention are fine, and you should simply check the details of the system, the process and the amount of time you have to complete the course and take the exam. Also, be aware that some schools require you be proctored when you take your final.

Whoever you go with, make sure you get a grade and take the course for credit so it will be included with your regular transcript.

Betsy Massar Come see me at my Q&A thread http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/b-school-qa-w-betsy-massar-of-master-admissions Ask away!
 

No investment bank will like a MAcc. It will actually probably hurt you. Having said that, if I were in your position and had your goals, I would try this path:

MAcc --> Big 4 audit --> Big 4 TAS --> any boutique IB you can get into --> good boutique IB --> MBA --> PE.

There are a million different ways to get there, but this I think is the most logical. It will be difficult at every step of the way, but if you work hard enough, you can get there.

 

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