My final semester grades were just released and due to a heavy course load my GPA tanked as I got 3 Bs. I now have a 3.77 GPA in finance from a non-target school. Will I still have a chance to get into HBS or Stanford?
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With a good GMAT, solid work experience, and a little bit of effort, it’s possible. It’s all in your head, you just have to try.
Without knowing your gender or race we can’t help you
3.77 GPA is fine, it's passable for those programs.
Nobody can give you any meaningful advice until you have a full profile. Which means GMAT, years of work experience, ECs, ORM/URM, post-MBA goals, etc. But to answer your question, a 3.77 GPA is not going to tank your profile. It's right below Stanford's average and above Harvard's.
You should do some research on what it takes to get into those schools though. Because you're coming from a non-target, you better aim for some fantastic (ideally unique) work experience, have some major accomplishments at work, meaningful ECs, and destroy the GMAT.
You mentioned that you're studying finance at a non-target. If you're going into a cookie-cutter finance role out of a non-target, it's going to be a major uphill battle.
Thank you so much for the in-depth response!!
I am an asian female and plan on taking the GMAT is summer. Have been getting +700 on the practice tests, so hopefully will continue that momentum.
I will be starting full time at GS/JPM. Does that count as a cookie cutter finance role?
No problem! Also, great work on the GMAT. I would aim for 740/750+ (I know that's easier said than done haha).
It depends on the role at GS/JPM, but overall I would say that almost any role at either firm is not cookie-cutter unless it's like some weird ops role in Columbus.
A really important (and often overlooked by new graduates) part of your profile will be your career trajectory and post-MBA goals. They should be complimentary. For example, if you're in a non-IB role at GS/JPM, a good MBA route may be to work on the technology team there for 2 years, exit to a fintech with a meaningful role, and tell MBA programs in your application that you plan on pursuing some sort of fintech role out of the program. You follow what I'm saying? Your profile should tell a story on why it makes sense for you to pursue an MBA and why you're going to be successful post MBA.
Thank you for the great insight!! Appreciate it!!
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