Between undergrad and grad school

I graduated with a low GPA from an average state school (think U. of Florida, Texas, etc.) but I managed to still get into IB at a middle market firm.

Looking ahead to grad school, what can I do between now and applying to grad school to help better solidify my application?

Besides scoring well on the GMAT, is there anything in particular I can do to make up for my poor undergrad performance? Maybe taking some one-off classes at a local university and/or getting a grad ceritificate from a b-school to show that academically I've improved since my undergrad days?

7 Comments
 

I think thats his way of saying he went to UF, seeing as how mccombs is not in the same category as w/e the name of UF Bschool is.

 
Best Response
TTS_1I graduated with a low GPA from an average state school (think U. of Florida, Texas, etc.) but I managed to still get into IB at a middle market firm.

Looking ahead to grad school, what can I do between now and applying to grad school to help better solidify my application?

Besides scoring well on the GMAT, is there anything in particular I can do to make up for my poor undergrad performance? Maybe taking some one-off classes at a local university and/or getting a grad ceritificate from a b-school to show that academically I've improved since my undergrad days?

Take courses -- preferably in person. Make sure you go to an accredited, known school, and get an A. In fact, take a number of courses, serially, and get A's on all of them. I did it for 7 consecutive semesters and got all A's from a good state school before going off to business school. Originally I just wanted to be taken seriously by any business school, but I did so well in my courses with my new attitude that I ended up applying to all top schools and got into HBS & Stanford. My original GPA was pretty bad.

I don't know about those certificate courses -- not clear if they really matter. I think the consistency of going to school at night in quanty courses, participating in class and getting good grades tells the adcom more about how you approach learning, rather than what you learn.

You've still got time for fall term!

Betsy

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!
 
Betsy MassarTake courses -- preferably in person. Make sure you go to an accredited, known school, and get an A. In fact, take a number of courses, serially, and get A's on all of them. I did it for 7 consecutive semesters and got all A's from a good state school before going off to business school. Originally I just wanted to be taken seriously by any business school, but I did so well in my courses with my new attitude that I ended up applying to all top schools and got into HBS & Stanford. My original GPA was pretty bad.

I don't know about those certificate courses -- not clear if they really matter. I think the consistency of going to school at night in quanty courses, participating in class and getting good grades tells the adcom more about how you approach learning, rather than what you learn.

You've still got time for fall term!

Betsy

Thanks for the advice, Betsy.

What would say to someone who travels for work? Follow your approach except online?

 
Cola Coca

Thanks for the advice, Betsy.

What would say to someone who travels for work? Follow your approach except online?

Online is fine. I know a student who ended up TA'ing an online statistics course after doing so well in it! Just go to an established online provider -- BYU, UNC, Indiana, University of California are all good.

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!
 

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