Chances at HBS with low GPA, stellar work experience+target school
Just curious about the following scenario. A friend of a friend graduated from Harvard with a 3.5, worked at GS TMT/FIG (won't say which one), and is currently a pre-MBA associate at BX/KKR (again, won't say which one). gmat score is 760. Are his blue chip work experiences, high GMAT, and top target school status enough to make up for his mediocre GPA? obviously, he will have good essays/recs/extracurriculars, and he interviews extremely well. Just curious to see what you all think. Thanks
Yes, your friend has like a 80% chance of getting into HBS. I'm a bit surprised that he got GS TMT/FIG with a 3.5 (i'm guessing he is an athlete and/or has connections; no way he's a regular white/asian dude). But in any case, even though HBS is gpa heavy, his stellar blue chip pedigree is enough to get him in. HBS admissions is pretty straight forward since they are notorious name brand whores.
Actually, he's an asian (chinese) male with zero connections. At the time he got into TMT/FIG, he actually had a 3.4 - he just killed it networking and interviewing from what I understand. Anyway, this is interesting to hear. Any other thoughts as to whether the lower GPA will ultimately stop him from getting into HBS?
Wow. Mad props then.
No; with his blue chip resume and gmat, his gpa won't be a hindrance. The only thing that will keep him from getting in is if he doesn't perform well in the interview.
Even though they are name brand whores would a 3.5 not be a too low? I just feel like HBS wouldn't skew their averages/medians for GPA for brand names?
No. Even though 3.5 is below the 3.7 median, it's not THAT low, it is from harvard undergrad, and most importantly he worked at 2 of the best names in finance. Plus with a good gmat score and recs, he's good to go. I put his chances at HBS at 80%, Stanford at 60%, and Wharton at 90-95%.
GPA is not the end all be all for B-Schools, work experience and other elements of the application tend to weigh a little more as long as the GPA is >3.2
Agreed. There are lots of other factors that are important in b-school admissions and GPA is just one of many. In this case, he has 760 GMAT which probably more than makes up for his 3.5 GPA assuming there's any question in the first place about his intellectual abilities; which there probably isn't as a 3.5 is not really that low.
In addition, there's other considerations than the absolute GPA number. For one, maybe he was working several part-time jobs to fund his way through school at noticeable expense to his studying time (something that you would use the optional essay portion to explain). Also, keep in mind that GPAs aren't necessarily comparable as you have to take into account the difficulty of the major. A major with a tough curve (e.g. engineering or business) will be looked at with some latitude compared to a situation where there may be some grade inflation. While I'm not sure that this situation necessarily applies in this case, it's just something useful to keep in mind as far as general MBA applications go.
If your friend is already an associate at BX/KKR, why the hell would he want to leave and go back to school? Is it a requirement for employment? If not, this sounds like a silly idea.
Could be wrong here, but based on what his friend (my closer friend) has told me, he's pretty obsessed with prestige and just wants to add another blue chip name to his resume. I know a lot of people on here will cringe when they hear that, but I guess if it has utility for him, it doesn't matter.
0% chance of admission if the school finds out he posts topics pretending asking something for a "friend", when in fact he is that "friend.
Good thing he's not posting topics pretending to be asking for a "friend," then.
Surprised no one has said this, but being Asian may actually hinder the "friend's" chances. Sucks but reality. Not sure why he would want to go back to school when he is in a dream position for most.
As long as he has some solid extras and isn't a total douche, he will be fine. Tons of Asian IB->top PE guys in my incoming HBS class.
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