do I have a shot at Harvard MBA?

-Just finished up my undergrad education at UC Berkeley. Majors: Economics and Business Administration
-Overall gpa: 3.401, major gpa: 3.962 -Will work as an analyst at BB

I would love to get my MBA at Harvard and build the ivy league network. What does it take to get me there? I know my overall GPA is lower than Harvard's median (3.6) but obviously I can't raise my GPA anymore. Please advise. Thanks.

5 Comments
 
Best Response

Sunlounger,

How do you expect someone to tell you whether you can get into Harvard MBA by giving your GPA? Yes, with that GPA you are not out of the running by any means...but a lot depends on essays, recommendations, GMAT, extra currics, sex, race, etc.

have you started your own business? can you demonstrate leadership? do you have connections? will an MD pull for you? getting into business school is more than just undergrad GPA and whether you work at a BB ibank. given the information provided, there is very little way for anyone to guess at your chances. HBS is extremely competitive to get into...but if you have a few amazing things about your application or you have something that they are looking for, then you might just "fit."

a few of my friends are going there next year...they did the IB, PE route, but about 80% of the class got there some other way.

 

Berkeley is known as one of the most difficult schools grading wise, because it's hard and competitive and there's no grade inflation. If you graduate with a 3.4 and 3.9 major GPA, you're set. Keep in mind the average GPA for HBS includes all kinds of easy schools, and including the private schools with grade inflation.

Put it this way, your GPA is not a problem. however to get into HBS you gotta work on lots of otehr stuff, so that's what you should focus on.

 

Ullam repudiandae veritatis ad ipsa. Saepe quas magni rem nostrum. Ut maxime ut ex corporis. Corrupti facilis aliquam numquam consequatur minima asperiores officiis. Quis officiis vel voluptatem explicabo quo magni voluptas.

Repellat nobis aut facere dolorum sit. Autem dolorum aliquam blanditiis non voluptate. Reiciendis ullam blanditiis autem et. Repellendus itaque modi autem hic. Beatae facere et qui facilis veritatis odio. Recusandae repellat rem cum fugiat ea voluptates voluptatem. Repellendus ex eos sequi voluptas consequatur ea voluptatem.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”