Low Undergrad GPA for MBA?

Hi everyone!

Just graduated from a top university on the West Coast (UCLA, USC, etc.) and I'm starting as a full-time investment banking analyst in a top group at a top bulge bracket (GS, MS, JPM) in about a month. I'm planning on working with my current group for about ~ 3-5 years. Heavily considering getting an MBA afterwards but I'm worried about how my undergraduate GPA may affect my chances of admission (3.1 GPA). I'm not really shooting for a Top 10 MBA program... more like Top 30. Would my work experience paired with a good or decent GMAT score get me through? What would you say are some of the most important factors of an MBA school application?

Would love to hear your thoughts. 

9 Comments
 
Most Helpful

Hey OP, why only top 30 though? With that kind of background, your opportunity cost may not be justified going into a 25th, 30th ranked program.

Top 15 and below makes sense. You are already at a Top BB, figure out how to create your own story (your own voice IE), throw that banking money at a consultant and get started right away. Would be crazy to not try a few top schools in the T10 range with a profile like yours, along with a healthy spread of schools. 

Plenty of people with less than stellar GPA break through every year, if you are a plain vanilla banker, its tough, but if you are going to find what makes you unique, what not sky is the limit. 

Good luck!

 

I didn't recruit with a 3.1. I recruited with a 3.5 and had some extenuating circumstances the semester after receiving my full time offer. But no, it was not personally difficult recruiting BB with the 3.5 GPA.

 

I don't know the range just that the average GPA is 3.3. And it's also always been a dream of my mine to get my MBA so any top 30 program would be worth it to me personally. It's just a personal goal.

 

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