Undergrad GPA: when do marginal returns diminish for MBA admission?

For example, I currently have a 3.85 from a semitarget, and could graduate with as low as a 3.81 or as high as a 3.87 depending on how much effort i put in my senior spring. Since my gpa will be at least acceptable either way, how much of a benefit would it be for MBA apps to be at a 3.87, for example, vs a 3.83? My intuition is that it shouldn't really matter at all, but what do i know

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It's probably marginal that 3.87 over a 3.83 matters (it statistically doesn't), but I believe in always doing the best you can, so I would strive for the 3.87 and give yourself a nice reward when you hit that. Also, a 3.87 is a 3.9. A 3.83 is only a 3.8. Just sayin'.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
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You're already ahead of the game for MBA average GPA. This will give you some wiggle room in your GMAT/GRE score. 

https://menlocoaching.com/top-mba-programs/average-gpa/

Top US Business Schools: Average GPA, 2017-2022
MBA Program 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 Stanford 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.7 3.7 Harvard Business School 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 The Wharton School 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 Northwestern Kellogg 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 Chicago Booth 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 Columbia Business School 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.5 MIT Sloan* 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.5 Dartmouth Tuck 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 Berkeley Haas 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 Virginia Darden 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 Yale SOM* 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.7 Duke Fuqua** 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.5 3.5 3.5 Michigan Ross 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5
"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Lol, why did I always think the averages were higher? Feels nice to know you can have a 3.5 GPA and get into a good MBA.

 

Lol, why did I always think the averages were higher? Feels nice to know you can have a 3.5 GPA and get into a good MBA.

Yeah I think the avg GPA to get into IB is generally higher than the top 10 MBA program's avg GPA. 

Although, you don't just have to have a 3.5 GPA - you have to have good recommendations, a good GMAT, and demonstrated leadership potential. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

These GPAs will be dragged down by STEM majors and people with hooks (special background like minority, army, etc) 

These are in no way "average" for a normal applicant applying from IB/PE

 

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