USC MBA / MS Real Estate - Any shot?

Hey Everyone,

I want to attend USC's MBA program or MS Real Estate Development program within the next 3 years. I have a work background in banking and real estate and am currently an analyst in one of these roles. I am looking to move to a new job in a real estate analyst program at a REIT / IB / PE firm, do the stint, then head to business school.

I attended a school in the US Top 50 with a 2.5 GPA. Pretty shitty GPA, as I have mentioned on here numerous times. I am wondering what someone with a 2.5 GPA can do in the next 3 years to stand out to USC admissions.

What should I strive for on the GMAT? Does anything matter besides undergrad school / gpa, work experience, and gmat scores? I have a pretty unique background that I would be able to show in my admissions essay- family background, starting businesses, work exp, that type of thing. What would you do in my situation if you planned on applying in the next 3 years?

Thanks

5 Comments
 

You and I are in very similar situations with similar backgrounds.

Definitely shoot for 700 gmat and have a great story as to why the low gpa.

 

You could also sign up for finance type post-grad night classes and get A's... then point to this in your app to show that you can handle it.

Great GMAT score with good quant split will be important though.

 
MidcoastYou could also sign up for finance type post-grad night classes and get A's... then point to this in your app to show that you can handle it.

Great GMAT score with good quant split will be important though.

Can you recommend some good courses / schools / programs? I'm in this category and want to make the best use of my time outside of work.
Get busy living
 
Best Response

I guess it depends on where you are in the country but just sign up at whatever decent school is around and that offers night classes.

As for courses, just pick ones that are quantitatve and that you may have even struggled with in undergrad. Like if you bombed clac or stats re-take it and do a lot better. Or go take an accounting class or a corporate valuation class. Hard to give a lot of detials but thats the jist.

Here is a thread that talks about it a bit:

http://www.beatthegmat.com/how-to-deal-with-a-low-gpa-t7648.html

There are a ton others that pop up if you Goggle it. Some better sources would be GMAT club, Manhattan GMAT forums and clearadmit.

 

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