Admission chances at T15 and M7 MBA programs *have not taken gmat*
Hey everyone - hope you all are well
This is my first post!
Little background/bio on me:
New graduate - Student-athlete (D1) at a top 50 undergrad where I did a social science(?) major, and graduated with a low GPA in 2.8-2.9 range
Interned in Big Pharma and at a CRO - landed those through networking
Graduated with two job offers - CPG sales/marketing rotational program for 60k+, and Big Pharma in a very quantitative and technical role but also a grad program for 80k+; quite different paths and am going the Big Pharma route
My current mindset is that I'll work a few years and then pursue an MBA to go into consulting or possibly IB (realizing PE/VC are out of the picture). Or, stay in/return to Big Pharma and move up the ladder as there is plenty of opportunity and money.
I have not taken the gmat but I do know that I am not great at standardized tests, I'm pretty average. Is my undergrad GPA enough to keep me out of the T15, let alone M7? Like many, the dream is Harvard or Wharton (maybe the HCMP at Wharton?) but I'm realistic; would also be very happy with Sloan or even Tuck - different caliber, I know. I'm more likely to just stay in industry if I can't get into a top program; so what are your thoughts on my chances at a top program with the relatively little info I've provided? Also, once in a top program would that GPA hurt during recruiting? I ask this in advance because of the ample time I have to study for the gmat before starting work - but if my GPA is likely an automatic ding, probably not going to bother studying.
So no GMAT, no work experience, and a 2.8...
So Stanford it is lol
You would need to work hard to mitigate the GPA, but it is possible to overcome if you were a D1 athlete throughout college. MBA business schools">M7 may be pushing it, but T15 is possible.
You will need:
For more information, please see:
Good luck!
that sandy HBSguru guy talks about getting an “alternative” transcript to boost GPA. I don’t know what that means but maybe it could help this guys case? I never went to biz school but thought about it a couple years ago and I recall hearing this.
An alternative transcript is what you create by taking courses after college and earning A's in them. Basically my 2nd bullet point above.
Thank you, Linda!
Given the low GPA, it depends on what AdComs think of your school and current employer, and your LOR. Unfortunately, Business schools don’t care about D1 Sports except maybe Kellogg and Tuck so that won’t move a needle.
So here’s what you can do to overcome: -Take GMAT and get as high score as possible. -Make sure you have glowing LORs -Lateral into a better firm that has sent people into top MBA programs -Take some quant courses to show you can handle the coursework and that can help you offset your low GPA -Have great Extra curriculars that can help you stand out Have a great story on why you want an MBA and why that school
HBS and Wharton would be a reallll stretch but Darden, Fuqua, McDonough, Goizueta, and maybe Tuck and Stern and possibly Kellogg are doable but again Admissions is also based on a bit of luck so who knows you might get into better ones too
Good Luck!
Kellogg or Tuck would be sweet haha
A low GPA is a surmountable handicap at most schools, though not at HBS or Stanford.
At the other MBA business schools">M7, if you have an overall compelling application where the GPA is the only blemish, and you're 5+ years out of UG, and you developed an alternative transcript... there's a reasonable (20%) chance that one will bite. This is harder for, say, Wharton and Booth. If you have a 750+ GMAT, it can tip the scales at the other schools. Heck, also at W and B.
At the T15, all of the above applies, except the odds go up handsomely (say, 40%+).
Thing is, for an overall compelling application, your GMAT needs to at least be average for the incoming class, if not better. And you don't seem to be very ambitious about the GMAT to start with...
Really appreciate the input
Good posts above, the super simple answer:
Harvard/Stanford: Pretty much no shot to be honest. They take D1 athletes with 3.8+ GPAs, and 750+ GMATs, and great work experience. If you don't get bucketed into that, you need to be really unique (Olympic Athlete, Foreign Diplomat, etc) in some way or underrepresented.
Rest of M7: Reach schools, but if you do the above, do great on the GMAT, start building the alt transcript, good extra curricular, strong work experience (to the best of your ability), you could potentially get into one/some of these.
Top 10-20: Probably more of your sweet spot, assuming mediocre execution on the above. If you're topping out at a 700 on the GMAT (vs maybe a 740+ for the MBA business schools">M7 category) and maybe don't have quite as strong of a promotion track at work etc. I think you'd still have a good shot at a Darden/Fuqua etc.
At the end of the day, if your goal is consulting, you'll get looks from MBB from most of the top 20 schools. Most of the opportunities from the top b schools are similar, with the exception of PE/VC recruiting from H/S. It's good to aim high, especially given you have ~5 years to work on your profile, but for what it sounds like you're aiming for, I don't think you need to be a H/S or bust type of candidate.
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