I am currently doing a masters program in international relations at a target school.
I am doing decently academically. However, I was wondering how much grades in such like a masters program count in MBA admissions at top programs (ex. NYU, HBS, LBS, Darden etc) ?
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Bump. Would be interested in this as well.
Very little. UG GPA and GMAT count for way, way more. Unless your Masters GPA sticks out/is very different from the rest of your academic profile (for better or for worse), it probably won't even be mentioned - in conversation or in writing - by any of the admissions evaluators.
EDIT: who are these losers hitting this with MS? I've actually graded applicants when I supported my school (M7) in admissions; I know what I'm talking about.
People love hearing views that are in line with their own pre-conceived notions. Totally defeats the purpose of seeking objective third party opinions but what can you do lol.
Lol the haters are those who have high masters gpa but low undergrad gpa
I have a JD and thought it would play into this narrative that despite having a mere 3.04 from Tufts (name aside), that having three additional years of rigorous graduate level work speaks to my capabilities to handle the rigors of T15 MBA curriculum (notwithstanding the inherent differences)... esp. given that I have ADHD and went through undergrad/grad with it intentionally untreated. What im saying is I have an uphill battle.
MBA programs aren't as GPA driven as other graduate degrees. A 3.04 is a red flag but it can be offset. IF the rest of your profile is attractive (resume, recommendations, GMAT in particular) they may look to see if there are other parts of your profile that would offset the 3.04 and prove you can do the work. A JD would check that box. However, it's not viewed in a vacuum, if the rest of your app isn't there it won't move the needle an inch. You don't need to be a Goldman banker or McKinsey consultant, but you do probably need to show promotional progression at or above level at a big name company in a traditional industry. The further out you are from school, the more important your resume is vs your UG GPA.
Thanks BreakingOutOfPWM. I have to get a good enough GMAT score to get into the mix, as I do believe I have an attractive profile even w/out the JD (I think at this level most of us probably do).
IF the rest of your application checks out (GMAT, successful job placement after law school, and - this is important - a credible reason for ditching law and going into business (burnout and grass is greener syndrome don't count) then there will be no doubts about your ability to perform in the classroom, and it's a matter of getting the committee to "swallow" your GPA because they like you so much anyway.
Don't overlook all the ifs. B-school committees aren't too hot on disillusioned lawyers joining the business side.
Thank you, Winnfield. I found my passion in growing companies. I have several businesses I want to launch but my main one is where we fund veteran startups (im a vet myself). I have made several connections in the VC world and want to actually start this company immediately after graduating B-School (I have several ideas on raising a fund etc). I need this material seered in my brain. I need to grapple with it. Not everyone needs an MBA to start a company. However, this is the path I am choosing. I ditched law as soon as I knew in my heart it was not for me. I managed a digital marketing company for 1.3 years till it was sold, and im consulting now, studying gmat, and still keeping my feet in the startup space.
I want to really work on grappling with what you said regarding my "credible reason for ditching law and going into business (burnout and grass is greener syndrome don't count)," or about being a disillusioned lawyer. The record shows I was a law clerk for five months post law school but that was it. Since then it's been startup space and I never looked back!
Can something like a 4.0 from an MSF (non-targer), a CFA charter, a 750+ GMAT, along with decent experience offset a 3.0 undergrad GPA (non-target) and get you into M7?
NeverOutOfTheFight - I'm not sure if you are still looking for an answer here or if you are now celebrating an acceptance to an MBA business schools">M7 school. The fact is that your UG GPA is what feeds into the rankings so you can't erase or replace that number. BUT, an MSF with a 4.0, CFA charter and 750+ GMAT will go a long way to demonstrating your readiness for the rigor of a top MBA program.
You still need to 'bring it' on all other aspects of your application - work experience, leadership, essays, recommendations.
Wishing you the best in your MBA journey! Susan
Of course they matter. A masters if harder than UG. Undergrad is a fucking joke.
It depends what you're studying. Undergrad physics or EE isn't a joke.
That’s the exception. And let’s not forget the countless bullshit 100 and 200 level classes.
Hey @Londinium23
Good question. I think the answer is...it depends. In general, undergraduate GPA tends to matter more. From a very logistical/operational standpoint, that's the figure that goes into all those GPA averages you see out there. Certainly though, strong performance in a respected Masters program is noticed. But in my experience, it's the undergrad GPA that they really focus on.
Where a strong results in a Masters program can help is when you have a candidate with a low undergrad GPA. If the Masters degree results are great, that can help mitigate the undergrad GPA. It doesn't entirely replace it or correct it, but it say something about your maturity and growth since undergrad.
Hope that makes sense, Krista
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