Hi all,
Background: 25 y/o, male from Turkey.
** Work experience:** 4.5 years (1,5 years at Johnson & Johson as a junior product manager, and 3 years at P&G as a financial analyst with a promotion to senior)
**
Undergrad school/major**: Top 20 in Germany, Finance . GPA 2.1
** Race/nationality**: Turkish, Germany
** Sex**: Male
Stats
** GMAT Score**: 760
Undergrad GPA: 2.1
MBA Info
** Goal of MBA:** to get into MBB or IB
** Target schools:** Kellog or Cornell
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How does a capable individual like you get a 2.1 GPA?
Can you clarify? Was your 2.1 on the U.S. 4.0 scale or an upper second-class honors degree on the UK/Euro system?
I assume the latter, but would like to verify before i respond.
Thanks.
Hi Linda,
It is 2.1 out of 4. Extremely low GPA
Thanks!
Hi John,
That is an extremely low GPA. And it's an obstacle at both programs, especially Kellogg. Given your GMAT, your chances are probably better at Cornell. FYI, the former director of admissions at Cornell Johnson is today a consultant at Accepted.
I have several suggestions, and they are contained in a podcast I did a few year ago, "5 A's for Your Low GPA." .
That shiny 760 is going to help a lot as will your international background, but you do need to provide context and evidence that whatever caused your low grades then is no longer affecting your academic or professional performance. You also need to provide evidence that you now know how to perform in a demanding academic environment. Finally, you need to present yourself as an above average performer outside the classroom -- on the job and in extra-curricular activities. (But don't proudly proclaim that you were so involved in ECs as an undergrad that you just didn't have time for your classes. That excuse will not be viewed sympathetically.)
In short, you have a chance at both programs lesser at Kellogg, but apply to additional programs than just those 2. You are looking for some school to overlook that 2.1 in light of what you've done since. The more you apply to, the more likely one will. Check out programs like Darden, Ross, Duke Fuqua, NYU Stern, Tuck, in addition to those you mentioned above.
Best, Linda
Hi Linda ... Can I know minimum range of GPA
Ivan,
There is no official minimum range at all. And the GPA isn't looked at in a vacuum. It's evaluated in context of the entire application, not to mention the applicant pool at the school you are applying to. As a very fuzzy guideline with a lot of caveats, I'd say that if your GPA is .3 below a school's average you have a "low" GPA.
You can get some idea of how average GPA's vary at Accepted's MBA Selectivity Index which shows average GPAs for the MBA programs listed in US News MBA ranking. In the top 10, the lowest aveage GPA is 3.48 (Ross). In 11-20, the lowest average GPA is 3.34 (UNC) and the are mostly in the 3.4-3.5 range.And for most of the rest of the US News ranking the average GPA remains in the 3.2-3.5 range. In fact, it only goes below 3.2 at #91, Daniels (3.16) .
While I don't think I answered your question, I hope I at least gave you information that will help you make an intelligent decision on where to apply.
You may also be interested in ["So, You’re Applying to Business School with a Low MBA GPA or GMAT Score?"](So, You’re Applying to Business School with a Low MBA GPA or GMAT Score?)
Best, Linda
Keep in mind that your troubles don’t end with getting into Kellogg. Employers, especially, MBB have strict undergrad GPA cut off. So you’ll have to rely more on networking to go around that cut off filter.
Linda Abraham , could you explain that cutoff thing and if it limits one’s chances to get into MBB?
@jnhadekjs" and John37
I checked with Karin Ash, currently Accepted consultant and formerly head of career services at Cornell Johnson. @jnhadekjs" is correct. MBB did have (and probably still do) strict cut-offs because they have more qualified candidates than openings and grades evidence a history of hard work as well as scholarship.
She also indicated that a "professors can make a difference" so networking can play a role. I would also assume that if your MBA program allows grade disclosure and grades are superior, that could help too, but that would be in conjunction with the networking.
Best, Linda
My circumstances may be a bit different as I was applying from law school but as an alternative data point, I did first rounds/superdays (for 1) at McKinsey and Bain with ~ a 2.5 undergrad GPA.
I did no networking for either and was at the worst school in my interview cohort (law school grades were good but not amazing).
I would expect a Germany-based Higher Education Institution not to disclose your grade average (GPA) using the 4.0 US scale GPA system.
That would likely mean that you converted your GPA yourself (from the German grading system to the U.S. GPA scale).
If you did so, there is a chance that, as a result, you actually undervalued your actual GPA figure.
This document (which lists, among other country grading systems, Germany) should help you verify the approximate accuracy of the GPA conversion methodology you used: https://www.oecd.org/careers/young-associate-programme/yap_gpa_guidelin…
Because frankly, it is rare for a 2.1/4.0 UG GPA holder to score a 760 GMAT.
Look further into it.
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