<p>How important is your undergraduate GPA when applying to b-school?</p>
<p>Of course it's pretty important, but taking a step back, this is similar to asking, "how important is your highschool GPA when applying to college?"</p>
<p>It's an incomplete question without understanding what your objectives are, what your other "strengths and weaknesses" are - i.e. there is no "vanilla" answer.</p>
<p>Some things to consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>Which b-schools are you targeting? i.e. Top 25? Top 10? M7? </li>
<li>What are your GMAT scores?</li>
<li>What is your work experience?</li>
<li>What do you want an MBA for (e.g. essays, recommendations)</li>
<li>Which undergrad are you (did you) attend (i.e. how competitive was the student body? was there rampant grade inflation vs. deflation?)</li>
<li>What was your major (i.e. was it basket weaving or engineering?)</li>
<li>How tough was your courseload?</li>
<li>etc. etc...</li>
</ul>
<p>Your GPA is a critical component, but not necessarily the most important one - it's one of many things that b-schools look at (and arguably less important than a highschool GPA is --> college).</p>
<p>I am taking the rather large assumption that you are asking this b/c your GPA isn't as high as you'd like it and are wondering whether this will adversely affect your chances at b-school. There's no simple answer without knowing more. But basic upshot? There's nothing you can do to change your GPA if you are a Senior now, so the thing to do is to focus on other positives (getting a high GMAT score, exceptional work experience, a thoughtful application-essays, recommendations, etc.)</p>
<p>work experience counts a lot more, and the GMAT is important too. the GPA only helps confirm your capabilities instead of trying to prove it. that's because business isn't always academically-oriented in the traditional sense. plenty of people who aren't really good academically succeed in the business field. that's why the importance of GPA is minimized. it is still one of the major factors though.</p>
<p>
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business isn't always academically-oriented in the traditional sense.
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</p>
<p>yeah, I agree completely...one example: being good at academics does not always require that you are able to work with/understand/influence people, but being good at business does.</p>