I am sure the precise extent of this depends on the program, but how heavily do Top 10 MBA programs weigh undergraduate GPA? Would they overlook a mediocre (but not terrible) GPA if a candidate otherwise has a strong application?
Here’s my background. I plan on applying for MBA programs next fall and starting school in Fall 2017. I haven’t taken the GMAT yet - I scored a 700 on my most recent practice test, and still have 9 weeks to improve before I take it in December.
I graduated from Boston College with a 3.3 GPA and BA in Economics. Since then, I’ve spent 2 years as a commissioned officer in the Army (will be 3 by the time I apply next fall). I won’t say too much about my military experience in a public forum, but I’ve served in a combat arms role as a platoon leader and also worked in logistics as a staff officer.
I understand that I need to improve my GMAT score, but even if I do so, am I still a reach for admission to the top 10 programs due to my mediocre undergraduate GPA?
Yes, they sometimes do overlook mediocre GPAs (although I would say that your GPA is good. Not great, just good, but not bad either).
Most business schools publish a class profile of the most recent class they admitted. They’re all structured somewhat differently, but some of them post GPA ranges along with median/mean GPA.
School: Average GPA, Middle 80% range
Yale: 3.63, 3.28-3.88
Berkeley Haas: 3.66, 3.42-3.90
Columbia: 3.50, 3.10-3.80
NYU Stern: 3.51, 3.19-3.81
Duke Fuqua: not listed, 3.00-3.83
So I’d be willing to bet that most business schools with an average GPA of around 3.6ish have a considerable number of 3.3s floating around, and business schools with average GPAs of 3.4-3.5 will have a lot of them.
There is nothing you can do about the GPA, but you still have time to improve the test score. Live and breath the GMAT for the next nine weeks, and hope admissions like military service. The drop-off on MBA programs after the top 10 is pretty steep, but you can’t make a top 10 school, you might look at getting a specialty MBA or MA that complements your military service. For example, you stated that you had experience in logistics. The following is a list of top schools for logistics
Many of them are state schools which might give you tuition breaks for your military service, and you should be able to qualify for with your current stats. Best of luck.
I disagree. Stern, Ross and Fuqua are outside the top 10 and their MBA programs are also excellent. I think graduates from the top 20 MBA programs will have good chances of landing meaningful employment.
Many MBA programs seek out applicants with former military experience, particularly in leadership roles. Often this experience signals the ability to perform under stress and demonstrates time management skills. Ultimately, the University wants to recruit students who will be easy to place professionally, and many employers value military experience. I would recommend finding a University that has proven itself to be military friendly. You can find many of these Universities next to bases. I know in California this is particularly true. I’ve heard the University of San Diego is one of these, as well as the University of California, San Diego, due to their location next to the naval base.
get over a 700 on the GMAT and you’re gold…be very thoughtful and concise with your essays and loop those same themes into your interview and interactions with the adcom
Thanks for your responses. I took the GMAT last week and got a 760 (50 Q, 44 V, and 8 IR). With my GMAT score an 3 years of work experience, would schools be willing to overlook a meh undergraduate GPA from a good school?