Georgia Tech GPA crisis (Grad School)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgia Institute of Technology
1

Everyone knows the average GPA for GaTech students is low. With an average of 3.1, and with the “average” student at Tech still being extremely smart, I would call this a crisis.

Basically let me cut to the chase. I want to go back for an MBA at some point after college, and I have heard that having high GPA is the only thing grad schools truly care about, not the school. However, I am having a hard time believing this. You mean to tell me GaTech Grads with lower GPAs even though that is the norm there would have a less chance at being admitted? I feel like the top MBA schools would know about GaTech, and the grade deflation that goes on there. For gods sake graduating with a 3.15 or higher is graduating with honors!

My question is can GaTech grads with “low” GPAs compared to all schools still get into top MBA programs if they have a “good” GPA for GaTech? Or should I go to a slightly easier school where I can soar and get a 4.0 and be admitted to top MBA programs? What is the best route?

2

The point is that if 3.15 means honors, then you should have honors and provide class rank so that the graduate schools would be able to evaluate you properly.

3

Top MBA programs are not going to give you slack for having attended Tech. They may have some leniency for students whose undergraduate coursework was heavy in math and science, whether they come from Tech or elsewhere. That said, if you don’t have a 3.4+, even in engineering, you’re facing an uphill battle at top programs unless something else is really stellar. If the rest of your application is really stellar, even a “low” 3.0-3.2 GPA may suffice. Getting into a top MBA program is not just a numbers game. They’re looking for future leaders with track record of success. Academics is just one measure of success, and while they will generally only admit people that can handle the coursework, they’re not necessarily looking for academic all-stars, which is why even the best MBA programs have average GPAs closer to 3.5 than to 4.0, unlike top law and medical schools.

The bigger reason someone wanting to go to a top MBA program would want to attend Tech, or another similar school, is for access to recruiting for the types of jobs top MBA programs like to admit from. These generally include management consulting at reputable firms, investment banking, private equity, product management positions at top technology firms, leadership development programs at F100 companies, operational roles in F500 companies where you can make an impact within a few years, etc… These firms and companies generally target the nations best schools for on-campus recruiting (where they have the most success in finding the talent they are looking for), so it’s obviously easier to get these jobs if you attend the universities they recruit at. Even a 4.0 at some schools won’t open the door to certain jobs unless you already have or develop connections with people making hiring decisions at those places, which is easier said than done.

Around 1/3 of each class at Tech is now graduating with highest honors (3.55+), so I’m not sure it’s fair to say Tech is crazy hard and that your GPA is doomed if you attend. If you’re not academically in the top third of your class, and don’t otherwise have some stellar selling point(s) in your application, I’m not sure I’d say you deserve to be at a top MBA program anyway, given the caliber of the other applicants. Besides doing reasonably well academically, you need to be involved outside the classroom/workplace, get and spend 3-5 successful years in a type of job MBA programs like to recruit from, and then submit applications that convince admissions committees that you’re a smart, likeable, future leader who top MBA employers will want to hire. If you’re worried about whether you can even keep your GPA above Tech’s 3.1 average, pursuing a top MBA may not be the path for you.

4

Type of work experience & success while in the workforce (usually expressed in terms of promotions) are significant factors considered by elite MBA admissions folks. Elite MBA programs prefer 2 to 5 years of post-undergraduate work experience.

One’s GMAT score can be viewed as somewhat of an equalizer for those who attended undergraduate schools with harsh grading practices.

If, as shared above by another poster, one third of each graduating class at Georgia Tech is graduating with a GPA of 3.55 or above, then you should have no worries as a 3.55+ is good enough for almost all elite MBA programs, although on the low side for ultra-selective Stanford 3.73 avg. & Harvard 3.67 avg. Berkeley has the next highest average GPA at 3.64.

Michigan Ross & Duke’s Fuqua both have average GPAs below 3.48.

5

@qow100 It really depends on your business interests. Also your work experiences after the four years of a bachelors degree, will determine which MBA program you are admitted to later.

Harvard Business school and Warton at Penn will not admit very many students from a 4 year undergrad degree.
You must get a job in the field you want and work 80 hours week for two or three years to get into the top business programs. You also must use your summers wisely during undergrad to determine your speciality. Do you
want to focus on marketing, accounting or finance? Read about those three focuses now and figure out which
way you want to go for your career.

I know 4.0 students with bachelors degrees from NYU, who got rejected at NYU Business school because they were teaching in Teach for America in between undergrad and the MBA program.
and thats not good enough for the top business MBA programs, you must prove yourself in a business related career before getting into the top MBA programs across the USA. This particular student was able to get into UT Austin
MBA program and get a job at Delloite later.

If you want a finance/analyst career, intern at Goldman Sachs or instance, will help you get into top MBA programs.
Those interns work seven days a week by the way, they are learning a lot! Its a tough two years in between the bachelors and MBA where the rubber meets the road and they sort out the good workers from the slackers.

The time you put in at GaTech will TRAIN YOU TO WORK HARD.

Wall Street likes quantitative analysts and GaTech will give you the math skills you need. What are your career goals?
so if Wall Street or international business is of interest, I see GaTech as a match. If you want to be a CEO of a high tech firm, GaTech is a match. If you are interested in engineering and math, GaTech is a match, If you want to join
a high tech start up, GaTEch is a top choice for that too.

I like GaTech’s international focus, if you are interested in international study, then look up GaTech’s programs right now, and see if you want to study the languages needed to participate in their programs. GaTech also offers a campus in France, and they offer a lot of summer international study programs, if thats of interest.

GaTech also offers a very well developed incubator, and start up community. Undergrads can get involved,
and get right into a start up. Look at Pindrop,and other GaTech area companies, too there are lots of start ups in Atlanta that you can join.

Decide what you want out of your four years, and figure out if GaTech matches your educational needs.
Are you a top math student in your high school? Then you will be able to do the work. Have you taken
calculus and enjoyed it? Thats a good sign too, that you are a match at GaTech.

Focus away from grades, you will earn As if you are motivated.