<p>I know that Haas is one of the best MBA schools in the nation, however, the GPA doesn't really seem that hard to get. Is it that majoring as an undergrad in business is really tough or what?</p>
<p>Business schools typically have lower average GPA than things like law school and med school. There's more of an emphasis on your work experience than your grades.</p>
<p>In business school, your grades can keep you out rather than get you in. The all-round applicant is desired. A 4.0 GPA and no work experience makes you no better than a 3.1 GPA from a person who has been promoted in their job ahead of time or has moved to a more prestigious role based on job performance.</p>
<p>I am not sure I understand your question. Are you assuming that the majority of MBA students majored in Business? That is a false assumption. Only 20%-25% of MBA students majored in Business. The remaining 75%-80% majored in Engineering, Economics or a traditional academic discipline. Secondly, the average cumulative undergraduate GPA at most top MBA programs hovers between 3.3 and 3.6. So Haas' mean of 3.5 is actually above the norm. There are several reasons why MBA programs seem to de-emphasize GPA. The primary reason is that MBA programs value work experience at least as much, if not more, than undergraduate track record. MBA programs these days expect their applicants to have worked at least 3 years fulltime, preferably 4+ years. In those 3+ years, they want to see demonstrated and consistant success resulting in promotions and salary raises.</p>
<p>Well said, Alexandre!</p>
<p>Getting into an MBA program is a lot less about the numbers than most college students are used to thinking about for college admissions. I think that the most important factors in getting into a top MBA program would be: 1. Work Experience, with success measured by promotions and raises
2. Recommendations, which often back up a candidate's performance in their work experience
3. GMAT score
4. GPA
5. Interview and essays
6. Everything else</p>
<p>It certainly doesn't hurt to have a fantastic GPA, and it may make you a standout candidate, but a high GPA and GMAT score alone usually won't be enough.</p>
<p>Top B-Schools want leaders. The truth is that the world outside of academia is not run by 4.0 students from Harvard, where Bill Gates dropped out of by the way. In fact, many of the greatest leaders and smartest people in the nation were not stellar students. Only in the world of academia is a 4.0 GPA actually revered. B-schools seem to depart from traditional academic thinking as they value real world experience and leadership skills over high GPA's. It is a rare occasion, in my opinion that academia actually gets it right, but this seems to be the case here. I think this can be explained by the fact that B-departments seem to be a lot more politically conservative than their peers (haha...joking, sort of).</p>
<p>Hmm, interesting, so what if your GPA in college undergrad as a business major is low like 3.2, how hard would it be to find a job?</p>
<p>Do whatever you can to get an internship.</p>
<p>Is the GPA for MBA the overall GPA or the your major GPA?</p>
<p>I would think it would be the overall GPA. </p>
<p>The biggest issue with having a less than stellar undergraduate GPA is that it makes it that more difficult to find an outstanding job after college that will set you up with opportunities for advancement, good experience and great recommendations, which are all necessary for admission to a top MBA program.</p>
<p>So in the long run have a C or D in two or three courses won't mean the end of the world?</p>
<p>cal sucks!</p>
<p>I depends on the course. A D in Econ or Basic college Math or Statistics could dampen things a tad. But a D in "Dinosaurs & Other Failures" or in "the Moon and other Rocks" may not hurt as much. Overall, Cs and Ds generally aren't looked upon favorably.</p>
<p>How about.. physics? Or a C+ in intro Econ, yet I take a relevant upper div econ course and score an A/A-? Will that make up for it?</p>
<p>I don't know firax. I am not and never have been past of an adcom at an MBA program. I'd say that if you managed to graduate with a 3.5 GPA, landed a job with a good company and did well there for several years, getting steady pay raises and promotions, and can get a 700 (give or take a couple) on the GMAT, I am pretty certain your Cs will be overlooked.</p>
<p>How important is work experience? I am an undergraduate in Kelley SOB (Indiana) and wish to complete my MBA immediately after completing my bachelor's. Kelley's MBA program would be my top choice. How much does my undergraduate attendance affect my chance of acceptance, and does it positively or negatively have an influence?</p>
<p>It's a positive factor, especially with a less "name-brand" undergrad program. Strength of undergraduate school tends to speak to your ambition, your work ethic, your soft skills as previously screened by the undergrad adcom, your well-roundedness, and last and least, your intelligence.</p>
<p>I think people at Kelley will be happy to tell you much more about the in-house opportunities they have for their undergraduates to become MBA candidates.</p>
<p>I would say that getting your MBA immediately after graduating might not be as beneficial as you might think.</p>
<p>1) MBA students come in with tons of work experience. If you don't possess that, you won't be able to contribute to your class in class projects, discussions, and more. </p>
<p>2) You'll price yourself out of the market. Most companies might be interested in offering a job to an MBA grad with no full time experience.</p>
<p>As a recent post grad in UCLA's Riordan Fellows Program, this was stressed to me by a lot of admissions and MBA personnel. Make sure to do your research before you try to get your MBA straight out of undergrad.</p>
<p>I am going in as a Civil Engineering Major at Berkeley but I would also like to participate in the Business Program at Haas (double major) because I am going to inheret my parent's engineering firm and I want to aquire the skills to make the business successful. I've been helping out a lot with the family business since the age of 16. Will I have a chance of getting into Haas with this kind of resume? Or should I be doing more?</p>
<p>kiloweb, better to major in Engineering, work at another engineering firm for 2 years, get an MBA, then work at your parent's firm. You will get a broad perspective on how other firms work and can incorporate aspects you like about both when you take over.</p>