<p>Will a stellar GMAT score (780+) effectively counterbalance a so-so GPA?</p>
<p>Oh I want to know this too!</p>
<p>Idk but I tried online bschool chancers, and it appears as if a GPA around 3.5 will be counterbalanced extremely well by a high GMAT</p>
<p>At my public university in south it would. They have a formula that use to determine admissions. The formula is GMAT Score plus 200*Undergrad GPA if it is higher than 1000 then you can be admitted . In law school a high LSAT score will counter balance a so-so GPA. I was admitted to law school during first round with a 2.8 undergrad GPA and a LSAT of 162.</p>
<p>which law school did you get into with a 2.8? [serious question, my GPA is a 3.3 and I think it’s pretty low for a top tier law school]</p>
<p>MBA programs are not solely about numbers, otherwise they will be filled with international students, mostly from China and India.</p>
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Many part-time programs place greater weight on your LSAT score.</p>
<p>Weighting is program specific, but standardized tests and GPA measure very different things.</p>
<p>Nearly all standardized tests, especially very general tests such as the GMAT, primarily measure IQ (aka “g”). You need some preparatory education and you can improve your scores somewhat by test specific study/prep, but the same is true of IQ tests. So general tests of basic sorts of problem solving, such as the GMAT, are measures of intellectual <em>aptitude</em>.</p>
<p>Specialized subject tests, such as CPA, CFA, Bar Exam, Medical Boards, are another matter.</p>
<p>GPA is better measure of what you might call “character”. Higher intellectual aptitude reduces the level of effort required to achieve a high GPA, but only a little bit. To achieve a high GPA, you must show up for class regularly, prioritize effectively, work through distraction, complete longer-term projects, complete boring/repetitive “busy work”, delay gratification, work while ill/sad/depressed, etc. Not every class requires all of these, but it’s nearly impossible to complete a undergraduate program without completing a few “bad” classes or a couple of difficult terms.</p>
<p>GPA is a little less important for MBA admissions than for some other types of graduate programs. This is mostly because work experience is a good indicator of these “character” traits (plus social skills and leadership). Also, MBA programs aren’t academically demanding in the same way as Law or research-oriented academic programs.</p>
<p>The pattern seems to be that the very best programs set high hurdles for both GMAT and GPA and then decide between the remaining qualified applicants based on work experience, essays, LOR, and socio-demographic balance. Good programs set GPA and experience hurdles and then try to get admits with high test scores and other measurables, to boost USNWR-type rankings. Weaker programs seem to do much the same, but lower the GPA hurdle (often to 3.0) and count most anything as work experience.</p>
<p>Strong work experience increases the opportunity cost of a traditional full-time MBA, so that only the very best programs can afford to be picky about work experience. (No one is going to quit their banking, consulting or even Big-4 job for the MBA at Flyover State U.) Because academic aptitude reduces the “character” cost of a high GPA, it’s easier to find high GMAT + weak GPA type than strong GPA + low GMAT type applicants.</p>