<p>I am a student attending UIUC as math/cs major.
I have a question about GPA requirements to get into schools like Stanford or MIT for masters or perhaps, Ph.D.</p>
<p>I am currently a sophomore, and my GPA is already not that spectacular. Its around 3.4 to 3.5. I am pretty sure that it will go down more as the classes are going to get tougher, presumably.</p>
<p>My question is, is it impossible or extremely difficult to get into top notch schools with my GPA for grad?</p>
<p>Also, when I try to get MBA degree, will they also look at my GPA even if its not related to business?</p>
<p>For both business and gradschool, gpa is rarely the deciding factor. It is a weeder below a certain amount, sure, but what people want most is experience. Business school is all about work/internship/industry experience - some sort of leadership experience will make you a very juicy candidate. Grad school on the other hand, wants research - what makes you tasty to an adcom here is your name on papers(being 1st author in a regarded journal is -from what I hear, at least - a golden ticket to a PHD program anywhere). </p>
<p>As long as you can keep your GPA at your level, you can get in anywhere with enough of the experience I talked about above. Would a 3.9 be better? Yeah. But, if you have good research/good recs you'll be a much better candidate than a 3.9 with no research. So go for that research/job experience asap.</p>
<p>Also, your gpa will in all likelihood rise in upper division courses. One, because you will probably like the material more. Two, because upper divisions are not meant to be weeder courses. If you're in 3.4-3.5 now, you can probably get to a 3.6-3.7 with ease by senior year.</p>
<p>A 3.5 is generally considered pretty good for grad school, in engineering, at least, and like merper said, your GPA will likely rise during your last two years. No worries! Just buckle down and stay the course. =)</p>
<p>No idea how MBA admissions work, so I'm not going to cloud the waters with my baseless guesses.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry too much, I think I had a 3.1 by the end of my first year as an undergrad. Just buckle up (buckle down? buckle around???) and try to do the best you can, your GPA will rise naturally.</p>
<p>aibarr you've gotta clear out your PM box :p</p>