Undergrad Pass/No Pass classes for top MBA programs

<p>Let's say that you have work experience (3-4 years), a decent GPA (3.60-3.80), a business degree from a "decent" undergraduate institution (e.g. Berkeley, UCLA, Michigan, etc.), a decent GMAT score(690-715), and let's say you're a minority (Asian, Hispanic, African American, etc.). </p>

<p>Will top MBA programs (Harvard, Stanford, Warton, Haas, etc.) look at your application negatively if you have taken some undergraduate classes on a Pass/No Pass basis? </p>

<p>Obviously, this pertains to me but I'm trying to make it as general as possible so that it can help others.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>I think if you went to a great school like Cal or UCLA, and you really had solid work experience (3-4 years) I really doubt they will care you took a few classes P/NP. You can also always explain why you took them in the additional essay. </p>

<p>The GMAT score of 700 tells people you are a good test taker so I don't think a school would really think too much about your P/NP class. </p>

<p>Regarding the minority statment, I don't think you can count Asian in there since B-Schools tend to have many Asian members. </p>

<p>Like every other posting, work experience, diversity, and what you are can offer your business school class is what the school cares about. They don't care what you did in the past, they care about what you can do in the future.</p>

<p>Just wanted to see if anyone else could chime in on this. I'm sure others have the same question.</p>

<p>Depends on your degree and how the overall package looks. For example, if you took P/NP for quantitative courses and quant weakness appears to be a theme throughout your profile, then it will hurt your chances. In general, the less P/NP classes, the better. One (maybe two) won't hurt but anything else you start to look like a slacker.
For the record, if you manage to pull a 715 on your GMAT, I will be very impressed.</p>

<p>
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Will top MBA programs (Harvard, Stanford, Warton, Haas, etc.) look at your application negatively if you have taken some undergraduate classes on a Pass/No Pass basis?

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It depends. In general, a transcript with a few pass/fail grades alone won't disqualify anyone. If your undergrade college has a liberal pass/fail policy, too many of "passes" may raise a red flag. Unless you address that in the "optional essay", some may simply assume the actual grades are really the passing grade, i.e. "C".</p>

<p>
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Nobody will have a score of 715 or 705 or 725 or 695 in GMAT because the increment in GMAT scores is 10 points starting at 400.

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Which is why I said I would be impressed if he got that score...</p>

<p>
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So, is Berkeley-Haas Business School considered a top business school these days? According to my father, it used to be outside of the top 10 during his days (1980s).

[/quote]

Yes, Haas is considered a top b-school, generally just inside the top 10.</p>

<p>From the Harvard Business School FAQ section of their website:</p>

<p>The Admissions Board hopes that all applicants will recognize the following: the range of GMAT scores is very broad, that there is no "minimum" score requirement, and that the GMAT is just one piece of data among the many used to evaluate an application. The average GMAT score for the class entering in Fall 2006 was 707.</p>

<p>As for the question about the ranking:</p>

<p>Haas is ranked in the top 3 for undergrad in most rankings and in the top 10 for MBA (USNWR, WSJ, Businessweek).</p>

<p>The outcome will be entirely different if you are Asian as opposed to African American or Hispanic.</p>

<p>So are you saying that an African American or a Hispanic person would have a better chance of getting in?</p>

<p>
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So are you saying that an African American or a Hispanic person would have a better chance of getting in?

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</p>

<p>Definitely have a better chance.</p>

<p>Yeah, I've asked a few professors and they say they view a passing grade the same as a C...</p>

<p>what if say you failed a class and then retook it and got an A?</p>