<p>Simple question... why are average GPAs for top business schools so much lower than other graduate programs? The average GPA for Columbia GSB, for example, is only 3.4. This is not a particularly impressive GPA. Applying to a top law school with that kind of GPA will likely get you nowhere. What's the deal here?</p>
<p>Because GPA’s are only a minor consideration when it comes to admission. The vast majority of applicants at the top B-schools have work experience - often times impressively so. Furthermore, plenty of people with top GPA’s but with mediocre (or no) work experience won’t get in. </p>
<p>I’ll give you an example. I know a guy who just completed his PhD at MIT and has basically been an all-around academic superstar for his entire life, with top grades and several single-author publications in top journals. Upon finishing his PhD, he took and aced the GMAT, then applied to several top MBA programs - including MIT’s own program - and was rejected by all of them. Why? Well, obviously we don’t know exactly why, but it’s almost certainly because he has no work experience. He’s never held a real job before in his life (and being a grad student is not a real job). </p>
<p>If you have a top GPA and LSAT score, you will surely get into some of the top law schools. But having a top GPA and GMAT score is not sufficient for admission to a top B-school. In fact, often times, it isn’t even really necessary, as other people with rather middling GPA/GMAT’s but with strong work experience will be admitted.</p>
<p>I have to 2nd sakky’s comment. Often times, med and law schools discount b-school as for B students, using GPA as the main point of argument. But the selection process is much different for b-school than med/law school. If top b-school used GPA and standardized tests as the main indicator, I think they can fill their class with high GPA several times over.</p>
<p>Personally, I think top b-school is harder to get into for that reason - it’s hard to gauge your qualifications. Where as, scoring 172+ on LSAT with 3.9+ GPA, will almost certainly get into top law school, scoring 700+ on GMAT with a 3.9+ GPA will not guarantee admission into top b-school. I could only wish getting in b-school was just scores, then I’d be set.</p>