Getting into business graduate school?

Question

I attended baylor university for 2 1/2 years, and achieved a relatively low GPA, 2.7 (calculus hurt me)

Now that i'm transferring to Oklahoma state's business undergrad, and the GPA starts fresh, if I were to end up wtih a 3.6 GPA, factoring in my subpar beginning at Baylor, would I even have a shot at Chicago's graduate school? Or should I focus on reality and aim for something a little lower?

Just trying to get a plan going.
Thanks.

Answer 1

There are a lot of "ifs" here -- but you could get into Chicago with a 3.6 at OSU -- providing you meet the other criteria.

The top business schools look at lots of different things. GPA is one of those things -- but a very high GPA is less important for an MBA than it is for many other disciplines. They will look at the combined GPA from both schools -- which would put you at around 3.2 or 3.3. This is in the low range of average for the top schools -- so wouldn't keep you out. In your cover letter, you can even address your grades, pointing out your improvement.

SO far, so good. There are several other things they will look at when deciding your fate:

1. Essays -- these are critical.

2. Quality of your undergraduate institution. OSU isn't a home run for you -- but it isn't going to make them laugh, either.

3. Work Experience. The top schools want four years of work experience on average. The quality of that work experience is also important. Two years working in import/export in a foreign country will do more than six years in am uninteresting white collar job.

4. Interview -- this will not usually get you in, but could keep you out if you screw it up.

5. GMAT -- Anything under 600 is a negative. Anything above 700 is a positive.

6. Recommendations.

7. What can you contribute? Are you going to be someone other students learn from? Will you add to the diversity of the program?, etc.

Answer 2

By Chicago I assume you mean University of Chicago.

Depends what type of graduate school you speak of. If you want an MBA, reality is that you'll get into the program mostly by the corporation that is sponsoring you. If you become a highly qualified highly paid individual, you'd have no problem getting into the best MBA programs.

If you are a normal person persuing an MBA, remember to have 5 years of work experience and a very high GMAT. I know schools like Berkeley will care more for your GMAT than anything else. If you end up with a commulative GPA of say 3.3, good GMAT, work experience, volunteer hours, you could make it into chicago.

If you want to do a Masters of Science program, you will be as well off doing it at any university, for the degree is pretty much worthless. If you want to persue a Ph.D., your best bet is to do a masters at a state university first. The masters program will probably put you at a 3.5 (masters inflate grades to give the school prestige), and with that GPA you could make it into some top programs.

Answer 3

Hi,
Take difficult courses your junior and senior year. The website Online MBA Rankings suggests the difficulty of your curriculum is just as important as your GPA. Easy courses intended to inflate your GPA may indicate you do not take your education as seriously as you should. Instead, take courses in areas like statistics and microeconomics. Any courses that emphasize math and business should be helpful in gaining admission. If you have a lower GPA, don't ignore it; explain how you plan to do better.