GPA around 2.8. What kind of GMAT score will this person need? What else does this person need to be considered a competitive candidate for a top 10 program? Is there no hope? ;)
2007-02-23 17:02:22 · 4 answers · asked by NC 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Even if there are no guarantees, there's always hope. Having attended too many college and graduate programs (5 - although no MBA) and gotten into some very distinguished schools, my experience has been that the programs are interested in students with several things: yes, a strong GPA (sorry), strong GMAT/GRE scores, strong original essay, impressive letters of recommendation from significant people in the field, and a diversity of experience that causes you to stand out from the rest of the applicants the admissions officer reviewed over the weeks of reading (too many) applications.
Given time, you can work on all those things. On the GMAT - I used to work for Princeton Review - before I did, I didn't think test preparation made that much difference - I was wrong - the good news is that their books are very close to their full program (at least in terms of advice and content). The GMAT scores for these schools are very high - you can find the average and median scores in lots of different sources. The BusinessWeek site I've included below has a lot of that information on the top programs.
On the GPA - you can take courses that would be interesting to B schools at your local community college to boost your GPA - and if you were to get a related Associate of Arts degree, that wouldn't hurt - or possibly take courses at the university extension of one of the programs you're interested in. Were you to impress one of the faculty there who also teaches in a program you're interested in, that could be very powerful.
On the essay - strong writing is always a plus - take your time, be creative and have it reviewed by people with strong skills - ideally who live/work around the B school environment.
On the letters - that depends on who you know. If you don't have any associations with anyone at least familiar with the field, you might want to give further thought as to the reasons you want to pursue this path. Get the best rec.s from the best people you can (sort of obvious, that). Failing impressive business people, get them from impressive other people you have some strong association with - the best letters include specific examples of the person's experience with you that relate to the qualities the B schools are looking for.
Experience - usually the more the better - perhaps time will yield you more and better experience to use as a base for your application - you didn't specify a particular time-line. B schools are looking for a depth of leadership and knowledge. Diversity of experience is also a plus in making you stand out - but won't cover for lack of knowledge and leadership.
Finally - there are always creative ways to approach the admission process - there are all kinds of stories about people who were creative and persistent who eventually got in to the programs they wanted.
At the same time, it may be important for you to seriously consider if this is really what you want. A 2.8 GPA is a respectable GPA - depending on the program you got it in. If it was a selective school, then you're probably OK in terms of being able to manage in a competitive B school - but if it wasn't at a tough school, then do you really want to go through all the effort to get into what is an extremely competitive environment - probably much more competitive than what you've been through managing an OK GPA - competition and selectively are key reasons the programs you've mentioned are top 10 - are you really that competitive, talented, and or hard working that you'll actually be happy in the programs you've mentioned?
The are all kinds of B schools - and there are lots of good resources available to help you decide (I've found BusinessWeek a great source on B schools). There are lots of very successful people who didn't go to top 10 programs.
I've aimed for the top all my life - but there have been times when I wasn't happy when I got there - If you had to choose, would you rather be 'high powered' or happy? Good luck.
2007-02-23 17:46:39 · answer #1 · answered by Storm R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
relies upon on what you think approximately a "spectacular" MBA software to be. Are we speaking Columbia, Wharton, Harvard....or spectacular 25? Realistically, the spectacular 10 would be perplexing. at an analogous time because it is not an computerized disqualifier, it rather will improve eyebrows. you will could desire to do a great variety of explaining (without it sounding like BS) to the admissions committee. the only way you additionally could make up to your GPA is to have extremely stellar, sturdy journey. do no longer anticipate that 8 years would be sturdy sufficient; that is approximately high quality rather than quantity.
2016-09-29 13:23:41 · answer #2 · answered by ilsa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A top-10 program?
You'd need professional experience that sets you waayyy apart from the rest, and you'd need to nearly ace the GMAT.
2007-02-23 17:46:49 · answer #3 · answered by Buying is Voting 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
experience more important than grades. remember it.
Take exams conduscted by CAT and clear them.
2007-02-23 17:06:49 · answer #4 · answered by pankaj garg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋