Can one get into a top business school with a very low GPA?

May 2, 2008 3:47 PM

Can one get into a top business school with a very low GPA?

Is it possible to get into a top business school with a very low GPA?

If so, how?

I know that for law school, if you're able to score over 170 on the LSAT, you have a good chance of admission to a top 20 school even with a GPA below 2.5, and regardless of anything else you have going for you (or not).

Is there any similar factor in business school admissions that offsets the GPA to the same extent?

If there is no *single* factor, is there a *combination* of factors that can make admission to a top school possible for a low GPA applicant?

Or is it impossible/extremely unlikely no matter what?

posted by anonymous to education (13 comments total)

Do you have some filthy rich parents? If so, you now know one possibility.
posted by hal_c_on at 4:29 PM on May 2

Also...I really don't know where you got that LSAT>170 means you can probably get into a top 20 school with a 2.5 gpa.

I remember looking at some schools 4 years ago, and really knowing the stats. For the most part, the top 20 had AVERAGE LSAT scores above 170.

So thats just the AVERAGE.
posted by hal_c_on at 4:32 PM on May 2

I know nothing of business school admissions, but I'd also like to dispute the law school bit you seem to be leaning your argument upon. I know of no one who got into a good school with a dismal GPA - in fact, they all had 3.5+ GPAs and high 160s-low 170s LSATs. A friend of mine with a 170+ LSAT and a 3.0 GPA was in fact rejected from all top 20 schools, except for the one she went to, where she got in off the weight list. And this is from a top-tier undergraduate program in science/engineering.

Probably not what you wanted to hear, sorry.
posted by universal_qlc at 5:08 PM on May 2 [1 favorite]

er, waitlist....me and my lack of previews....
posted by universal_qlc at 5:09 PM on May 2

I believe that in addition to GPA, B-schools look at your GMAT and work experience. The longer you have been out of school, probably the less relevant the GPA.
posted by elmay at 5:17 PM on May 2

GPA is not the only factor, and matters less the older (i.e. farther away from undergrad) you are. If you have great work experience, an awesome GMAT, and good extracurriculars - AND write a great set of essays explaining how you've improved from your undergrad days, you may have a shot.

Same people also suggest creating an "alternative transcript" - taking classes at a local university in business-related disciplines such as math, econ, statistics - and acing them - to show that you're ready for the academic challenge of business school.

It'll be an uphill climb for sure, but probably not a completely lost cause
posted by Mr Bunnsy at 5:19 PM on May 2

It may not be a valuable point of comparison -- I don't know anything about business school admissions -- but take a look at this tool, which outputs the admissions prospects at most ABA-approved law schools for a given undergraduate GPA and LSAT score (2006 data). Try 2.5 and 170, then sort by "likelihood." As you'll see, one's chances with those numbers at the best law schools are extremely poor.
posted by Cucurbit at 7:02 PM on May 2

As a data point: I got into a top-ten school with a mediocre GPA, excellent GMATs , and decent work experience. Wound up going to a lower-ranked school on a full scholarship. This was 5 years after finishing undergrad. So it can be done, but I (modestly) think my essays did a very good job of addressing the GPA issue, and it helped that I was female and wanted to pursue a non-traditional non-profit track.
posted by snickerdoodle at 7:11 PM on May 2

When I got my International MBA at the University of South Carolina (ranked #2 for International Business), two of my classmates had pretty mediocre undergrad GPAs. One person (2.6) made it in on the strength of his essay and the fact that he had 5 years of relevant work experience. One person (2.3) had to appeal the "no" decision, and ended up going in front of the selection committee and pleading his case. In the end he swayed them and got in, but he was really passionate about the program, a graduate of the same school as an undergrad, and a South Carolina native. He also had restrictions placed on him, and had to show he performed well the first semester before he was truly "in" with the program.

I think the answer to your question is that yes, it happens, but it really depends on the school and the person - there are some intangibles that might work in your favor. Unlikely, maybe, but you never know until you try!
posted by gemmy at 7:58 PM on May 2

If you're fresh out of college, spend a few years racking up the brownie points that snickerdoodle and mr. bunnsy mention. And going to business school is a much more satisfying venture if you've got work experience, because you can relate what's being taught to the real world rather than seeing them for the first time as theories from a book.
posted by randomstriker at 12:11 AM on May 3

Yes it's possible. Work for awhile and have an interesting personal statement covering 1) why you won't repeat the issues with your GPA, 2) why you now want to go back to school after working for a few years (and how that work prepared you for your ambitions) and 3) how you will contribute to their student body.
posted by JakeLL at 12:39 AM on May 3

My GPA was quite bad, and I was accepted to two top ten programs. But I crushed the GMAT and the rest of my application was fine.
posted by Kwantsar at 9:22 AM on May 3

Kill the GMAT, spend a lot of time and get help on the essays, and have a relevant work history, and you have a decent chance. You'll have to nail the personal interviews, as well. An explanation of your low GPA would help, too - did you work your way through college? Family member in poor health? Anything that justifies the low grades will make a difference.
posted by mamessner at 11:22 AM on May 3