MBA Handicapping: How To Overcome A 2.72 GPA

You might think that any applicant with an undergraduate GPA of 2.72 would be dead on arrival at any top business school. After all, the GPA class averages at any of the top 25 MBA programs in the U.S. is always above a 3.0. Admission officials take undergraduate transcripts seriously because past academic performance is a strong indicator of future performance.

William has that predicament to overcome from his time as a biology major at Boston College He does have a 700 GMAT score, which will help offset the low GPA, plus experience as an executive officer in the U.S. Army.

He has an impressive array of extras as well: An Eagle Scout, he has been a volunteer in Big Brothers, Big Sisters and has been co-captain of an intramural softball team. He also holds dual citizenship in Mexico and the U.S. And his target MBA programs are at Cornell Johnson, Texas McCombs and Duke Fuqua.

In this episode of Friday’s With Sandy, HBSGuru.com founder Sandy Kreisberg assesses his chances of admission to his target schools and dispenses some critical advice to any MBA applicant with below-average GPAs.

If you would like to participate in a future Fridays With Sandy webinar, you can contact Sandy and John here.