Ms. Sales To Strategy

Hi Ms. Sales to Strategy,
I don’t think your GPA should deter you from applying to the top 25 business schools. This is Debbie Choy, Senior Consultant at mbaMission. The good news is that your strong GMAT score should alleviate the potential concerns AdCom might have about your academic capabilities. Also, were there any circumstances that affected your GPA? If so, I encourage you to share them in the Optional Essay, so that AdCom can take these factors into consideration. I like that you are self-motivated and driven – not many people can juggle two jobs to put themselves through college. Congrats also on your achievements at work! These characteristics of taking initiative and motivation are exactly what business schools are looking for. The key is to weave your personal stories into your application so that you show AdCom these personal qualities. If you can do that compellingly, I think you have a good shot at UCLA. Wishing you the best in your MBA journey!

Hi Ms. Sales to Strategy, I’m Lisa Cummings from Stratus Admissions. You have a lot of positive tidbits in this blurb that make me want to learn more about you and encourage you to pursue a top 25 school. In terms of stats, your GMAT is outside the top end of Anderson’s middle 80% and well above their average. While a solid test score won’t completely mitigate the impact of a lower GPA, it does demonstrate to schools that you have the necessary skills. Your personal story of having paid for school yourself though outside work and loans is compelling and will resonate with adcoms, be sure to highlight that in your application, especially if those outside commitments impacted your GPA. On the professional side, I’d like to learn more about your big wins at work- how did you land that deal this quarter, what skills did you use to make it happen. Where possible you want to demonstrate to schools that you that you have the quant, leadership and teamwork skills you will need to be successful in their program. Chose your recommenders carefully so they can reinforce your strengths. While your GPA will still be part of your application, strong essays and recommendations will underscore your professional abilities and personal traits and paint a stronger picture for your schools than that one data point. I wish you the best of luck!