Candidate:

Ms. Low GPA High Impact Care

About Me:

First gen low income Latina – gpa in undergrad due to working full time.
– Tried to balance out really good undergrad internships in the startup/ social innovation space
– Strong experience with startups, funding for startups (grants and crowdfunding), manager level at a big bank, and running an accelerator for social impact startups.

Schools:

Target School: Chicago Booth

Considering: Kellogg SOM, Tuck, Duke Fuqua

See More Profiles For: Chicago Booth

Application Status: Open

Details:

Undergrad School: Boston university

Undergrad Major: Economics

GPA: 2.56

GMAT: 685

Age: 27, Ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino

Extracurriculars: Pro bono consultant | Latinx VC ecosystem volunteer | Business advisor to local organization

Work History:

Title: Director of programs

Industry: Nonprofit / B-Corp

Company: Start-Up

Length of Employment: 2 yrs, 1 mos

Big Life Wins:

– Landed a manager level role at a big bank with only 2 years experience (usually 5-8 years experience)
– Have done a VC fellowship for Latinx professionals
– Promoted to director of programs at an accelerator 5.5 years into career
– Strong consistency around startups, financial empowerment in my story
– very involved in LGBTQ and Latinx space

Post MBA Goal:

Impact investing career is goal #1
Also interested in leadership like growth or strategy at an impact focused startup or social impact consulting at a top firm

Odds:

Join in! Click here to assess the odds of Ms. Low GPA High Impact Care

The Experts Rate The Odds At: 10%

See what the industry experts have to say:

John A. Byrne, P&Q Founder & Editor-In-Chief | Odds Assessment: 10%

So here’s the deal. When you have a GPA that is more than a full point below the class average of 3.6 at Chicago Booth, you are waving a very red flag in front of the bull. Add to that a GMAT score that is 45 points below the median and you are pretty much dead on arrival.

On the other hand, in its latest entering cohort Booth accepted a 2.36 GPA candidate and you have a 2.56. Booth also admitted a 590 GMAT and your score is 95 points higher at 685. Problem is, you can bet the person who got in with the 2.36 didn’t have that 590. So generally the best way to offset a low undergraduate GPA is to have at …

So here’s the deal. When you have a GPA that is more than a full point below the class average of 3.6 at Chicago Booth, you are waving a very red flag in front of the bull. Add to that a GMAT score that is 45 points below the median and you are pretty much dead on arrival.

On the other hand, in its latest entering cohort Booth accepted a 2.36 GPA candidate and you have a 2.56. Booth also admitted a 590 GMAT and your score is 95 points higher at 685. Problem is, you can bet the person who got in with the 2.36 didn’t have that 590. So generally the best way to offset a low undergraduate GPA is to have at least a standardized test score that is closer to the class average.

However, you do have other impressive attributes based on the fact that you are a first generation Latina who had to work her way through college (I did the same as a first generation), and you have a solid work history with some significant achievements. I don’t think it’s enough for Booth, sadly. But I also believe that your other target schools (all stretch MBA programs by the way) are better places for a person like you with an interest in social impact.

My advice to you is to take the damn GMAT again. I know you are cringing now. I hate tests as much as you probably do but it is necessary for you given the target schools you have chosen. Your other strategy would be to aim for schools that are not as highly selective but still difficult to get into. I would seriously consider Michigan Ross, UCLA Anderson, and Indiana Kelley. Your odds at these schools would be much better, and you would feel very much at home in these excellent programs. By the way, given your work background and goals, I would have put Michigan Ross near the top of my target schools.

Good luck to you! I am rooting for you all the way.

4 weeks ago Read the full review