MBA admit chances with low cgpa : Ask Admissions Consultants

Hi all,
I graduated from a top undergraduate college in India with a low cgpa(6.4 out of 10 scale) and currently working with one of the biggest investment banks.I wanted to understand how big of a barrier can my low cgpa be? Do I stand a chance at top B-Schools in US or Europe?

keykey12 wrote:Hi all,
I graduated from a top undergraduate college in India with a low cgpa(6.4 out of 10 scale) and currently working with one of the biggest investment banks.I wanted to understand how big of a barrier can my low cgpa be? Do I stand a chance at top B-Schools in US or Europe?

It's difficult to determine the magnitude of the barrier it will pose, but it's certain that it could be problematic. One solution for you is to obtain an equivalent course-wise GPA from WES. If your college or university has a conservative scoring pattern, you may receive some relief. Your chances will be better evaluated once you have done that. However, with a 6.4 CGPA, the likelihood of getting into the top 10 US schools may not be as favorable.

I hope that help!

WES isn't much helpful as it is evaluating on marks obtained basis amd showing a gpa of 3.0/4.0. Grading in my undergrad school was done on a relative basis where we received grades from (A, A- to E). There was no minimum passing criteria as well which is why evaluating from WES isnt very helpful. Any more suggestions please?

Low GPA can be a definite handicap keykey12 but not a deal breaker.

Schools look at your entire transcripts as well as the reason the GPA may have been low. Depending on the severity of the grades and details therein (e.g. fail grades, what type of courses low, trajectory etc), you may want to also think of building a parallel transcript of sorts.

Do share a more detailed profile directly and we can discuss further.

no, the WES iGPA one

Dear keykey12,

To compensate for the low CGPA you will need to demonstrate academic excellence in other quantitative aspects of your profile.
1. The most obvious one is a high GMAT / GRE score. Try targeting a score in excess of 730.
2. If you have taken a certification course like CFA / FRM etc., that will also be an indicator of academic performance.
3. If you have received fast-tracked promotion / better than average bonuses in your line of work, that can also act as a proxy that you can succeed in a high-stress academic environment.
4. Addressing the low CGPA: Use the optional essay or any other opportunity within the application to explain the reasons behind your low CGPA, and how you have since demonstrated your intellectual capabilities and growth.

In conclusion, while your low CGPA may be a barrier, it's not insurmountable. By focusing on the above suggestions, you can strengthen your overall application and improve your chances of getting admitted to a top B-school in the US or Europe. Remember, schools consider your entire profile, not just your CGPA, and will be looking for evidence of your potential to succeed in their programs and as a business leader.

Feel free to reach out to us at CrackAdmission (contact@crackadmission.com) for an in-depth discussion on the topic.

Cheers and all the very best!

If you have an average or low academic score during college, you would be skeptical about how it would affect your MBA applications. While it does matter to an extent, it is not a dealbreaker for the application. All B-schools look at the holistic nature of the application and not at any particular aspect alone.
Hence, the GMAT/GRE score and application essays all give you a chance to prove your worth and creative side to the school. Your grades and work exposure are all a set of experiences. The program by which you should stand apart from different candidates will rely upon how specific a B-school is. Accordingly, your college application should emphasize your best, most interesting characteristics.

You can now use the “Intelligent B-School Selector” tool or the “Chances of B-School” tool to evaluate your chances of getting into the top B-Schools.