by Kelly Wilson
Applying to MBA Programs with a Low GPA or GMAT Scores: Strategies That Work
You want to apply to business school, but you might be holding back because you’re worried about your low numbers – namely, an unimpressive GPA or GMAT/GRE score. Don’t worry, this is not the end of the world! In this post, we’ll define what “low” really means, help you put your GPA and scores into context, and explain how to mitigate these potential weaknesses. Remember that even though lessening the impact of a low GPA or test score might be difficult, it can definitely be done.
Also remember that your numbers are only part of a holistic process by which adcoms consider your candidacy. And be aware that every school will weigh these elements of your application differently. Some will put more weight on your test score or GPA than others do. Some will be more interested in the specific qualities, experiences, and demographic factors you bring to the program. So, focus first on identifying programs that meet your specific learning needs. Then, focus on ones that take a more holistic view of applicants and/or those that favor your distinguishing characteristics. You can use Accepted’s Business School Selectivity Index to discover the MBA programs at which you are competitive.
Defining “Low Numbers”
When we refer to “low numbers” for an MBA applicant, we’re talking about test scores and/or a GPA that falls at the lower end of, or below, the mid-80% range for a given school. In particular, a GPA that is at least 0.3 points below your target school’s average GPA for accepted students (on the U.S. 4.0 scale) would be considered “low.” You can find GPA and test score averages and ranges in Accepted’s Business School Selectivity Index and in each school’s class profile.
To determine how you measure up at the programs you’re interested in, compare your numbers to those of the students at those schools. If, for example, you have a GPA of 3.2, and the average GPA of the entering class is a 3.2, then your GPA would not be considered low. However, if you have a 3.2 GPA, and the class’s average GPA is 3.6, then your GPA would be viewed as low. Be aware that for almost any MBA program, a GPA below 3.0 is one that would warrant special effort on your part to counterbalance.
Demographic Considerations
We’ve offered our general guidelines for what constitutes “low numbers,” but to really gauge the possible impact of your numbers, you must drill down a little deeper to understand your demographic profile vis-à-vis the MBA applicant pool for your chosen school(s).
Demographics encompass your ethnicity, nationality, gender, industry, sexual orientation, and function. It is well known that Indian engineers and computer scientists with high numbers are overrepresented in the applicant pool, as are white and Asian male investment bankers with high numbers. Thus, a GMAT score in the lower 80% range and a 3.3 GPA could be a problem for these candidates when applying to a program such as the Wharton School, whereas a female Peruvian corporate finance associate with a 650 GMAT and a 3.3 GPA from a top national university would make a more appealing applicant. But no matter how eager an MBA program might be to admit underrepresented applicants, the adcom won’t accept a candidate if they’re not convinced the person can handle the coursework. So, if this Peruvian female applicant had a 590 GMAT and a 2.7 GPA instead, her candidacy would not be viewed as favorably, because questions would arise about her ability to master the coursework. Fully understanding your demographic profile – and how significant a hurdle your low numbers might or might not be – involves examining the schools’ stats closely and reading the nuances.
GPA Trend Scenarios
If you have a low GPA, the adcom will be interested in understanding why. A low GPA can often reflect the simple fact that young college students are still in the process of maturing and might not take their grades too seriously in their early semesters. For that reason, a 3.0 GPA that started out below 3.0 but then consistently trended upward into the 3.5 range or higher for the student’s final semester or two is not nearly as worrisome as a GPA that steadily trended downward over the course of a student’s time in college.
Here are three common low-GPA scenarios:
- Scenario A: 3.0 GPA, upward trend
A student goofed off for their first few semesters at college and didn’t consider the consequences. As a result, they failed some early classes and started out with an embarrassingly low GPA – not because of a lack of ability, but because of immaturity. Midway through their sophomore year, they wised up and continuously hit above the 3.8 mark for the rest of their undergraduate career. They might have even ended up on the Dean’s List, hitting a 4.0 in their last year or two. - Scenario B: 3.0 GPA, downward trend
An applicant began their college experience highly motivated, racking up three solid 4.0 semesters in a row. But then, things took a downward turn. Maybe the student just got lazy or apathetic. Or they might have faced a medical, family, or other personal situation that made it impossible to focus on their studies, which caused their grades to suffer significantly. - Scenario C: 3.0 GPA, static
A student worked hard in their college classes – but not too hard – taking some courses seriously and others, not so much. They never really cared enough about their grades to really put the effort in. But after a few years out of school and a life-changing career move, they’ve become motivated to reach new heights professionally and now , despite their middling academic record.
MBA applicants in Scenario A don’t really have too much to worry about (unless they’re targeting MBA programs at which a 3.0 GPA presents a significant hurdle). In this scenario, the student’s grades ultimately went up, which proves their capabilities and their increased maturity over time.
Candidates in Scenario B face a more difficult situation. In some cases, their tip-top grades might have fallen because of circumstances that the adcom can fairly easily forgive, while some other explanations are perhaps more difficult to forgive. For instance, the student might have buckled under the pressure of course work and tests – or simply became apathetic. If this is your story, you’ll have some explaining to do and will need to clearly show the adcom what you have done – or are doing – to prove that you can succeed academically in business school.
Applicants in Scenario C face the greatest challenge in overcoming their low GPA and will need to take some of the same steps as those in Scenario B if they want to be seriously considered for a spot at a top MBA program.
Whatever your circumstance, your goal is to prove to the adcoms that you will be able to excel in their MBA program and that any circumstances that contributed to your low GPA no longer affect you.
Strategies for Offsetting a Low GPA
Again, your goal is to convince the adcom not only that your GPA does not accurately reflect your current abilities but also that you are capable of much, much more. Here are some ways of accomplishing this:
- Ace the GMAT or GRE. Earning a high GMAT or GRE score indicates that you have the raw talent and aptitude for your chosen field.
- Earn yourself some As. Take a reputable online course (or one at a local community college) ASAP in several quant classes – in particular, business calculus and/or statistics, if you haven’t taken them before or took them in college but earned below a B. Study hard in these courses to ensure that you earn A grades!
- Highlight your quantitative skills and experience. If your quant grades were weak, but you have experience doing quantitative tasks at work and excel at these tasks, highlight those aspects of your work in your resume and perhaps your essays. Doing so will demonstrate your proficiency in this area.
- Look to your recommenders. If you are able to make any suggestions to your recommenders or have some say in what they write, ask them to confirm your skills in any areas that your grades might call into question.
- Use the optional essay or Additional Information section to help mitigate your low GPA. In a well-crafted optional essay, you can demonstrate that whatever contributed to your poor performance is either not a factor in your life anymore or is something that you’ve learned how to deal with. In other words, show the adcom that it’s a non-issue.
Whatever the context for your low GPA, explain the situation in a straightforward, honest manner. Write briefly, just stating the facts. Do not go on and on about the details – shorter is better here. Take responsibility for your actions, and show, don’t just tell, that you are a changed person who has learned a lot in the interim and moved forward. Focus on providing evidence of your talents that counters the impression made by the low stats. Absolutely no whining!
Strategies for Offsetting Low Test Scores
Business school adcoms need to see evidence in your application that you can handle the MBA program’s quantitative coursework. This is where your quantitative test scores come into play. Low quant scores can therefore be problematic, especially if you don’t have many quant classes on your transcript or earned low grades in those courses. That would be the worst-case situation.
Similarly, MBA students must have strong written and spoken communication skills, especially given the emphasis in most programs on teamwork. Such skills are also important in the recruiting process. Your verbal test scores give the adcoms an indication of your capabilities in this area, so having a low verbal score will likely raise a red flag.
As with your GPA, you can assess how you measure up against other applicants to your target programs by checking the schools’ score averages and ranges in their class profile or Accepted’s Business School Selectivity Index. If either your verbal or quant score is comparatively low – or both scores are – here are some ways you might mitigate the problematic stat(s).
- Take a prep course or hire a tutor to position yourself well to retake the test. Simply scoring higher on a subsequent test – if you have sufficient time available to study for and retake the exam – is the easiest way to boost your numbers.
- Consider taking a different test. Most MBA programs accept both the GMAT and GRE, so if you have not been able to achieve a high enough score on one exam, you might find that you perform better on the other. And schools generally say that they are “agnostic” about which test applicants take, so you will not be penalized for choosing one over the other. Additionally, 14 of the top 25 programs in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 business school rankings, including, in some cases, the Executive Assessment and even the LSAT and MCAT.
- Consider programs that offer the option of applying for a test waiver. If you are struggling to achieve a good test score on either the GMAT or GRE, it might make sense for you to try to prove your readiness for the MBA program in a different way. With a waiver, you might be able to remove your test score entirely from the application process.
- Use your essays to counteract your low scores. Prove your quant and verbal abilities to the adcom by mining your background for all evidence of accomplishment, leadership, and impact and then writing in your essays about experiences that prove you have made a difference and gone above and beyond what’s expected, whether on the job, as a volunteer, or in another non-work activity. To neutralize any concerns about your communication skills, ensure that your essays are both expressive and flawlessly written. And select examples and anecdotes that highlight those skills.
- Ask your recommenders to comment positively on your quant and/or verbal skills.
- Bolster your quant or verbal skills by taking a relevant course online or at a local college and earning an A grade.
The Holistic Nature of Admissions
Getting accepted to an MBA program is about much more than just your GPA and test scores. These stats don’t reflect your character, your accomplishments, or the impact of your diverse background and nonacademic experiences. These are all important factors that adcom members also weigh heavily when evaluating your candidacy.
Although your GPA and test scores are extremely important, which you obviously know because you are reading this post, they are not the be-all and end-all of your profile as an applicant. Work hard to prove your abilities in other ways, and convince the adcom that you’re ready to hit the books and excel in business school.
As the former executive director of admissions at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School and assistant dean of admissions at Georgetown’s McDonough School and the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School, Kelly Wilson has 23 years’ experience overseeing admissions committees and has reviewed more than 38,000 applications for the MBA and master’s programs in management of information systems, computational finance, business analytics, and product management. Want Kelly to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources
