LOW GPA

[tulaneundergrad]

Thanks for taking the time to address these topics.

My GPA in Undergrad was a 2.56 in Computer Science from Tulane University with my overall trend going upward towards my graduation of 2002. Computer Science at Tulane is a program from the engineering school that is heavily focused on theoretical CS knowledge and a high level math during all eight semesters. I have two failing grades....

Semester Cumulative
2.33 2.33
2.364 2.356
2.102 2.234
2.733 2.412
1.845 2.263
2.272 2.265
3.105 2.438
2.557 2.458
3.187 2.56

These GPA’s do NOT include transfer credit in two humanities courses from Roosevelt University in Chicago and a marketing class form U.Texas @ Arlington. Is there a need to focus my current time and money on an alternative transcript? Would you suggest that if I do not focus on an alternative transcript, that I discuss this sensitive issue using an optional essay? My Fear is that I simply have the standard answer as "partying too much" & "working throughout my degree to pay for school".

I have been with Motorola since the fall of 2002. By the time I apply in 2008 I would have worked for the company over 6 years. I currently work for Motorola and a manager for new product strategy for Europe, Middle East & Africa. I have spent a majority of my career abroad, mostly starting new teams and formalizing product strategy in Asia. My Career also included two overseas assignments. The first was a lead engineer in Thailand for 6 months, and the other in India, was a position as a startup team manager for approx. over one year. The most recent project that I managed was in Pakistan for a deployment of a new broadband technology for rural areas in that nation. Being of Indian decent, this was a tough assignment with all the cultural challenges that were faced during my time involved in this assignment. Typically all of my work surrounds the basic goal of deploying new large-scale telecom technologies into emerging markets all over Asia and the Middle East. I hope this will be a point that I can emphasize to my advantage.

I have not taken the GMAT as of yet, but looking for a target range that I would need to be competitive at a top 15 program. My current practice scores range from 680-720. My first choices are part time programs located within Chicago (Northwestern (Kellogg) and UChicago (GSB)). I plan on applying for entry into the fall 2009 classes at both the above mentioned part-time programs as well as several full time programs (Fuqua, Stern, Columbia, HBS, Wharton, Tuck, Emory, U.T. Austin, Ross, Stanford, Cornell).

Could you please shed some light on whether I am a realistic candidate at these programs for the fall of 2009?

Thank You for Your Time.

[MBAApply]

To be competitive for any top15 program, you will need a strong GMAT (at least 700 or more) to act as a strong counterpoint to your low GPA.

There are really no excuses for a low GPA - for every excuse you can come up with (even a legitimate one), there are other candidates who have faced similar or comparable circumstances and challenges -- and still managed to do well enough on the GPA (and with those gunning for top MBA programs, a few that have excelled in spite of their circumstances).

Focus on nailing the GMAT, and if you have time, see if you can build an alternative transcript.

And once you've done all that, you've barely just started. Your chances from there on in will then depend on the rest of your candidacy - how well you do on the essays and interview. You have a lot of work ahead of you, but if you want it badly enough, then you should be able to make the necessary commitments to do the best you can on those apps.

Alex Chu
alex@mbaapply.com
www.mbaapply.com
http://mbaapply.blogspot.com

[tulanegrad]

have you seen applicants succeed with this background