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($) Low GPA and the optional essay

December 7, 2012 by EssaySnark

Today we want to point out what we see as a flawed reason which frequently crops up in optional essays that are trying to explain away a poor academic record. We’ve certainly covered the topic of low GPA and optional essays plenty of times before on the blahg. And we’ve certainly reviewed plenty of essays…


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Filed Under: low GPA, optional essay

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Here's what others have said about this:

  1. TY says

    December 8, 2012 at 10:27 am

    I feel you, kind of, and while this does not apply to me (since I think I did better in college than in my career) I think I can still see how this might be a valid point to adcoms.

    I mean do they really give a damn how well you do in their program? If you barely pass all of their classes then go on to be the next Steve Jobs because you rock at actual career stuff then wouldn’t that be more appealing to them than a total nerd with a 4.3 who can’t socially politic his way out of a paper bag?

    I mean I know, you are not competing with just one other person for your spot, you are competing with hundreds or possibly thousands, and a lot of them are very solid candidates. But still, even though doing well at your post-college job does not mean you will do well in the MBA program, I do think that it indicates that you are not an idiot and you just might have what it takes to do well AFTER the MBA program, which is really all that adcom wants, right? That way you will be able to give fame and big bucks to the school.

    • essaysnark says

      December 8, 2012 at 1:11 pm

      Not in our experience.

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