GPA and grades

($) PSA to international MBA applicants: A 4.0 GPA is very rare.

May 10, 2023 by EssaySnark

This is a public service announcement for all you international bschool applicants: If you’re attempting to convert your grades to the U.S. 4.0 GPA system… don’t. We cannot think of any top business school that now asks for applicants to convert their grades. Several schools used to, notably Columbia, but they changed that practice years...

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($) So-called “alternative transcripts”: MOOCs, continuing education, and additional ed experiences in your MBA apps

May 4, 2023 by EssaySnark Leave a Comment

Let’s continue the conversation around what can you be doing now to shore up the weak spots in your profile. Premium content starts here… ———– ———– Premium content ends.

($) Updating the admissions office on changes to your profile post-submit: GMAT/GRE/classes

January 23, 2023 by EssaySnark Leave a Comment

There are certain situations where an update of your new status is warranted. The admissions office will want to know about things that have changed in your life. Today is a much more straightforward situation. You retook the GMAT or GRE, and now you want to let the admissions office know of your shiny new […]

($) How to get off the waitlist

December 15, 2022 by EssaySnark

Along with the many frothy and celebratory emails that EssaySnark gets around this time — beyond the ones wishing holiday cheer, we’re talking here about ones where our clients are reporting acceptances by their schools of choice — we also get a few that feel like they come loaded with bricks: “They put me on...

($) The very best messaging for handling an issue with low GPA

November 15, 2022 by EssaySnark Leave a Comment

One of the most common statements that MBA admissions committees hear from applicants who have rocky academics is, “My GPA does not reflect my ability.” We have cautioned against this before as not quite the ideal. So then, what is? Premium content starts here… ———– ———– Premium content ends.

($) One bad grade: Dealing with a D or an F on your transcript.

September 14, 2022 by EssaySnark

Oh nos! You flunked out of a class! Or just flailed mightily, and ended up with a very low mark on your transcript. What do you do about that now? Premium content starts here… ———– ———– Premium content ends. If you want full support on figuring out what to do and how to...

($) More guidance on random puzzling aspects of the MBA app datset

August 23, 2022 by EssaySnark Leave a Comment

As we have been saying, the application dataset is an often-underappreciated asset in the entire strategy of applying to a top business school. Here are some questions we’ve fielded from others working on their MBA applications who hit confusing questions or wondered how to interpret the instructions. Premium content starts here… ———– ———– Premium […]

($) Already have a Master’s degree? Why do you also need an MBA now?

June 30, 2022 by EssaySnark Leave a Comment

Some schools don’t really focus on this issue but a few of them do – including Tuck in particular, who in the past wouldn’t even consider a candidate with a prior MBA or MBA-similar degree, like the PGP from India. They are (somewhat?) loosening those restrictions in the new admissions climate but even if you […]

($) More tactics on the optional essay: What to say and how to say it (and how much to say) for issues like low GPA

December 21, 2021 by EssaySnark Leave a Comment

We went into some considerations on use of the optional essay in your MBA applications recently and there is much more to be said on this important topic! Premium content starts here… ———– ———– Premium content ends. Still scrambling with essays? There’s actually still time to enlist our help in your MBA apps! […]

Changing coursera?

November 17, 2021 by EssaySnark Leave a Comment

Schools used to really only consider formal education as part of their evaluation of candidates — meaning, that type of educdation that is captured on an official transcript from an accredited university. That started to shift, very slowly, when the schools themselves partnered with MOOCs like Coursera, however traditionally, if you were aiming for one […]