Bad Grade

by **Guest** Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:29 pm

I was not a business major in college, but I did take accounting, and got a C.

I have a decent explanation for this that I will write about in the optional essay. I'm also thinking about taking Accounting 101 at a local community college to brush up on it.

Should I mention this in my optional essay, or will taking it at a local community college look a little subpar to the adcom? Should I just stick to my explanation for the C and leave it at that?

by **MBAApply** Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:50 am

Depends on what you majored in.

If you were a lib arts major with little to no quant courses in your background, then you should mention it in the optional essay AND take a numbers-oriented course (accounting, stats, algebra, calculus, etc.) at a community college. However, if you were a sciences/engineering major, then explaining yourself isn't really necessary.

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

by **Guest** Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:29 pm

Hi Alex,

Thanks for the reply. I was an econ and philosophy major. I also took some calculus classes, so I have somewhat of a math background, but nothing like an engineer.

Why is it not necessary for someone with a quant background to explain a C in Accounting?

by **MBAApply** Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:00 am

Because they have shown enough analytical chops to show that they can handle the analytical/quant aspects of the b-school curriculum. And if the "C" in Accounting was just a blemish in a sea of quant courses where you did reasonably well (mostly B's with some A's), there's not much you can say anyhow other than "I screwed up" and the more you try and explain it with a detailed blow-by-blow account about how there was some misunderstanding of the course requirements (i.e. missing an assignment) or getting to that granular level for something that happened years ago - the more you'll look way too defensive and neurotic.

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