Extra Classes

[reed.parker]

Hi

I applied this year to HBS, Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg and Columbia. I got interviews from Stanford and Wharton (and obviously Kellogg) but unfortunately no admits. I feel I still have a strong profile. I graduated in 2005 and I am 25 and a CPA and CFE (certified fraud examiner) who works for a Big 4 accounting firm doing fraud investigations. My ECs are good and I have good leadership in and out of the work place. My GMAT was 710 (Q - 48 (84%) V - 41 (92%)). However the huge black eye on my app was my UG GPA. I majored in accounting and I have a 3.1 cumulative GPA. In addition to the low GPA I got a C in calculus my freshman year.

I want to apply R1 next year as a re-app to Stanford and Wharton bc I feel like I was close this year. I will add some other schools that may be more realistic for me.

My question is what classes should I take? Obviously I will take a calc class, but what else? How many classes should I take? I have heard of people using the alt transcript to prove their quant abilities, but can it also be used to make a 3.1 UG GPA more competitive? In addition to calc should I take stats (got a B in college) and/or maybe a soft class like Org Behavior (got C+ in college)?

Does it matter where I take the classes? I am located in the SF Bay Area, and trying to see what will work with my schedule. I can take online classes through local community colleges or try for the UC Berkeley Extension program. I obviously know that Berkeley Extension is a better name, but does community college vs. Berkeley extension matter to the b schools?

I feel like I was really close this year and need to address this glaring issue, any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[mbamission]

Thanks for your question.

Without more specifics on your essays, EC and leadership activities we can only go on what you tell us, but from what you've said, the UG GPA does seem to be the biggest weakness in your application. I hesitate to agree with your assessment of it as "a huge black eye" however - it's not a disastrous GPA, and your GMAT and certifications demonstrate your intelligence. An alternate transcript might help, but I don't think it's as critical in your case as in others I've seen. Typically we suggest accounting and finance classes but in your situation that doesn't make a lot of sense. Statistics or economics would be a good choice. In terms of where you take it, this is actually not that relevant. Still, Berkeley extension is a better choice than an online class. The most important factor is that you do well.

It does sound like you were close this year, and maybe simply expanding your pool of schools and focusing even more intensely on interview preparation will be enough next year (although again, without seeing your essays and other details my advice is limited.) Remember, the schools get applications from far more talented and qualified applicants than they have room for, and sometimes it's simply a question of the odds not working in your favor.

Sincerely,
Jessica Shklar
MBA Mission

646-485-8844

Website: www.mbamission.com
Blog: www.mbamission.com/blog
MBA Mission Insider’s Guides: www.mbamission.com/store.php
Free Consultation: www.mbamission.com/consult.php

[reed.parker]

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for your quick response. So far I have looked into a calculus class and a statistics class at Berkeley Extension. How many classes would you recommend I take (so far I have the two mentioned above)?

Also, I agree that as a CPA it doesn't make sense to take accounting. I did pretty well in finance and econ in college (my bad grades were mostly required general edu courses). I am happy to take a class I did well in again, but econ for example: I passed out intro college econ with AP credit and got an A in upper level econ, so I am not sure it is the best for me to take. However I defer to you as I don't have much experience in this arena. Would you recommend I take econ again or try for something else or is just calc and stats enough (I figure if I am going to be taking classes, I want to really cover my bases and erase concerns)? Even though I am a CPA and majored in accounting, I did get some B-'s in college accounting courses?

Also, I know typically alt transcripts like this help establish one's quant abilities. However, can it also help make my academic profile with my 3.1 UG GPA more competitive?

Thanks again

[mbamission]

Hi Reed -

Two classes is really the most that you would need, and I would keep them away from classes you did well on in college, like finance or econ. What an alternative transcript can do is alleviate any concerns the AdCom might have about your maturity. Since your GMAT is fine and you work successfully in a quantitative field, I don't think the AdCom's will have much concern about your intellectual capacity, but the additional classes will just be that extra touch that states that you are firmly on the right track.

Sincerely,
Jessica Shklar
MBA Mission

646-485-8844

Website: www.mbamission.com
Blog: www.mbamission.com/blog
MBA Mission Insider’s Guides: www.mbamission.com/store.php
Free Consultation: www.mbamission.com/consult.php

[reed.parker]

Hi Jessica,

Thanks so much for your response. I think I am starting to narrow down what classes I want to take.

The only C's that I got in business related classes are in calculus and Organizational Behavior. I got a B in Stats. I am definitely going to take a Calculus class. For my second class I can't seem to chose between OB and Stats. I have always heard that it is best to take Quant based classes when going for the alt transcript, but then I also am looking to make up for poor undergrads and my generally low UG GPA (3.1). So part of me says take Stats because it is quant based and a more traditional biz class (however I got a B in college). However, another part of me says to just try to make up for my C+ in Org Behavior and retake that class (however it doesn't seem to be a really important or necessary biz class). Also the class that I have found most like OB thru Berkeley Extension is called Organization and Management, do you think that adcoms will see that I am trying to make up my OB grade with that class?

I am really torn here. Should I try to take all 3? The OB class at Berkeley Extension is only 2 units (normal classes are 4). So it may be possible to do all 3 over the summer.

If I can't take all 3, which 2 would be the best to take in order to improve my academic background and application as a whole?

Thanks so much!

[reed.parker]

I just wanted to add one more thing to my above post. Although I was an accounting major and I am a CPA, I did get a bunch of B's in accounting classes (hence the 3.1 UG GPA). Since I am a CPA I didn't think about retaking them but it is an option. Maybe a class like internal reporting or tax or something. Does it makes sense given the CPA?

[mbamission]

Reed -

There's no formula and taking the quantitatively-inclined classes may not make a difference in their decision at all, so don't overthink this too much! I would probably go with the stats class. If you wanted to take a third one (and again, I don't think in your case it's any more than a nice touch, not necessary) then I'd choose an area of accounting or tax you haven't already taken a class in. Not only does it bolster your alternative transcript, but it also shows depth of interest in your field.

Best of luck.

Sincerely,
Jessica Shklar
MBA Mission

646-485-8844

Website: www.mbamission.com
Blog: www.mbamission.com/blog
MBA Mission Insider’s Guides: www.mbamission.com/store.php
Free Consultation: www.mbamission.com/consult.php