I don't know much about Grad schools for Finance, but in engineering PhD programs you wouldn't make the first cut. At least that's the impression I got when I attended a talk by a graduate school admissions officer last semester who made 3.6 sound below average. but then we're talking about engineering programs that pay you to attend.

_bored · Mar 9, 2009 10:13 PM

A few suggestions/strategies to get into a top 20 grad school with low GPA: --score in top 5% of GRE exams for the year of application --enrol in a similar program at the current or other institution with intention of taking a few courses to prove that your 2.5 gpa does NOT truly represent your academic ability --pass Level I of CFA exam; this proves that you have a fundamental background- a prerequisite for grad school --if your current institution ranks in top 5 undergraduate finance program, GPA alone is never a factor- the grad admision committee may look at your extracurriculars, i.e. did you participate in a national case competition and win a 1st prize, were you a president of a club that was considered influtential, did you work in finance or a professional related field while attending classes, etc. Also, ensure to mention any factors that may have contributed to the low GPA, i.e. illness, family matters/emergencies, finances, etc. These should only be mentioned if applicable- honesty is important. I am assuming that you want to apply for a MSc finance program- and not a MBA. If it's the latter I would definitely advise against it, as you will need get into top 20 with at least 3 years of work experience regardless of your GPA (there are exceptions with a good GPA- but the value of attaining MBA without any work exp is nil in my opinion). Good Luck! JP

JavaBeans · Mar 10, 2009 1:03 AM

What matters most in this case, in my humble opinion, is your personal statement.  You have to articulate why your gpa is 2.5/4.0.  And if you can do that persuasively, you might stand a good chance, provided you have other credentials - GRE, Recommendation Letters, Extra-curriculars, Work experience, etc. - that are viable. Furthermore, most grad school admission officers look at the progression during your undergraduate years.  So, if your gpa was low in your freshman year (say 2.0) and you gradually scored higher as you approached your senior year (say for your final 2 semesters, your gpa was >3.5), this might be seen as a positive trend and make you an attractive candidate, although your cumulative gpa is 2.5.  This case would be much better than someone who started out at >3.5 in freshman year and descended to 2.5 in senior year, although his/her cumulative gpa might still be >3.0. Additionally, if your grades in finance related courses are respectable, your cumulative gpa can be counterbalanced. Good luck!

Riten · Mar 10, 2009 8:24 AM

I agree with JavaBeans and Riten. Also if you are willing to pay the full cost (tuition/room and board) then you might get into  good grad school provided you have other credentials. It really depends on the program and the school that you are applying to. However if you are seeking for financial assistantship then there will be greater competition. Goodluck!!!

anushka1 · Mar 10, 2009 9:16 AM

Appreciate your suggestions folks. My personal problems caused the slump in my grades and I'll try to reflect that in my personal essay. From Dean's list earlier in my school years to GPA of 1.8 ( last semester , first semester of senior year ), I've seen it all. On a positive note, I've started my final semester well.

Quagmire · Mar 10, 2009 2:20 PM