Regarding your career, remember that for MBA Admissions the work that you did is more important than the company that you worked for.

Q) I am a 26 years old Indian national , done Bachelors in Technology with 60% marks from a tier-2 school in India and Post-graduation(marketing & operation) from Symbiosis college(distance education) with 70 % marks. I am working as an import manager in a Steel Plant - Uganda(East Africa) for the last 5 years. The company I work for is not a well known brand. My job profile in this company is to procure the necessary raw materials for the plant from different parts of world. I deal with suppliers from almost 10 countries. Additional I know multiple languages- Hindi, English, French and Spanish. I have given GMAT and scored 760. What are my chances to get top business school like LBS/HBS. Will my low scores in grad school and the brand value of the company I work for affect my admission?

Stacy Blackman: I hope the following is of help. Regarding your low undergraduate record, I recommend you read the following case study of a candidate who had a low GPA and was accepted into several top programs. It should give some insight into how you can address your grades.

CASE STUDY 5: Sub 3.0 GPA

GPA: 2.7
GMAT: 700
Undergrad: Psychology Major at University of Michigan
Activities: martial arts, side entrepreneurial ventures
Personal:  Caucasian male born and raised in US

Overview:  Our client was fairly solid in many areas – he had deep extra-curricular interests, average but interesting work experience and some very interesting personal stories.  However, he had a below average GPA that could have derailed his entire application.

Result: Admitted to Columbia and Chicago

Strategy:  Ultimately this client’s story was a personal one that chronicled how he developed and pursued an intense interest in martial arts.  That interest actually took him away from school for two semesters and became a distraction that contributed to a very low GPA.  But it also helped him develop certain characteristics and unique abilities that strengthened his character, and made him a much stronger leader and team player.  In his essays he discussed his renewed commitment to academics and explained how he had developed qualities that would enable him to excel in business school and in the business world.

Regarding your career, remember that even more important that the company you work for is the work that you did. Admissions teams are looking for candidates who have made an impact, so it will be important for you to use examples of how you made a difference. Business schools are also looking to cultivate future leaders, so you should mention any experience leading and managing others inside or outside of work.

If you have low GPA Score, try our Hourly Consultation Services. We might be able to present your case more effectively.

Regarding Harvard Business School, here are two resources that might be useful for you:

1) Harvard Business School Essays

2)  Harvard Business School Interview Guide