Hey there,

it might be tricky, especially now, however, you can try. In the end, the overall picture counts, and there are many contextual factors that influence the decision.

To illustrate, if you had bad grades but at the same time started a company, grew it and hired employees, and sold it to an investor, that shows that you had your priorities right. In that case, you could outweigh bad grades with entrepreneurial experience (as you specifically ask for)

In general, I always recommend early stage coachees to optimize the following four points on the resume:

• academics (university prestige, program prestige, GPA, awards, etc.)
• career (corporate, lower-tier consulting, working student, student projects, etc.)
• experience abroad (exchange or internship abroad)
• extracurriculars (captain of a team, founder of an NGO, etc.)

The more you have from the above list, the better your chances you will be. One word on the contextual factors from above. This can also vary across offices, time of hiring, the personal motivation of HR, etc.

Additionally, in your position, you need to focus on networking across all three MBBs. The more referrals you get, the higher quality and seniority these referrals are, and the more contacts you create, the better your chances will be to pass the HR screening.

All the best!

Cheers,

Florian

Hi there,

Not necessarily a deal-breaker (rarely is anything a complete dealbreaker) but you'll need to hustle. Make sure to really network to find entry points in.

If it doesn't work this year, please don't get dissuaded! I applied for BCG in undergrad and didn't even get a look (I never stood a chance)...6 years later I was in!

So, shoot for the stars, and, if you miss, get a better gun, practice your aim, and shoot again!

Absolutely! I'm not sure how you've defined "average" but the bar for academic achievement is much lower than people typically assume. I would say if you were in the top 30% of your class at a target school, especially in a challenging major/course then its not a big issue. What is more important is how you differentiate yourself more broadly beyond just your school and grades. Your entreprenurial experience is definitely a great one as well as your other professional or extra-curricular experience and achievements.

Hi,

Grades are important but they're only a part of your application.

Highlight your experience and invest time in networking to try and obtain a referral.

Hope this helps.

Best,

Antonello

Hi there,

you definetely should try! Your grades only can't be a deal breaker. Hence, you need to make up for that with internships / experience / other projects / skills and knowledge + networking and a referral. It's pretty doable!

Consider getting some sessions with an experienced coach. Having a right strategy and support from somebody who've been through it and knows how it works not only makes it easier, but also saves your time in preparation.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

GB

(edited)

Hello!

First of all, are you an undergrad, MBA... this changes a bit the pic and is important info in order to give you good advise.

In any case, there are harly deal-breakers.

Grades (good ones) for sure help in the application, but they are not the only way to stand-out. Seeing that you mention entrepreneurial experience, this can perfectly justified a not-academic focus.

Applications are seen in a one-by-one casis, with no clear checks or deal breakers. The sum of all the parts define the candidates that stand out, and those parts are very different among different people.

Hope it helps!

Cheers,

Clara

Hi,

Absolutely, if you are still studying. Top school will significantly increase your chances, even with average grades. try to include as much extracurricular as you can. If you have time - work for some company part-time, or do a paper.

Best