Refused Acceptance by Thompson Rivers University very confused!

[bahariesmoon88]

Hello everyone!

I was just refused by TRU for their MBA program because they said I didn't meet the minimum academic requirements which is said to be a minimum of 3.0 out of 4.33 scale. However, based on my calculations I have a 3.21/4/33 in my last 60 credits.

Background info: Bachelor's degree(Honours)in Aviation Management from a USA University plus a diploma from a Canadian University in accounting.

Can someone help me calculate my gpa please? Below are my grades for my last 60 credit hours. All classes were 3 credit hours. I want to make sure I am not wasting my time applying to more graduate schools with the grades that I have because I am genuinely confused on why they would reject me.

A+
C+
B-
C-
B-
A-
A-
C+
B-
B
C+
B
A
B
A
A
A
A
A
B

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

Hello everyone!

I was just refused by TRU for their MBA program because they said I didn't meet the minimum academic requirements which is said to be a minimum of 3.0 out of 4.33 scale. However, based on my calculations I have a 3.21/4/33 in my last 60 credits.

Background info: Bachelor's degree(Honours)in Aviation Management from a USA University plus a diploma from a Canadian University in accounting.

Can someone help me calculate my gpa please? Below are my grades for my last 60 credit hours. All classes were 3 credit hours. I want to make sure I am not wasting my time applying to more graduate schools with the grades that I have because I am genuinely confused on why they would reject me.

A+
C+
B-
C-
B-
A-
A-
C+
B-
B
C+
B
A
B
A
A
A
A
A
B

Hello, as someone who has done a lot of research into Business school programs and will be attending a graduate business school this upcoming fall, I will try and help you.

1. MBA requires work experience. Universities (certainly reputable ones) do not take in students who have less than 2 years of experience. Average is around 6 or 7 years. Do you have that? Doesn't sound like it
2. Minimum grades don't guarantee admission, not in reputable institutions. They are not required to admit you because meet a minimum grade, they look at a holistic picture of your application: your work experience, your undergrad GPA, GMAT, Essay, goals and motivations, etc.
3. The right fit. Are you someone who is the right fit for the program? From what little you tell me, you did aviation and then accounting which does not make sense normally. What is your motivation for doing this program? What is your goal? What is your plan? If they don't believe your story, you're not getting in.

Might be better to reevaluate doing an MBA. I don't know your full profile but if you can provide, I can try and assist you further.

 

[bahariesmoon88]

Thanks so much for your response. In response to you

1. I have 9 years management experience working as an assistant operations manager of an airline here in The Bahamas.
2. My undergrad cumulative gpa was 3.03. They said they would take the last 60 of my recent credits that's why I posted my grades so someone can tell me if they got the same calculations. My gpa for the last 60 credits would be 3.21/4.33
3. Although my degree is aviation management , I did both aviation and business courses. I have also been actively working in the accounts side of things such as accounts receivables, payables and payroll at my airline hence why I took the accounting diploma to make sure I fully understand my work.
4. The purpose of the MBA is to solidify my business knowledge so that I can be better equip in my opinion to manage an international airline.

Would love to hear your thoughts and if you think my calculations for my gpa was incorrect.

Hello, as someone who has done a lot of research into Business school programs and will be attending a graduate business school this upcoming fall, I will try and help you.

1. MBA requires work experience. Universities (certainly reputable ones) do not take in students who have less than 2 years of experience. Average is around 6 or 7 years. Do you have that? Doesn't sound like it
2. Minimum grades don't guarantee admission, not in reputable institutions. They are not required to admit you because meet a minimum grade, they look at a holistic picture of your application: your work experience, your undergrad GPA, GMAT, Essay, goals and motivations, etc.
3. The right fit. Are you someone who is the right fit for the program? From what little you tell me, you did aviation and then accounting which does not make sense normally. What is your motivation for doing this program? What is your goal? What is your plan? If they don't believe your story, you're not getting in.

Might be better to reevaluate doing an MBA. I don't know your full profile but if you can provide, I can try and assist you further.

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

Thanks so much for your response. In response to you

1. I have 9 years management experience working as an assistant operations manager of an airline here in The Bahamas.
2. My undergrad cumulative gpa was 3.03. They said they would take the last 60 of my recent credits that's why I posted my grades so someone can tell me if they got the same calculations. My gpa for the last 60 credits would be 3.21/4.33
3. Although my degree is aviation management , I did both aviation and business courses. I have also been actively working in the accounts side of things such as accounts receivables, payables and payroll at my airline hence why I took the accounting diploma to make sure I fully understand my work.
4. The purpose of the MBA is to solidify my business knowledge so that I can be better equip in my opinion to manage an international airline.

Would love to hear your thoughts and if you think my calculations for my gpa was incorrect.

Experience wise and what you say about your program, you should be a fit in my opinion. I'm not going to calculate but if you are using the Canadian grading system and assigning values accordingly then yes it looks about right. My suggestion is that you should get your degree and transcript evaluated by an authorized service such as WES. Will make life easier for you and Canadian schools trust them more which could be the issue. Other than that I don't really know, it could be your essays? Or your GMAT (or lack of it)? Honestly, I went through their website, it doesn't look that great. I would use my money elsewhere for better programs.

 

[bahariesmoon88]

I have received an ECA from WES and my program is equivalent to a 4 year Canadian undergraduate degree.

Also, I chose the university because I didn’t want to wait a year to apply to schools that require GMAT. I guess I’ll have to go ahead and study for GMAT so I can apply to those schools.

I just wanted someone reassure me that it wasn’t my grades that were lacking for graduate schools because TRU said I was refused due to not meeting the minimum academic requirements.

Experience wise and what you say about your program, you should be a fit in my opinion. I'm not going to calculate but if you are using the Canadian grading system and assigning values accordingly then yes it looks about right. My suggestion is that you should get your degree and transcript evaluated by an authorized service such as WES. Will make life easier for you and Canadian schools trust them more which could be the issue. Other than that I don't really know, it could be your essays? Or your GMAT (or lack of it)? Honestly, I went through their website, it doesn't look that great. I would use my money elsewhere for better programs.

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

I have received an ECA from WES and my program is equivalent to a 4 year Canadian undergraduate degree.

Also, I chose the university because I didn’t want to wait a year to apply to schools that require GMAT. I guess I’ll have to go ahead and study for GMAT so I can apply to those schools.

I just wanted someone reassure me that it wasn’t my grades that were lacking for graduate schools because TRU said I was refused due to not meeting the minimum academic requirements.

In terms of calculation you are fine but 3.03 is a low GPA for MBA so I definitely recommend taking the GMAT, will help you

 

[bahariesmoon88]

Ok thank you I will go ahead and study for GMAT. If I submit my undergrad degree only based on my last 60 credits of courses my gpa would be 3.50. If I get a decent GMAT score what schools do you recommend I apply to?

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

Depends. What is your budget? Location preference? Goal? Program length (1 year, 2 year, 2 years+ (co-op))

 

[bahariesmoon88]

Max 2 year program and co-op isn't necessary. No location preference. The goal is to ensure I can get a PGWP of 3 years. Budget I am willing to spend 55,000 CAD for tuition.

Depends. What is your budget? Location preference? Goal? Program length (1 year, 2 year, 2 years+ (co-op))

 

[canuck78]

This may be a blessing in disguise. Would not recommend the TRU MBA,

 

[bahariesmoon88]

This may be a blessing in disguise. Would not recommend the TRU MBA,

I agree, do you think with those scores I’ll be able to apply to other grad programs though? That’s what I’m genuinely concerned about.

Without the diploma my last two years GPA would be 3.5 for my undergraduate degree. This is a good gpa right?

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

Your grades are fine as long as your university is regionally accredited in the United States. I think my UG business school's AACSB accreditation definitely aided me in my application at a top business school here in Canada. And the fact that you're doing an MBA not a master's means that your work experience is equally as valuable as your UG GPA.

In terms of a 2 Year MBA with $55000CAD, you are pricing yourself out from most of them. I would suggest these are your best options in that price range:

Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria
Sobey School of Business, St. Mary's
Asper School of Business, Manitoba
Lazaridis School of Business, Wilfrid Laurier
DeGroote School of Business, McMaster's

Where did you go for your undergrad?

 

[bahariesmoon88]

Your grades are fine as long as your university is regionally accredited in the United States. I think my UG business school's AACSB accreditation definitely aided me in my application at a top business school here in Canada. And the fact that you're doing an MBA not a master's means that your work experience is equally as valuable as your UG GPA.

In terms of a 2 Year MBA with $55000CAD, you are pricing yourself out from most of them. I would suggest these are your best options in that price range:

Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria
Sobey School of Business, St. Mary's
Asper School of Business, Manitoba
Lazaridis School of Business, Wilfrid Laurier
DeGroote School of Business, McMaster's

Where did you go for your undergrad?

Ok I will look into these, thanks a lot! I did my undergrad at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

Ok I will look into these, thanks a lot! I did my undergrad at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.

I would personally recommend uVictoria out of all that are on the list. Good luck!

 

[bahariesmoon88]

Ok thank you. Will check them out specifically.