The email below is from a Platinum member who is also a former advisory client of mine from a few months ago. In his email below, he informs me that he has decided to push back his MBA application process to next year for several reasons, including a desire to take some additional courses to address his low undergraduate GPA. He developed 2 potential options for the type of coursework that he could take, including an option that would align directly to his post-MBA aspiration of working in the sports industry. Because he pushed his application process back, he has a lot of time to strengthen his MBA applicant profile, so his question is timed perfectly for his situation.
Because of the advisory work that I’d completed for him, I had some insight into his targeted MBA story and was able to leverage that in responding to his email. In my view, the question of additional courses came down to time phasing of his supplementary study instead of the way that he framed it. I’m not sure whether he’d be open to consider my re-framing of his question, but I was just telling him how I’d do it. Knowing this guy, he’ll ultimately make the right decision for himself and I’ve got my fingers crossed that he’ll join me in the Stanford GSB alumni community one of these days 
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EH wrote:
Hey Marquis,
I’ve decided to push b-school back until next year for several reasons: 1) The wife isn’t ready for the move yet, 2) I have an opportunity to work at [Athletics department of a local college] so I want some more time in that role, 3) I want to take additional classes to lessen the impact of my undergrad GPA of a 3.1, 4) There are some other great mba programs that I want to research more about (i.e. Stanford, Wharton, Booth, etc.).
Regarding coursework, I’ve identified 2 different paths that I can take:
One path would be courses that would benefit me in the short-term. These courses would be to purely lessen the inevitable learning curve in 1st year b-school courses. I could take a few online courses at [the institution where he studied for his CPA] in marketing research, business marketing, and/or intro to operations management. I haven’t taken any of these courses in undergrad so these would definitely be new concepts to me and would help me in my 1st year.
Another path would be focused on further putting my formal education in line with my long-term goals. I was thinking of pursuing a certificate in sports management at the American Public University. These would be 5 courses in intro to sports management, sports law, sports marketing, sports finance, economics of sports, and sports entrepreneurship.
I actually had like a 3.3 gpa in business courses, but I struggled more with non-business coursework, which pulled my GPA down.
I was wondering if you had any quick advice about which route you think would be a better use in my time prior to b-school matriculation.
Happy New Years.
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My video response:
Advice about additional coursework to improve low undergrad GPA from Marquis Parker on Vimeo.
Key points:
