Before
The draft as it arrived.
Topic: Feel free to provide any other information you think would help us evaluate your potential to succeed in the program. (Maximum 375 words)
Honestly speaking, compared with other applicants’ overall GPA, my overall GPA might seem to be under average and a little disadvantageous. However, I want to say it is just in number and I do not think that my low overall GPA is a determinant makes me considered as that kind of person who has no ability in the past and no potential currently to achieve professional triumph. I want to demonstrate my academic ability and explain for the relatively low overall GPA via some additional detailed information and facts. The relatively low overall GPA should be mostly attributed to my study attitude in the first two years of undergraduate. At that time, I planned to start up my own business following graduation and developed a preference for abundant practical experience over excellent academic performance. Therefore, I chose to exercise myself via practical projects rather than attempt to acquire achievement in grades. As the class president, I arranged activities for class such as organize journey after examination and parties at holidays. I also managed a stock account of my own, which I have run since my sixteen and for about 6 years, and judged when and what to invest. I even tried to start and operate a small business with my friends, which is somewhat like today’s GroupOn, though failed for some reasons. But, after the two years, I gradually changed and re-planned my life blueprint: rather than start up my own business, I decided to pursue a graduate degree in financial engineering, because I found myself more interested in and more suitable for working as a quant. Realizing that, I immediately began to take academic seriously and my overall GPA of the following three semesters rose to about 3.5/4.0. Besides, I gained 82% in GRE subject mathematics test, passed the CFA Level I exam, and gained 730 in GMAT, which are all testimony of my potential and my desire to prove it. Last but not least, there are two facts useful in determining my academic performance. The first is that I, ranked by the overall GPA, was recommended to graduate college exempted from Chinese Graduate Entrance Examination. The second is that half of the students of session 2008 of my college (more than 300 in nearly 600) failed in a mandatory course, Signal and Systems, where I am a student of session of 2007 and gained a score of 82. I hope that these two facts will establish a comprehensive understanding of my overall GPA and the college grading policy.