Chances of getting funding, low GPA, high GRE scores

[harbindreams]

Hello everybody,

My stats: Finance major, 3.05 cumulative GPA with a strong downward trend after six unfocused years at a big state university. In the beginning, I had several semesters of 4.0 grades, and then things started to go downhill, lots of Ws etc. There are many reasons why this happened, including immaturity, lack of focus, working several jobs, and a very serious motorcycle accident. GRE scores: I have a 790 quantitative, 710 verbal, 4.0 writing. I am wondering if there has been anyone here in this kind of situation who has been able to get funding from a school, even a very low ranked school?

[UrbanWonk]

This is where that "additional information" essay comes in. At face value, those stats suggest a person who's lazy, so you need a killer explanation to get their attention. If you do mention your undergrad lack of focus, I'd try to point towards recent demonstrations of a newly enlivened focus...if you've got strong recs who echo the sentiments you express, you have a much better shot. Your comment of a downward trend is what could hurt you--find something concrete to prove that that period of your life is over, and that you've matured/are focused/whatever. I'd sit down with your letter writers and explain to them your situation (if they didn't know from having you in class) and what you're trying to convey. I think you've got a good shot at funding, though. Why GREs and not GMAT? Are you going MBA or a different program?

Best of luck!