Hi -

I wanted to ask the experts on this site what advice I can get about getting around the 'low GPA' issue. My situation is as follows -

My undergrad GPA is 2.9. The main reason for this dismal grade being I had to work throughout my college years to pay for half of my tuition (I was an international student) as well as my strong extracurricular involvement in school associations and desire to do a double-major and a minor (yes I wanted to experience it all!). After graduating, I had 6 job offers to pick from and so I never thought much about my lower than average GPA.

I'm currently a manager in a billion dollar company, running analysts as part of a strategy group and am on the fast-track in the firm. The company has never before sponsored any candidate for an executive education, let alone an EMBA but my success in the firm as well as my strong push towards investment in human capital has convinced the firm to sponsor me 100% for an EMBA as well as to start a national EMBA program. I am currently studying for my GMAT course. my question to you is, i want to apply to the EMBA programs in Columbia, Wharton and NYU. I'll be able to get very strong recommendations from very high up in the firm, but does my low GPA doom me from ever getting in? also, what kind of a GMAT score do i need to have any dream of being accepted? Any recommendations of what i should put in my essay to explain the GPA issue?

Thanks so much!