reposting my original topic to improve title for a broader audience - sorry for the duplicate. Thanks a lot EscapeArtist999 for your reply thereI aim to enrol in a degree to get me started in a career in the field of quantitative strategies.My profile is:27yo, BSc Maths/Applied Maths from a Russian uni, nationally well recognised but probably not internationally.I think my avg grade is only equivalent to a 2.2 (even though close to 2.1).GMAT=730exp: 6 years IT in BB banks - constant shoulder rubbing with rates/FI products and making pricing/trading systems but no real quant work.I was hoping to get into a very decent name establishment, eg Imperial or maybe LSE. The programs I considered are MSc Statistics OR MSc MathFin (whatever the name for the latter is at the uni of my choice). I like maths and finance enough to want doing this, and understand it enough to solve admission tests.Questions:What can I do to aid my chances of being admitted to Imperial? They typically require 2.1 which is my biggest sticking point. Any certifications, courses, or some such that could help?Is it likely to help if I pull my GMAT up to 760-770, for example, especially if it's not business schools I apply to? Or GRE?Or is it really a case of going for it and seeing what happens, because all possible brownie points have already been (not) scored?Thank you very much for quality feedback.

What's your grade in Russian value? Maybe someone here can see whether it is more a 2:2 or 2:1.To be honest, most students enter with a first class for the MSc Math-Fin in Imperial and a few with good credentials enter with a 2:1. I dont know anyone who entered with a 2:2. Not that I want to make you lose any hope, but just being realistic. That's why I am asking what is your Russian grades.

QuoteOriginally posted by: punkfanatic3000What's your grade in Russian value? Maybe someone here can see whether it is more a 2:2 or 2:1.To be honest, most students enter with a first class for the MSc Math-Fin in Imperial and a few with good credentials enter with a 2:1. I dont know anyone who entered with a 2:2. Not that I want to make you lose any hope, but just being realistic. That's why I am asking what is your Russian grades.I agree this should be the approach, being realistic. My avg grade is 4.19 where 3 is the minimum passing grade and 5 is the highest.

QuoteOriginally posted by: igemonsterMy avg grade is 4.19 where 3 is the minimum passing grade and 5 is the highest.4.19 was Ok GPA in my days. 4.5 was a minimum for 50% bonus on stipend and 4.75 for "red diplom". maybe the thresholds changed well, it turns out that it didn't change red diplomait's a Soviet phenomenon, diplomas were of two colors: blue and red. the blue one is ordinary, and the red one is with honors.Soviet students used to joke that it's better to have a blue diploma and a red face, than a red diploma and a blue face

Quote4.19 was Ok GPA in my daysit's certainly Ok in and of itself, the trouble starts when you need to match benchmarks: top/good schools and unis entry requirements. Then it turns out the little slack you afforded yourself (more than a little in my case) comes back to bite you, as it's not Ok at all in that context.QuoteSoviet students used to joke that it's better to have a blue diploma and a red face, than a red diploma and a blue facehehe =) never heard this one

Maybe you should just talk to one of the professors there or the admission office, to see if your grade meets the minimum criteria. Or if they can make you pass any test to see your level.But to be honest, since you admit yourself that you afforded yourself a bit of slack during your uni years, then maybe you should forget to go to Imperial and look below.

QuoteOriginally posted by: punkfanatic3000Maybe you should just talk to one of the professors there or the admission office, to see if your grade meets the minimum criteria. Or if they can make you pass any test to see your level.But to be honest, since you admit yourself that you afforded yourself a bit of slack during your uni years, then maybe you should forget to go to Imperial and look below.yeah I was also thinking I'd get in touch with somebody from the actual faculty, to hear their thoughts. Thanks for that punkfanatic.