I didn't expect to do that well on the GMAT, but I ended up getting a 770 - well beyond my expectations.

The problem is, my GPA isn't that great. My undergraduate education started out pretty rocky, and by the end of the four years I could still only pull off a 2.5 (basically a C average on a 4 point scale.)

Would my higher than average GMAT score offset this? All other things being equal, what are my chances at top US schools like Booth, Wharton or Harvard? What would be some good safety schools? I was thinking UCLA or Georgetown, but am open to other suggestions. Thanks!

I suggest:
University of Michigan--Ann Arbor (Ross) (MI)
Cornell University (Johnson) (NY)
University of Virginia (Darden) (VA)
Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) (PA)
University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) (NC)

So basically, what you're saying is that a top 10 school is out of the question?

I have looked at Darden - their focus on entrepreneurship (with a business incubator and connections to venture capital firms) looks interesting to me.

It's not out of the question, but highly improbable unless you are related to an alumnus or major donor, or have something else in your profile, like being an Olympian.

PS Ralph has a more hopeful view, and he's worth listening to.

I don't know. Last year, many top full-time US MBA programs saw declines in applications, leading to a decrease in selectivity (factors for this include the economy and more options for applications, like online MBA programs.)

In the context of this trend, you may have a better chance this year than in previous years. Your profile isn't spectacular, and your success would ultimately hinge on other factors, including work experience and references. In your essays, you should try to frame your poor undergraduate performance (ie. show a clear arc between school and recent successes in the workplace.)

If I were you, I'd apply to one or two of the schools that most interest you (Wharton or Booth, for example); and then two that you know you can get into (Darden; maybe Cornell.)

What's interesting is that there is very little variation in the average GPA of admitted students to most of the programs discussed in this thread.

Whether it's Harvard, Darden, Booth, Cornell, etc., the average undergraduate GPA is usually around 3.5. So I'm not sure that that's as accurate an indicator of admissions, compared to GMAT scores (where there's much more of a spread.)

Even so, it's worth repeating that application reviewing is a very holistic process - so while your GPA might be low, you could make up for it with your higher GMAT score (or unique work experience.)

I think that shows you that the mean GPA at the top US schools is high and have a very narrow standard deviation. Marking is more homogenous in US schools than, for example, in European universities.