MBA Admissions Myths Destroyed: I Must Get A 750!
 |
Jeremy is the Founder and President of mbaMission. Click here to learn more about mbaMission's products and services. |
We all know that the GMAT is a difficult test and a significant factor in establishing your academic competencies, before the admissions committees. However, it is important to remember that the GMAT is not the only factor, but is in fact one of several components used to evaluate your candidacy.
While a high GMAT score can enhance your overall competitiveness at top tier schools, your GMAT score alone cannot secure your admission. Meanwhile, a low or average score on the GMAT by no means precludes your admission. Remember, the average scores listed on admissions websites, are, after all, averages! The nature of an average is such that some people are above average and others are below — roughly half the class at your target school will be below the stated average and will, lo and behold, still get in!
You may have read our previous entry in this series, Well, I had my Chance on the GMAT, which stresses that there is no risk in retaking the GMAT again, if you are unhappy with your score the first time around. However, if you have already taken the test a few times and have scored similarly each time, you should consider whether it is worth the effort to continue.
Instead of attempting to take the test again (and again), you should probably focus your energies on bolstering the other components of your application: your essays, short answers, resume, recommendations, etc. A strong application is not a guarantee of success, but is your best shot at overcoming a low GMAT score.
9 comments
AP on April 6th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Does this count when your GMAT is terribly low...say 530? I have been told by admissions consulting firms that a terribly low score will often be a real killer on GMAT.
AP on April 6th, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Oh, and this was for top tier schools.
Jeremy Shinewald on April 7th, 2012 at 3:47 am
Thanks for your post. It is tough to sugarcoat an answer regarding a 530, if you are looking to gain admission to a top-20 school. Each year, we meet a few candidates who are successful with scores in the mid and high-500s, but they are usually absolutely phenomenal in all other aspects of their candidacies. The burden becomes incredibly high when your score is that low. The schools do not have GMAT cutoffs, but you do need to ask yourself, as you get further and further away from the average, "What am I doing to compensate? What do I have that other candidates do not have?" I can't give you a simple recipe for what you need to have in your profile in order to overcome a score that low - I would be happy to chat with you offline about your candidacy to determine if you have what it takes. Best, Jeremy
TK on April 10th, 2012 at 9:48 am
A 750 GMAT is not a golden ticket into HSW but 3.8 from HYPS caliber undergrad/blue chip employer. It's a numbers game (not as much as law school) and the GMAT is a big rankings indicator. Think of the GMAT/GPA as a first level of defense you have to cross, then the application as the second, then the interview as the final...if you can't get past the first wall the second and third are less meaningful.
TK on April 10th, 2012 at 9:51 am
not sure why this was cut off
TK on April 10th, 2012 at 9:50 am
**A 750 GMAT is not a golden ticket into HSW but less than 650 is probably a deterrent. Sure we all know person X who had a 600 and got into an M7 but this is the RARE occassion and if so you better have done something INCREDIBLE or had a 3.8 from HYPS caliber undergrad/blue chip employer. Admissions officers already admit that a low GMAT/GRE is over 50% of the reason for a ding because it's a numbers game (not as much as law school) and the GMAT is a big rankings indicator. Think of the GMAT/GPA as a first level of defense you have to cross, then the application as the second, then the interview as the final...if you can't get past the first wall the second and third are less meaningful.
OP on April 10th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
I think GMAT carries more weight than this article lets on. sure, a 750 would be great -- but that's a rare score. more importantly, getting at least in the 25th percentile is important.
I had a top school wait on me for updated GMAT scores since I had indicated I was going to retake them (after scoring a 680 initially). Unfortunately, I had to delay the test date indefinitely. After the admissions team checked in and asked if I could provide updated scores (which I couldn't), I got rejected only a week later.
To me, this clearly shows that my GMAT score was probably the main determinant for me after weighing the other factors.
OP on April 10th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Sorry to clarify -- when I say 25th percentile, I am referring to a top school's 25th GMAT score percentile, not the overall GMAT 25th percentile.
AP on April 10th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Thanks everyone.