The Application Process

This is a question I get every year, as candidates walk away from their GMAT test date wide-eyed and shocked that their score came in 50 points under all their practice exams. What went wrong? Why the discrepancy?

Well, as I am sure you will hear over and over, the GMAT is only a portion of your application, albeit a fairly important one. I happen to know firsthand that top schools will only be so lenient on incoming scores because the average GMAT has a big impact on the schools' rankings and they can't afford to slip from the coveted top 10 or 20 slots they so desperately try to hold. If you take a close look at the numbers, it is likely that your score, although disappointing to you and below the posted average, is still in the 80% range of top schools, so don't be discouraged. In order for them to offer a seat to people with scores in the lower part of that range, however, you will need to be bringing something "else" to the table that is unique. Ask yourself what you offer that is out of the ordinary and stands to potentially add some level of diversity to the class makeup? This could come in almost any form, not just the obvious racial, cultural or professional diversity. Have you ever done anything unusual that impresses your friends and family? Well, it might just impress an admissions committee as well. Overcome a monumental hardship in your life? Achieved something truly out of the ordinary? And don't think it must have something to do with your professional goals, either. An unusual hobby or pastime about which you can relate an interesting story, especially one which has shaped you as a person, cana sometimes also capture the interest of the admissions committee.

Additionally, your post MBA vision and career goals will need to be clear and sensible, and your overall application must be tight and impressive. Consider the help of someone you know who has an MBA to look them over before submitting, or get help from a professional consultancy like Veritas. Lower scoring applicants must do all they can to go the "extra mile" on their applications in order to stand out in the crowd, but it can be done. Good luck!

Bryant, that was useful
I fall in outside the 80% score range of my target school,just by 10 points though

I feel like this was directed to me because I scored 50 points below my practice scores (700 vs 750-760)! However, because I'm looking only at local, part-time programs, my real GMAT is actually in the 80th-90th percentile of all the schools' part-time programs that I'm applying to. Still, because I didn't blow away the averages in a huge way, I'm really looking to differentiate myself through essays, interviews and my resume. So I appreciate your advice as I get started on the next step.

My GMAT score is slightly lower than the average for the schools I am applying to, but I have been told that if the other parts of your application are very strong they will still consider you. Also, my application consultant at Stacy Blackman Consultants told me that it depends on what your undergrad major and previous work experience is -- like I have a research and writing background, so I would be expected to score high on verbal (which I did). But, since I don't have a math-heavy background, my scores on the GMAT were slightly lower than average -- but that is the average including people that have a background in math, so I am still a contender. I think that score itself says little about an applicant, and most admissions committees know that.

My GMAT score is slightly lower than the average for the schools I am applying to, but I have been told that if the other parts of your application are very strong they will still consider you. Also, my application consultant at Stacy Blackman Consultants told me that it depends on what your undergrad major and previous work experience is -- like I have a research and writing background, so I would be expected to score high on verbal (which I did). But, since I don't have a math-heavy background, my scores on the GMAT were slightly lower than average -- but that is the average including people that have a background in math, so I am still a contender. I think that score itself says little about an applicant, and most admissions committees know that.

Bryant,

This may be off topic...but do you accept clients? Is it possible to request your services when obtaining a consultant?