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Which programs place more emphasis on GMAT score?

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Which programs place more emphasis on GMAT score?

by inittowinit » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:27 am
Hello Community,

I was wondering which TOP business programs within the US place more emphasis on your GMAT score than other deciding factors such as GPA, essay etc. I searched the web but couldn't quite find results. Hopefully some admissions consultants can chime in here as they've probably seen results first hand.
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by essaysnark » Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:28 pm
Hi inittowinit --

The GMAT score is pretty important at all schools. That's because it is a reliable indicator of how someone will do in the rigorous curriculum at those top programs. Believe us when we say it, bschool is *hard*!! Success on the GMAT is strongly correlated with success in the quant-focused subjects in a MBA program.

That being said, the schools look at EVERYTHING - we even did a post on this recently: https://essaysnark.blocked/2011/10/ ... ckage.html [warning: it's a snarky one!]

If you have an especially interesting profile, then it's possible for the adcom to take interest in you even if the GMAT is lower than average. We see this a lot, and it does happen. We suspect that some schools including Stanford look particularly closely at the lower-scoring candidates to see if they are that special case. Of course, the average GMAT score at Stanford is ridiculously high, so obviously most of the lower-scoring applicants do not make it in. But Stanford and many other schools are open to it - they absolutely look at every single application, they do not simply filter on GMAT score and skip the lower-scoring candidates.

Unfortunately, there is a very common phenomenon among candidates, to think that maybe they will be the exception to the rules... If the profile is mediocre or exceptionally average, then a low GMAT is going to be the kiss of death at a top program. Hate to say it, but it's true.

Not sure if this helps, but that's our take. :-)

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by Jon@Admissionado » Sat Nov 12, 2011 2:39 am
Well sir, there's no scientific calculator to figure out exactly what is important. The GMAT is VERY important of course. But just as important is how well you have done in your professional life. To put this more concretely - how fast you have moved up, how much more responsibility you have got, how much bigger the firm you work for is that others in your situation/age. That, plus your STORY are really important as well.
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by inittowinit » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:26 am
Thank you for both of the Expert responses. I was curious because I've been reading of particular schools being "more forgiving" of a low gpa candidate who has a high GMAT compared to other schools where everything must be stellar.

I've heard of some low gpa admits at Wharton/Columbia etc. But have heard that institutions such as MIT/Stanford place a large emphasis on GPA. So a low gpa applicant would pretty much be toast at the latter.
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by essaysnark » Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:50 am
inittowinit wrote:I've heard of some low gpa admits at Wharton/Columbia etc. But have heard that institutions such as MIT/Stanford place a large emphasis on GPA. So a low gpa applicant would pretty much be toast at the latter.
inittowinit, this is actually *opposite* what we've seen over the years. We rarely see Columbia being flexible on GPA. Wharton, a little more so, but not by much. (See this post and the comments after it for the "what is a low GPA?" question https://essaysnark.blocked/2011/09/ ... w-gpa.html )

On the other hand, while the GSB has an incredibly high average GPA (and GMAT), they also tend to be very open-minded about the entire profile -- they really look at the candidate holistically. If you're a superstar in terms of what you've already done with your life, and what you want to do, then the GSB will most definitely give you a fair shake even if your GPA/GMAT are subpar. Derrick Bolton has said that often the best students at the GSB are those that come in with weaker stats. He is much less cookie-cutter about his admit decisions than some other schools.

So the unfortunate answer is, "It depends!" (We say "unfortunately" because there's not a lot that you can do with that answer, right? :wink:)

If you have a low GPA, then it will help to have a higher GMAT, but you should also take additional action to offset the GPA directly (https://essaysnark.blocked/2010/05/ ... -days.html )

All the schools want to see evidence of excellence. This can come through in a wide variety of ways. GPA and GMAT are just the starting point! Everything interplays with everything else.

Hope this helps!
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