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Should I apply ?

by sachin_Anand » Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:25 pm
I have failed again today .I am just unable to get past 550( Quant : 43 , Verbal 23 ) on the GMAT.Yes, I am depressed ,but I believe that I should still apply before the second deadlines. I know GMAT is a very important factor of the application process, but this is not the only factor...rite???
Now after finally realizing that I am just not a good test taker ( but I believe I can put up a strong application stuff -strong essays , strong LORs,extra circulars etc. etc. ) , I want some help ... kindly help me- I am really depressed ,confused , and shocked .
I am interested in doing marketing from a decent school. But with this score, I Just can't even think of applying to ROSS or ANDERSON .Which schools can I think of applying to? I just don't have any idea about good marketing schools, ranked below top 20 or 25, but are still worth applying to.
The thing is ...I know my GMAT sucks, but what if I try very hard & present a good application stuff overall ?
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by Kaneisha Grayson » Wed Dec 01, 2010 5:35 am
Hi Sachin_Anand,

I don't want to fill your head with hopes and dreams, but I do want to provide you with encouragement.

I specialize in working with non-traditional applicants and one of my clients with your same GMAT score and a GPA under 3.0 recently got an interview invite with Columbia GSB. Obviously, she hasn't received an admissions letter yet, but she's made it past a huge first filter.

How? She and I worked together like mad on telling her story authentically, concisely, and compellingly. We used her Optional Essay to assuage the fears and doubts the AdCom definitely had, and to lay out her specific game plan for excelling in business school despite her dismal numbers.

You seem quite devastated by the idea of not going to a top school. Depending on how much time, money, and energy you have, I recommend you apply to 4 of your dream schools (WAY out of reach but maybe just maybe!), 4 reach schools (schools where your GMAT score is out of range but not by far), and 6 match schools (where your GMAT score is within the range).

Good luck and stay encouraged!

Kaneisha
Harvard Business School MBA 2010, Harvard Kennedy School MPA 2010
Founder, The Art of Applying
Admissions Consulting for MBA, MPP, Joint Degrees, and Fellowships
https://theartofapplying.com

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by money9111 » Fri Dec 10, 2010 7:52 am
sachin_Anand wrote:I have failed again today .I am just unable to get past 550( Quant : 43 , Verbal 23 ) on the GMAT.Yes, I am depressed ,but I believe that I should still apply before the second deadlines. I know GMAT is a very important factor of the application process, but this is not the only factor...rite???
Now after finally realizing that I am just not a good test taker ( but I believe I can put up a strong application stuff -strong essays , strong LORs,extra circulars etc. etc. ) , I want some help ... kindly help me- I am really depressed ,confused , and shocked .
I am interested in doing marketing from a decent school. But with this score, I Just can't even think of applying to ROSS or ANDERSON .Which schools can I think of applying to? I just don't have any idea about good marketing schools, ranked below top 20 or 25, but are still worth applying to.
The thing is ...I know my GMAT sucks, but what if I try very hard & present a good application stuff overall ?
Change your tone and don't get discouraged. If you enter the application process (not exactly sure how far into it you are) with the notion of "oh I won't get in so what's the point" which is what it sounds like, then you won't be able to submit your best application. Pick your head up and say to yourself as you have done already "Ok... my GMAT wasn't great. BUT I know that it's not the only factor and I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that I knock everything else out of the park."

Me personally, I think of it like a game. Ok the first inning wasn't great, but I still have 8 other innings to prove myself. If you can craft a story such that the admissions committee says "Ok... we MUST have this person because this is what they're going to offer our community" then you'll be fine. All you can do is submit the best application possible, aside from the GMAT, and let the chips fall where they may. Do not get discouraged in thinking that you should not apply to Ross or Anderson. Apply... otherwise you'll always wonder "Would I have gotten in?"

If we're talking strictly GMAT, I shouldn't be applying to ANY of the schools that I'm applying too... and with my GPA I REALLY shouldn't be applying. But I know that I will craft an amazing story highlighting the positives and not the negatives, so I'm staying calm.

Best of Luck!!

RBB
My goal is to make MBA applicants take onus over their process.

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