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Do I have a snowball's chance in hell?

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Do I have a snowball's chance in hell?

by spiri27511 » Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:52 am
Recently took the GMAT after a month long course (6 hours a week formal classroom) and probably 2-3 weeks of 'preliminary' studying before the course began..I was hoping to fall in the 650 range but fell far short of my own expectations and scored a 530. I scored in the 66th percentile on my verbal but only the 28th percentile on my math....obviously there is room for improvement on my math skills but I am just not mathmatically inclined or at least its never come easy to me.

I was dissappointed but I was unsure whether re-taking the test is necessary (the thought of taking it again makes me stomach turn) based on the rest of my background:
-undergrad gpa 3.6 cumulative/3.9 finance major; graduated with honors in business from SMU
-currently have 4 years of work experience at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (not planning to apply until Fall '11 so I'll have 5 years of experience by then)

Based on the information provided would that be enough to get me into the any of the following part-time programs?:
-Kellogg
-UCLA
-Univ of Michigan
-University of Texas - Austin
-SMU Cox
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by jon82 » Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:50 pm
I cannot speak for SMU Cox, but the others are highly competitive.
Do you have a snowball's chance in hell? Yes.
Should you retake the test if you want to have a good shot at any of these schools? Yes.

If I were you, I wouldn't waste the money and a year of my life applying to these schools with a low GMAT. I would retake the test after some serious study and then evaluate my situation. It sounds like you have an excellent profile and the GMAT is just one of the last steps. Good luck!
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by spiri27511 » Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:21 pm
I appreciate the insight, thanks.

So even applying for one of these part-time programs, in the first application round, I'd have to really package myself well (essays, interview, recs, etc) in order for these adcoms to overlook the GMAT score?

- Not to let a negative attitude prevail, but in the event I don't raise my score that much would you still bother applying to these schools?
- I didn't do that much better on the 3 practice tests I took, is there any other way to increase my chances for acceptance in the event that I am unable to tangibly improve my gmat?
- I've read that part-time programs are 'less competitive' than their full time counterparts, is there any truth to that?

Thanks again.
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by vivecan2005 » Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:23 am
This is called an explosive inside you. One side you have score of 530 and other side you have an ambition to get into kellogs! Turn this frustration into a positive energy and start making flashcards of your weak areas,

-What were the questions where you got wrong in both sections?
-Practice again, again, again, again, again and infinity
-Decide I wont sit in next test untill I get 780-790 in GMATPrep in home based testing
-Buy more questions so you don't do same quant questions again and again. Buy fresh questions from GMATfocus

You knows best where you were less confident and where you were master of question so just find those weak areas and work on those areas again, again, again, again untill get those get as right as others.
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by jon82 » Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:48 am
Spiri,

You are correct that the PT programs are easier to get into - at least from what I've heard on this forum. I don't know much beyond that.
If you package yourself well, you have a shot. Still, to have better than just a shot, you should dedicate yourself to the GMAT for a month or two. My opinion on the GMAT is that adcoms look at it on two levels: Is the applicant smart enough to perform well in a rigorous learning environment? Is the applicant serious about business school? If you can prove to the adcom that you have what it takes to perform well (ie good grades, quant job, recs, essays, etc) you might still fall short on the second question. In this regard taking the test again, even with average improvement (and you will improve if you study hard), shows the adcom that you are serious. Right now the adcom might question how much you want it.
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