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.

EssaySnark

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.

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? )

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!
EssaySnark