The Application Process

Hey All-

So I was like everyone else here and have been aiming for a 700+ score. I took the GMAT Prep exam and scored a 470 to see where I was. I was so shocked as I never have scored this low on a standardized test that I almost quit. After studying the basics of math and verbal for about a month I was able to bump up my score to a 590. I am applying this fall so I think that I can study until the end of July and then take the exam. Is two months enough time to possibly bump it up to a 700. Also, for those of you who have applied already is August enough to time complete 3 or 4 quality applications? Thanks for the advice as I really hope my dream is possible.

John

Hi John -

You may want to check out the GMAT section of the forum here. There is a lot of good advice and information there.

There are some things you can be doing now to prepare for applying in the fall to enable you to submit the 3-4 applications you are targeting for the fall.

You can be:
- finalizing your post-MBA career goals
- finalizing your school application set (suggest creating 2-3 sets depending on ultimate GMAT score)
- finalizing your resume so it is ready to go
- thinking about who you will want to ask to be a recommender and go to lunch with them (not to ask them to recommend you yet, but to reconnect and make the "ask" easier)
- Brainstorm your best "stories" for essays and interviews. Look at the current essay questions for your target schools. New questions will be released in the summer, but the questions are usually somewhat alike.

I know your primary concern is your GMAT, which it certainly should be. However, there are some other things you can do now while you're studying for retaking the GMAT that will support your efforts later, and possibly will make you a stronger overall applicant.

Wendy

Wendy Flynn
MBA Admissions Coach
[email protected]

I think two months is enough time, if you study with a private tutor and diligently complete all your preparation work for those meetings. I know a wonderful private GMAT tutor who can travel to wherever you are, and I am happy to pass along him name. Just let me know.

August is cutting it a bit close for round 1, but if you devote a lot of hours to your applications, you should be fine. I typically recommend getting your applications in by Round 1, but your first priority should be submitting the highest quality applications possible. If you have to wait until Round 2, that's fine. Just don't wait to submit until Round 3.

I hope this helps and I wish you all the best.