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Please help - low GMAT

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Please help - low GMAT

by stevieg » Wed Nov 25, 2009 8:45 am
Hi all,

I am a British citizen aiming to apply ot Harvard.

I was working at a large investment bank until recently and want to move into non-profit. I have an average GPA 3.5. My extra-curricular activities are excellent and my recommendations will be very strong. I am sure of this.

Essentially, I feel my overall application is very strong apart from one thing - the dreaded GMAT.

At the moment I simply cannot get a score above 560 on practice tests. I am yet to sit the GMAT practice test. The scores I have got so far are

Knewton - 420
Manhttn CAT 1 - 430
Manhttn CAT 2 - 480
Manhttn CAT 3 - 560

I'm not a good test taker at these kind of tests and I'm really struggling. I think my application is strong bar my GMAT scores. I've spoken to admissions consultants and they all agree with this. I'm worried that if and when I sit my GMAT I will get such a low score that the HBS committee won't even look at my application.

Should I even bother applying if I don't get 600+?

Any advice would be really grateful.

Regards,

Jonathon Steven
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by Paxton Helms - Kaplan » Mon Dec 07, 2009 12:40 pm
Hi and thanks for your question. It is a very good one and you are right to be thinking about yield on your time and investment.

As it happens, HBS has the pick of the litter, so to speak, when it comes to applicants: they could probably fill two or three classes with people with killer credentials and not have to duplicate a single person.

So...where does this leave you? Well, since your application --while strong-- is not particularly unusual (you are not the only I-banker planning to apply this year) I would discourage you from applying. Sure, you have a remote shot but it is very remote and probably not the best use of your time and resources.

There is, though, a second issue that I think deserves to be pulled up and examined:

- Do you think that HBS is the only place that you can get the business trainign that you want? Don't get me wrong, HBS is a great place but...it shows a kind of professional immaturity and narrowness of focus to think that the ONLY option you have is to go to Harvard. It's just not your only option. There are lots of business schools out there (including several in the UK, not to mention a number in Europe) where you could get great training, too.

The question then is do you want to go to HBS or do you want to get a great business education? If it's just HBS I think some reflection about what you think business school can do for you is in order.
Keep me in the loop about your thinking and let me know if you have any more questions.

Paxton



Paxton Helms is an MBA admissions consultant for Kaplan Admissions Consulting. He earned his MBA from UCLA and specializes in helping clients that are applying to top twenty and "reach" programs. He can be reached directly at [email protected].

To begin working with Paxton immediately, follow this link and request him specifically: https://www.kaptest.com/GMAT/Admissions- ... lting.html
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