The Application Process

I took the GMAT today and got a score of 680 ( IR-8, Verbal -34, Quant-49 )
Do I need to retake the GMAT if I plan on applying to HBS, Yale, MIT, Stanford and ISB YLP?

I absolutely agree with Bhavik. GMAT is just one, though very important, component of your candidacy . The quality of your work experience,your accomplishments, leadership experiences, extra curricular activities, and community involvement are other significant parts of your profile. If your profile is strong in these areas , it may offset your GMAT. However, we will need more details to be able to offer advice whether you should retake it or not. Also, I would like to say that 680 is not a bad score;people do get accepted into top schools with this score when other aspects of their profile are stronger.

I hope it helped.

You have to make a judgement for yourself. It's not easy but I do know for sure that the GMAT is just one data point for your overall application. Everything needs to work together. I didn't have the best score in all the land but managed to get into Stanford GSB so decide if you have enough time to study enough and increase your score with a retake.

Good luck!

Video Blog: Getting into Stanford GSB - Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2Pcn_VQuDo

Hi Qwerty,

If it's your first or second time taking it, I would say definitely YES, study and retake it again and try for an even higher score.

If it's your third time, I would say go ahead and keep that score and start focusing on your essays.

Either way, I am a big believer that the GMAT is just a hurdle to get over and the essays are the most important part of your application, so don't neglect those in favor of a higher test score.

Best of luck! Lucky you for already having a pretty good baseline score!
Kaneisha

Hi qwerty12321,

I agree with above comments, GMAT is not only the component B-Schools consider. GMAT is definitely one of the important component but there are other parameters too like your work experience, extracurricular, academics, achievements etc. If your overall profile (work experience, academics and extracurricular) is good then 680 will also do. If its not, then I would suggest you to retake your GMAT and target 710+ GMAT Score.

The B-Schools you have mentioned above are top global B-Schools and the competition is very tough to get into these B-Schools. You may also gauge your chances of getting admission in such B-Schools by trying this amazing tool https://bit.ly/1v5KJj4

Feel free to PM your resume/profile for free consultation.

Hope that helps.

Cheers!

Hello,

As I have also had 680, I have a similar question...

I retried the GMAT today (it's 4pm here on Paris), I haven't got the score I expected, and as I was preparing my application to Stanford, I'm not sure what to do =/
I learned about the GMAT during late october 2014, and took it on oct. 27th.
After 4 practise tests during the week just before (650 Q49 V30 / 650 Q45 V34 / 610 Q48 V25 / 630 Q44 V32), I've done 670 Q49 V32 on the real test.
As I decided to retake it to pass the 700 floor, I got 720 / 710 / 740 / and screwed up yesterday with 680 (Q48 V36). Only my verbal moved (I focused on SC).
So I couldn't fall asleep and today I also got 680 (Q49 V35), and I can't take it a third time before the deadline.

I have an acceptable profile (Not sure what my grades are worth though, the french system does not rank and 14/20 is considered equivalent to US "A", as the point here is to pass, not to have "A"); License in computer sciences (2011), master in communication from a famous school (feb 2015); 2 months summer job in Bank of France (2009), 1 year full-time apprenticeship in a EDF subsidiary, freelancer since 2010, elected Chairman of Mensa France -and youngest ever worldwide- for 1 year (2012-2013); founder of soon-to-be www.mind-ur-business.com.

So some cool things, but as I'm not sure how to evaluate my grade, as my GMAT is weak and does not reflect what I can do im(h)o, and as I know Stanford is extremely competitive, I really have a hard time evaluating my chances =/
Could somebody advise me on how to deal with that GMAT score as now I'm stuck with it ? I've thought about talking about it in my optional essay but I heard it could be perceived as whiny and thus raise a red flag; however, Stanford is really the school I want (mindset much more compatible with mine than most other top-ranked B-schools, and opportunities plumet with Forbes/FT rank so I'm not willing to accept a 2nd-tier B-school and would rather reapply), so I'd like to be sure that my application is as optimized as possible...

Yes, unfortunately you will definitely have to retake the GMAT to get into a school like HBS. I know that can be daunting, but it is one of the best schools out there, so your whole application will have to be top notch in order to have a chance. Having a low GMAT will be a pretty glaring weakness that will not go unnoticed or be interpreted differently by different admission committee members like essays or work experience could be.

qwerty12321 wrote:I took the GMAT today and got a score of 680 ( IR-8, Verbal -34, Quant-49 )
Do I need to retake the GMAT if I plan on applying to HBS, Yale, MIT, Stanford and ISB YLP?

HBS and Stanford may be a bit of a stretch with that score, although we've seen many cases of applicants getting admitted to top programs with low GMAT scores, as you can see here: https://www.aringo.com/Aringo_TOP_MBA_GMAT_Results.htm