Profile evaluation - importance of GMAT score query.

[ajay_deepak]

Hey Lisa,

This is a prospective B-school applicant. I took GMAT recently and scored 720 with AWA score of modest 5.5 (80%ile). The GMAT score break up is Q (50/94%ile) and V (37/81%ile). The low verbal score has sent the alarm bells ringing. Like most Indians I fall in Indian/IT/Male category. I think adcoms expect Indians to have a high score in verbal. The worry: Should I retake the GMAT? Do my academic+GMAT credentials motivate the adcom to read my application?

A brief overview of my profile:
Undergrad from NITK (usually ranked 6~11 among engineering colleges all over India) and have a CGPA of 8.05/10 and apparently was 8th in the class of 53 students (so that puts me in top 15% marginally). The department has absolute grading (only >=90 ensures perfect 10 in any subject). I will put 8.05 as somewhere around 3.6-3.7 on a scale of 4. Selected for fellowship to do Masters from Seoul National University, South Korea. Graduate program in Electrical Engineering with a CGPA of 4.15/4.3 (top 5%) and I have 3 international publications so far. So much for my academic credentials. Work experience of 2 years (by fall of 2011) in Samsung Electronics R&D in Korea as a Research Engineer.

Well I can't really boast about my extra-curricular as I am still not in 'writing essays' state of mind and I have to dig deeply to awe anyone. I know GMAT+CGPA is one of the components, but for my (unfortunately competitive) demography do the credentials seem safe? GMAT+CGPA tell about your academic achievements. My GMAT score for my demography is quite low, as a few blogs and forums say, and I don't know how should I treat my UG academics. Does my GMAT+undergrad say that 'Hey! let's read his application further'? Does my GMAT+undergrad+grad say 'Hey! now his GMAT+GPA are unimportant let's see his application'?

My target schools are: Tuck, Yale, Darden, Ross, and Haas. I am pinning on the first three. Oh, I am aiming for class of 2013. Finally I intend to get a MBA to make a career transition to Media (News & TV).

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Ajay,

Your GMAT score is in range for your target schools. While I understand your concern, I don't know that an increase 10-20 points would make a difference in your ultimate admissions decision. I think your essays, recommendations and interviews will be critical and where you should focus your energy at this point. If you show strong writing skills and verbal skills, then that will mitigate any concern on your English ability. Your GMAT and GPA are not that low, so your application should be evaluated just like any other potential admit. Finally, I would suggest you consider applying to at least one safety school as all of your target schools are highly competitive.

Good luck,
Lisa

[ajay_deepak]

Thank you for your reply.

Highly competitive - Large number of similar profile applicants. I guess it all comes down to your non-GMAT and non-GPA part of the application once you have caught heir eye.

By your post I do feel that I can catch the eye of almost every school based on GMAT and GPA then it's all on my application. Hope am not being cocky here.

Safety school - above GMAT average and above GPA average. How many points more than GMAT average and GPA average will make it a safety school?
I guess Cornell, Tepper, UNC and Emory, especially the last two, should be safer. Any suggestions?

Thank you once again.