Low Quant ....

[sophadel]

Hi All,

I'd appreciate your thoughts on my situation.

I took the GMAT for the first time in november and scored 680 (V46, Q39). AWA 5 (I didn't study this which was an error)

So I scored 98th percentile for Verbal but a dismal 52nd percentile for quant. I'm not a quant person unfortunately. I did Maths Alevel and got an A which means I'm not a complete dunce and was at a top US investment bank for 18months before moving to my current job (executive search consultant for a top 5 firm).

My undergrad degree was not quant focused either (Geography/Social Studies) but was from Oxbridge which counts for something.

I have great references, I think my essays are pretty strong and I have a lot of Uni leadership roles to back me up. I'm a 'different' candidate according to my bosses who are all MBA alumni from top schools.

I'm taking the GMAT again on Monday to see if I can improve my scores but I am not confident. My practice tests are all in the 640-680 range and I haven't cracked the 700 barrier. My quant score has improved by 2-3 marks but my verbal tends to slip as I get bored by the end.....I'm sure adreneline will help that part!

I just need your thoughts on whether I have a hope in helll of getting into my target schools (HBS, Stanford, Columbia, INSEAD) with these scores and what your recommendations would be for dealing with Monday. I am very very stressed about it!

Thanks

[cbenk121]

Hi All,

I'd appreciate your thoughts on my situation.

I took the GMAT for the first time in november and scored 680 (V46, Q39). AWA 5 (I didn't study this which was an error)

So I scored 98th percentile for Verbal but a dismal 52nd percentile for quant. I'm not a quant person unfortunately. I did Maths Alevel and got an A which means I'm not a complete dunce and was at a top US investment bank for 18months before moving to my current job (executive search consultant for a top 5 firm).

My undergrad degree was not quant focused either (Geography/Social Studies) but was from Oxbridge which counts for something.

I have great references, I think my essays are pretty strong and I have a lot of Uni leadership roles to back me up. I'm a 'different' candidate according to my bosses who are all MBA alumni from top schools.

I'm taking the GMAT again on Monday to see if I can improve my scores but I am not confident. My practice tests are all in the 640-680 range and I haven't cracked the 700 barrier. My quant score has improved by 2-3 marks but my verbal tends to slip as I get bored by the end.....I'm sure adreneline will help that part!

I just need your thoughts on whether I have a hope in helll of getting into my target schools (HBS, Stanford, Columbia, INSEAD) with these scores and what your recommendations would be for dealing with Monday. I am very very stressed about it!

Thanks

Frankly, it's tough for anyone to know what your chances are at these school. Even if I had served time on an admissions board, I still don't know your "complete picture".

Nothing is cut and dry...HBS (or any school for that matter) isn't going to turn away someone with a 680 just because they have a 680.

That said, a higher GMAT score can not HURT you (except if it makes you so arrogant you neglect other areas of your application). So just know that your current GMAT score is decent, but you know you can do better!

The GMAT IS beatable: a Q or V score can be improved, and more than "just a few ticks". Through study, I improved my V score 6 points, and several people around here have seen even higher gains.

BTW, practice tests, while good, are not perfect predictors of game-day scores. Several people on here, including myself, got higher scores on the actual GMAT than they ever achieved on the practice tests. Conversely, several people on here have scored lower than their practice scores...which just demonstrates, to me, how much your game day attitude can impact your final score. So don't think you can't get a 700, just because you haven't ever gotten it in a practice test!