Can one get admission to prestigious MBA programs with a 600

[boomtangboy2000]

Hi,
I just gave the GMAT & the test got the better off me. I got a appalling score of 600. I had my eyes glued to get a 700 & get into one of the following full time MBA programs
1. Booth
2. Stern
3. Tuck
4. LSB
I have around 6 years of pre-graduation work ex where I ran my own financial services practice. I got various certification during that time such as CFP, AIII, etc. Currently I have a years work experience in one of the BIG 4's. I just want to know what are my chances to get into these programs if I have any left.....

[arun@crackverbal]

Look at the GMAT data for those schools - Average (poor indicator), Median (better indicator), and 80% range scores (best indicator). As a thumb-rule don't apply to places where your average/median score is lower than 30 points, and where your scores are not in the 80% range. Most school put this data on their website so it should be easy to check.

For example here https://www.chicagobooth.edu/fulltime/in ... ssnap.aspx it says that 80% of the students in the fulltime program at Booth fall in the 660-760 range.

My take is that perhaps its easier for you to prepare better and take the test again.

Arun

[money9111]

while it may be possible... it's incredibly rare so I suggest taking the test again.

[RyanKeo]

Agreed. Plus, you have a solid background so why risk denial on a poor GMAT score? Take it again, get a 760, and move on.

[money9111]

Agreed. Plus, you have a solid background so why risk denial on a poor GMAT score? Take it again, get a 760, and move on.

hahaha if only it were that easy

[Stacy Blackman]

Hi boomtangboy2000,

I agree with the posts above. Arun had a great post regarding the percentiles at Chicago Booth. If you did apply, you would be in the bottom 10% of GMAT scores for applicants, which is not preferable.

As a note, the GMAT score is self-reported on your business school application, so admissions teams will focus on your highest score. There aren't many negatives to taking the test again (the primary negatives are the time spent and cost of the exam.)

Hope this was of help.

Cheers,

Conrad and the Stacy Blackman Team

[chendawg]

So what would you guys say would be the max amount of times one can take the gmat before admissions officers look at you as if you're crazy? Do schools find out how many times you've taken it?

[money9111]

3 times is what i've heard is the preferable amount. i know people who have taken it 4 times and have been fine because that 4th time was their highest score. and yes while the GMAT score is self reported, one does need to send the official score reports to the school and all of your exams within the last 5 years will be listed on the report. so while they will focus on your highest score, they will see your other scores. i've also heard explicitly from certain admissions officers at a particular school that is always one of the top 3 ranked that they would prefer to take someone who got a 720 on their first try rather than someone who got a 720 on their 4th try.

honestly, i wouldn't worry about the 2nd & 3rd retakes until you've completed the 1st one. there may not be a need to take it again so don't create more of a headache than is necessary.