Quick GMAT Quant Question

[kjm84]

I just took the GMAT and scored a 730 (Q-47, V-44). Will my low quant score keep me out of a good business program? The schools I have in mind are Duke, UVA, Cornell, and Dartmouth. I found my low quant score surprising since my background is in electrical engineering.

I look forward to your answer.

[ssimon]

Ummm.....how is your quant score "low"?

I got a Q48 on my test, which was 85%, and I don't consider my quant score to be low. While there are certainly a lot of people who take the GMAT and ace the quant (50+), I don't think anyone is going to consider your score to be low.

I would say average for the best schools is around 80-90%. Low is under 70%. My guess is you are around 80% in quant with a Q47, right?

Anyway, compared to your potential, your score may be low. Compared to the other applicants for MBA, I would say you are average for top schools, and above average for second tier schools. So I wouldn't sweat it too much. If you were applying for PhD in Economics, it might be a little different story, but for MBA you are solid with a 730 (or at least I hope so, cause that's what I got as well).

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear kjm84,

I concur with ssimon. Your quant score is not low. You should be fine in terms of your GMAT score for the schools you mention. Don't forget, though, that whether you are admitted or rejected depends on your overall application not just your GMAT. Now that you have the GMAT out of the way, focus on putting together a strong package.

Good luck,
Lisa

[kjm84]

I understand that the GMAT is only one small part of the overall packaged. My concern was that that one small part might keep me out of my target schools.

While a lot of people might be happy with a 47, I feel like a 47 doesn't represent my true potential (keep in mind I was an electrical engineering major). So, within that context I think a 47 might be a little low. I guess I should have made that clearer in my original post.

In any case, I'm going to stick with my score and focus on the other parts of the application.

Lisa and ssimon: I really appreciate your input.

[ssimon]

kjm -
I should note that I sympathize with your feelings. I spent 7-8 minutes on the first questions in quant when I took the GMAT. It was a question I knew I could solve, and made the same mistake twice before getting the right answer.

When I think back, I should have been able to solve that question in 1 minute. If I had, I probably could have brought my quant score up around the 50 range with the extra time I would have had to do problems that I had to skip to make up for the time lost on question #1. So I know how frustrating it can be to know you can do better. Same goes for my verbal score - I got V42, and I know for sure that I can do better than that.

However, with a 730, you aren't going to be disqualified from any schools, including the top ones, so I think your time is better spent focusing on your apps. At least, that is what I'm telling myself......