Part Time Evaluation - 3.7 NYU/640GMAT

[basso25@]

i'd love your opinions on:
1) my competitiveness as an applicant to the Part time Haas, Booth, and Kellogg programs;
2) how important a stronger GMAT score will be for my chances in the above 3 programs

i graduated from nyu in 2005 with a 3.7 gpa, magna cum laude. i have 8 years of work experience at the leading global ad agencies (4 yrs in nyc at ogilvy & mather and mccann erickson; 4 years in honolulu at ddb worldwide). i am half japanese, half american -- dual citizen and bilingual (born/raised in tokyo). i will have 2 strong recommendations and solid extracurrics (founding partner and cmo of online tech start up; board of directors of american marketing association; director of high school alma mater; marathon coach/2:50 marathoner).

my strongest gmat score is 640/q42/v35; i've taken it twice. short term goal after mba is brand management position at leading CPG company. long term - lead japanese multinational.

please help me determine my chance as is, as well as with a stronger gmat score. i REALLY like the haas PT program and that would be my top choice, and then kellogg, and lastly booth.

i'm also open to taking the math for management online course to beef up my lack of quant/poor quant percentile in the gmat, but trying to determine where to place my efforts: gmat retest, quant class, essays, etc. would REALLY APPRECIATE your advice. thank you so much!!

[MBAApply]

Strong essays are a given regardless of your GMAT score.

Do whatever you can to boost your GMAT. Remember that you're applying to the most competitive part-time programs (and frankly the best part-time programs - only one not on your list is Stern), and they attract applicants that are of a similar caliber as those for their full-time programs. If you look at the GMAT scores, they're not that much lower than full-time.

Essentially, you really should shoot for a high 600s or ideally 700, or else you will be at a big disadvantage, regardless of how strong your essays may be. Beyond your GMAT, your profile is competitive for these schools, so you owe it to yourself to retake the GMAT. Good luck

[MBAPrepAdvantage]

Here are the part-time class profiles for Haas and Kellogg along with a recent chat transcript from Booth:

Haas - https://ewmba.haas.berkeley.edu/communit ... ofile.html
Kellogg - https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/par ... rofile.htm
Booth - https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/ev ... 2013-06-11

Haas - Median GMAT Score - 700; Middle 80% GMAT Range - 640-740.
Kellogg - Average GMAT - 690
Booth - 80% GMAT Range - 620-750.

So, a 640 does not disqualify but would decrease your chances even compared to a score say 30 points higher. I would recommend you retake the GMAT, but if you cannot score higher, still apply. As an FYI, I had a client with a 600 GMAT score accepted to Haas' Evening & Weekend MBA Program.

Given your age, you might also consider Executive MBA programs where the GMAT is either weighted less or can be waived for certain schools like Booth, Kellogg, Ross and Duke.

Best of luck,

[basso25@]

Alex: appreciate the response. Unfortunately, I think I am done with the GMAT and am not confident that I can increase my score. I have far exceeded the point of diminishing return and am totally burnt out.

Michael: thanks for the post and all of the information - it is extremely helpful and I appreciate it. As noted above, I don't think I can score higher. So, between now and Jan 21, when Haas PT is due, I am planning on getting an "A" in the Berkeley Extension online "Math for Management" course and putting together some kick butt essays. Also need to wrangle in two solid recommendations. What are your thoughts on adding in a Calculus course as well? I may not have the time, but trying to figure out how I can better my chances. I have little to no quant - professionally, academically, or personally - so this is definitely my largest weakness which I am trying to mitigate.

[MBAPrepAdvantage]

The calculus will help. But if one or more of the schools waitlist you, then that is a sign that they really want to see an improved GMAT score.

Best of luck,