Median GMAT scores & admission

[chet steadman]

Hi,

I'm seeking clarity on the median GMAT stat.

All of the top schools seem to have a median of 710-720, but that's only the 93rd-95th percentile (if the charts online are accurate). That doesn't seem very selective to me, considering there are far fewer "top" MBA programs than "top" undergraduate schools.

In a hypothetical vacuum, do I really have that good a chance at being admitted to Wharton/Stanford/Harvard with a score in the low 700's?

Thanks

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear Chet,

It is important to remember that admissions decisions are not made on GMAT alone. It is one component of the many things the top schools look for in a candidate. There are a fair number of 730+ GMAT scores rejected from MBA programs each year because they have nothing else to offer and/or do not have a solid rationale for going to business school. Additionally, the percentage of GMAT scores above a 700 is quite small in the overall test-taking pool. The median is just that--the middle of the entering class' GMAT score range. So half the class scored at or above that number, and half scored at or below that number. The median of the school's total applicant pool will generally be much lower.

Thus the answer to your question is, yes, you do have a chance of being admitted with a score in the low 700s. Your professional experiences, leadership potential, and well-thought career goals are equally (if not more) important for top programs.

Good luck,
Lisa