GMAT 650. Shooting for top US Bschools. Need advice.

[alexibiz]

Hi Stacy,

I took the official GMAT test yesterday and scored 650. While I know that this score is below the average score of the US schools I am trying to shoot for, it is still a pretty decent result. I did all the preparations myself without a tutor. I purchased Manhatten MCAT tests to practice in the real-test environment. In fact, I found math part on MCAT way much harder than on the real test. To be honest, the math on the official GMAT seemed super-easy. I didn't really rush and was almost 8 mins ahead of time through most of the test. At some point, I got worried that GMAT didn't give me hard problems since I believe I failed to answer the very second math problem correctly. But by the end of the test, I started to see more sophisticated problems (but they still were relatively easy). Anyway, my quantitative score was 47.

During the verbal part, everything went pretty much well. By the end of the section however, I was presented with a long RC passage, then I realized I won't be able to finish the section on time unless I skip some problems. Knowing that leaving problems unanswered at the end of the section is really bad, I had to skip through the entire RC set! I believe that this compromised my verbal score. Anyway, I ended up scoring 32 on verbal.

My IR score was 4.

At this point I am not sure what to do with these 650 points. Being a Ukrainian citizen I still have to take TOEFL exam and prepare the rest of the application, which will definitely take some time and effort. If I keep pushing the GMAT I might miss the 2015 application deadlines. However, I would like to start my MBA program next fall.

I wanted to ask for advice from specialists who have experience with the application process and cases of the admitted applicants.

- 30 year old male Ukrainian with international experience
- currently living in the Philippines (no business here though)
- ran a small business that provided industrial design services for US clients
- worked with Chinese manufacturers (made multiple trips to China to 2d and 3d tier cities) to organize production of custom parts for clients
- speak 4 languages (Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese and English)
- hold mechanical engineering degree from top Ukrainian university (master's)

I will try to cut down the number of schools I am applying to so that there are 5-6 choices. I am considering only the schools on the east coast. Harvard will lead my list. Then I'll add another top-tier school (Columbia for example). I will probably have Darden on my list as well. Also, I am considering Georgetown or Maryland. With the current score of 650 I think I have pretty decent chances to get into the last two schools. But I hoped to get some idea about my chances to get into the top-tier if I am not able to raise the score. It sounds like I won't be a regular MBA applicant which should help me a little.

650 is my top score so far. But it is pretty much consistent to the scores I got during my preps. My highest MCAT score was 620, but the math was super hard in the Manhattans tests. Verbal results were pretty much consistent (32-34). Also, I scored 640 on GMATPrep before.

I understand that higher GMAT score would improve my chances to be admitted to the top US schools, but the time is limited. Therefore, I am thinking of investing time into TOEFL and building a strong application. If I still have time, I might consider retaking the GMAT sometime in winter.

Thank you!

[MargaretStrother]

Hi Alex,
I concur with the other responses you've gotten on this post. It depends what schools you are targeting, and how much risk you feel comfortable with. You've got great international perspective to add, so your first task here is to narrow your target and then take the appropriate steps. If you shoot for schools where 650 is the median GMAT (not within the 80% range, the solid median number), your next step is to learn about the schools you're applying to. Most of these schools will want you to answer "Why our school" really specifically, so campus visits would be in order, if you can pull it off. If not, you can also outreach to current students and alumni, to start learning more about the programs. Showing your research will make you a strong candidate for top business schools in this GMAT range.
If you want to take a shot at the "M-7"-type programs, it's a different approach: you'll want to retake the GMAT and get it up around 710,720. Because you are over 30, the GMAT carries more weight (not sure why this is, it just seems to be the case); you will no doubt have lots of professional experience and leadership to add to a school's community, but you'll need to show that you're not too far out of undergrad to do the academic heavy-lifting as needed.

Good luck!
Margaret Strother

[alexibiz]

Hi Alex,
I concur with the other responses you've gotten on this post. It depends what schools you are targeting, and how much risk you feel comfortable with. You've got great international perspective to add, so your first task here is to narrow your target and then take the appropriate steps. If you shoot for schools where 650 is the median GMAT (not within the 80% range, the solid median number), your next step is to learn about the schools you're applying to. Most of these schools will want you to answer "Why our school" really specifically, so campus visits would be in order, if you can pull it off. If not, you can also outreach to current students and alumni, to start learning more about the programs. Showing your research will make you a strong candidate for top business schools in this GMAT range.
If you want to take a shot at the "M-7"-type programs, it's a different approach: you'll want to retake the GMAT and get it up around 710,720. Because you are over 30, the GMAT carries more weight (not sure why this is, it just seems to be the case); you will no doubt have lots of professional experience and leadership to add to a school's community, but you'll need to show that you're not too far out of undergrad to do the academic heavy-lifting as needed.

Good luck!
Margaret Strother

Hi Margaret,

Thanks for the input.

I have a question. Why do you think 80% range isn't a good measure to rely on? To be honest, I thought that 80% range of the GMAT score gives you the best perspective at what kind of applicants are admitted to a school (better than mean or even medium score). Or in order to have high chances of admission it is the best to have a GMAT score equal to the median of that for a school, to which I apply? For example, if we look at Tepper (a school I am seriously considering), its 80% GMAT range is 624-740. So, 650 is surely within the range.

And how about being typical versus not typical applicant? For example, US accountants or investment banking consultants face much tougher competition than people, who have unusual backgrounds. Or applicants from India or China compared to Afghani? The first two would need much higher GMAT score to get admitted, wouldn't they? So, basically, I understand the idea of the GMAT mean, but on the other hand people with much lower scores are admitted all the time. As you said, probably, it boils down to risks I should be willing to take.

Thank you again!

[MargaretStrother]

Being a "not typical" applicant certainly has its advantages, but sometimes that makes the weight of the GMAT even higher. I am not saying that nobody gets in who is below the median; I'm just saying that the top 80% is too broad a range to give you a sense of the difference between "stretch" and "safe" in school selection.

The purpose of analyzing your chances when applying to top business schools is to know realistically what your chances are, taking all these demanding criteria into consideration. That way, if you decide to take a risk, it's a calculated risk; if you care more about getting in somewhere, anywhere, this year, you'll want to choose schools where those chances are the strongest; if only a top-ten MBA is worth the cost and disruption for you, then you will apply to top tens in any case, right?

As an MBA consultant, my job is to give you my best assessment of your chances, and to help you make the most of your strengths and mitigate any statistical weaknesses. But first, you need to know realistically what those strengths and weaknesses are, so I'm a tough analyst.

Good luck!

Margaret Strother

[alexibiz]

Being a "not typical" applicant certainly has its advantages, but sometimes that makes the weight of the GMAT even higher. I am not saying that nobody gets in who is below the median; I'm just saying that the top 80% is too broad a range to give you a sense of the difference between "stretch" and "safe" in school selection.

The purpose of analyzing your chances when applying to top business schools is to know realistically what your chances are, taking all these demanding criteria into consideration. That way, if you decide to take a risk, it's a calculated risk; if you care more about getting in somewhere, anywhere, this year, you'll want to choose schools where those chances are the strongest; if only a top-ten MBA is worth the cost and disruption for you, then you will apply to top tens in any case, right?

As an MBA consultant, my job is to give you my best assessment of your chances, and to help you make the most of your strengths and mitigate any statistical weaknesses. But first, you need to know realistically what those strengths and weaknesses are, so I'm a tough analyst.
Good luck!

Margaret Strother

Hi Margaret,

I retook the GMAT exam and scored 720 (Q47, V42, IR3, WA5)! Recently I have taken the TOEFL exam and am waiting for the results. Narrowed down the number of schools I am applying to to 4: HBS, Wharton, Darden, Georgetown. I visited Darden alumni event and really liked it. A little concerned about average age of Darden applicants, which is 27. I hope I won't be considered too old for their program. Finalizing my application so that I can submit it before the second round deadline. I hope now I have decent chances of being admitted!

Thanks for your support.

[MargaretStrother]

Now you're talking! 720 is right where you need to be. Your age might be a factor for Harvard, which in my experience seems to favor the 26-27 age group, but other schools may be much more open-minded. given the interesting perspective you bring to the mix.

Good luck!
Margaret Strother