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quintan · 11-13-2002, 06:40 PM

I just want to say that I am new and hopefully this forum will lead me into th right b-school.

I know all to well your issues with the GMAT. I have never been one to do well on Standardized tests. This is painfully obvious with my SAT score of 1060 and my GMATs of low to mid 500s. However, I have always been an A student. Infact, my undergrad GPA is significantly above the mean GPA of 2004 grad school admittees in HBS, Standford, Wharton, Kellogg, Columbia, Fuqua and Tuck. My work experience of over three years is with a fortune 500 and I am positive I would essay and interview well with any top university. However, due to my lower than average GMAT's I can not gain acceptance to any B-school that warrants the investment and risk. ie potential income/current income etc. This is not to mention my near obsession in going to a darden or a wharton or a chicago. This obsession has even led me close to seeking individuals who have scored well and would be willing to sit in my place for the GMAT. I can not understand why this test is the most determining factor in a top tier b-school admittance. Maybe all of you can offer me some advice on how to prepare or shed some light on why this test is so important.

dakila_briones · 11-15-2002, 05:09 PM

I don't think anyone would tell you that the GMAT score is the MOST determining factor for admittance. In fact most schools (and even ETS) downplay its importance. The trick is getting within one standard deviation of your school's mean.

Obviously a 500ish score is not going to do it for the top tier schools. The GPA and GMAT are used as success determiners. You have to show that you're not going to crush and burn once you enter the school's program. (i.e., You don't have to prove that you are some type of genious.)

Wharton gets "concerned" with Math and English scores of under 80%. That score is actually just a 670 or so. (Also, note that you can have a 700 score, but without the balance of Verbal and Quant, the "concern" would still be there.)

My advice is not to take the GMAT more than twice unless you have a stronger justification than "I take standardized tests poorly." Fork out the big bucks - go and take a couse, or better yet, your old university should have a tutoring office that can counsel you about test taking.

Also, additional warning, being obsessive is not a quality that schools are looking for. Maybe you can term it as persistence... or just don't say anything about it altogether.

Hope this helps.

Dakila

Apratim · 11-16-2002, 06:47 AM

Thanks Dakila.That was a very well written response and i'm sure it helped a lot of us.
I'm new to this forum.Still learning the ropes of cracking the gmat..so as of now i'll keep reading and learn from all you guys who have been there, done that.
Thanks all...for the help !!
Apratim

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11-13-2002, 06:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
quintan Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 3	I just want to say that I am new and hopefully this forum will lead me into th right b-school. I know all to well your issues with the GMAT. I have never been one to do well on Standardized tests. This is painfully obvious with my SAT score of 1060 and my GMATs of low to mid 500s. However, I have always been an A student. Infact, my undergrad GPA is significantly above the mean GPA of 2004 grad school admittees in HBS, Standford, Wharton, Kellogg, Columbia, Fuqua and Tuck. My work experience of over three years is with a fortune 500 and I am positive I would essay and interview well with any top university. However, due to my lower than average GMAT's I can not gain acceptance to any B-school that warrants the investment and risk. ie potential income/current income etc. This is not to mention my near obsession in going to a darden or a wharton or a chicago. This obsession has even led me close to seeking individuals who have scored well and would be willing to sit in my place for the GMAT. I can not understand why this test is the most determining factor in a top tier b-school admittance. Maybe all of you can offer me some advice on how to prepare or shed some light on why this test is so important.

11-15-2002, 05:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
dakila_briones Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2	I don't think anyone would tell you that the GMAT score is the MOST determining factor for admittance. In fact most schools (and even ETS) downplay its importance. The trick is getting within one standard deviation of your school's mean. Obviously a 500ish score is not going to do it for the top tier schools. The GPA and GMAT are used as success determiners. You have to show that you're not going to crush and burn once you enter the school's program. (i.e., You don't have to prove that you are some type of genious.) Wharton gets "concerned" with Math and English scores of under 80%. That score is actually just a 670 or so. (Also, note that you can have a 700 score, but without the balance of Verbal and Quant, the "concern" would still be there.) My advice is not to take the GMAT more than twice unless you have a stronger justification than "I take standardized tests poorly." Fork out the big bucks - go and take a couse, or better yet, your old university should have a tutoring office that can counsel you about test taking. Also, additional warning, being obsessive is not a quality that schools are looking for. Maybe you can term it as persistence... or just don't say anything about it altogether. Hope this helps. Dakila

11-16-2002, 06:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Apratim Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: India Posts: 3	Thanks Dakila.That was a very well written response and i'm sure it helped a lot of us. I'm new to this forum.Still learning the ropes of cracking the gmat..so as of now i'll keep reading and learn from all you guys who have been there, done that. Thanks all...for the help !! Apratim

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