GMAT and my future

I graduated in 2010 from the University of South Carolina B.S. in Finance, 3.3 GPA

I just took the GMAT for the first time, scored a 650, and this is after I prepared for a month using the princeton review books (really helped in my opinion, scored a 610 on my only full length computer practice test)

I am preparing my applications for several MSF programs, some being quantitative/mathematical. I'm considering U.F., UNCC, Alabama, Villanova, and possibly Duke MMS. I think this is the best route because I can't find a decent finance job, and I definitely did not give my undergraduate experience all of my time or focus. So I plan on busting my ass for one more year to show anyone who will watch, my newfound drive and motivation, which I had none of at USC.

My question is whether or not a 650 is strong enough to start me on the right track to a career as an analyst. Should I buy another book/take a class and shoot for a 680+?

Also, I am a fresh, hot-out-of-the-womb chimp on this site, so be easy with all the fancy acronyms because I'm still learning.

7 Comments
 

Just look at the candidate profiles of those schools...once you're there, getting a job will be on you

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

Sounds like you're looking at the right schools, and you should have a good chance of getting into those. Of course, Wall Street won't look at your GMAT scores, and getting a job as an analyst is still a very long shot. But hey, the economy's turning around, you'll find a good job.

 

Sounds like you're looking at the right schools, and you should have a good chance of getting into those. Of course, Wall Street won't look at your GMAT scores, and getting a job as an analyst is still a very long shot. But hey, the economy's turning around, you'll find a good job.

 
qwertyzapPR sucks, go for Manhattan GMAT or Veritas. And take the in person class... small investment if you're able to break into the next tier.

Fully agree with above. Stay away from Princeton Review and Kaplan books, and especially classes, at all costs. Veritas>=Manhattan >>>>>Princeton=Kaplan. The in-person classes show the largest gaps between these programs, but difference in quality of sample questions in the books is also significant.

 

Voluptatem ab nisi occaecati neque cum et doloribus. Labore eos et qui iure voluptas laboriosam.

Doloribus exercitationem numquam eaque ad earum voluptates provident. Consectetur tenetur et eligendi. Esse eligendi dolorum ut earum deserunt vel quaerat. Itaque esse beatae rerum blanditiis deleniti aliquam.

Ab tempore est est velit et eius repellendus. Voluptatem et at ut. Voluptate consequatur molestias laborum harum inventore nobis. Porro corrupti voluptatem sequi est enim libero ullam. Nulla qui officiis deleniti quia non culpa illo.

Ipsam ratione deleniti voluptatem nam. Perspiciatis quo voluptas repudiandae rerum adipisci molestiae ratione. Eum sunt non earum inventore natus. Eaque fugiat architecto ullam quis accusamus consequatur quidem et. Qui incidunt possimus suscipit iure.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (68) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”