GMAT Cutoff

you're screwed with that score bro.

Wharton is always a stretch. Columbia will be tough, not impossible. Chicago is reasonable. The one big thing you need to keep in mind is the type of work experience you have as well. If you have a 680, but held some pretty nice positions in IB/PE/HF etc. then you will be a strong candidate. If you have a 750, but never worked in your life, it might be tough. I heard for MBA programs, experience matters a whole lot, because in the end they care about donations.

Thanks, ValueInvesting. Thought the same way with Chicago being a more realistic one compared to the others. I"ve been working in healthcare M&A at a middle market shop so guess my score can get offset to some extent in that regard as you also pointed out.

dude... apply to your target schools (let wharton, columbia, etc.. decide if you're good enough). if its your 4th attempt then the marginal benefit of scoring 700 on a fifth attempt is small. Focus on your experience and references.

you have zero chance if you don't apply.

If you want to go to Columbia you will need to apply early decision.

I would apply to all of the top schools. Even with a 680, you have a decent chance of getting into one of them, which is all it takes. Good luck!

A 680 will be a deficiency for all of the schools that you've listed above. Booth actually cares about how many times you've taken it - They state this explicitly on their website and also ask you on the application itself. Columbia and Wharton are both very GMAT sensitive schools. The people that get into these schools with a 680 make up for it significantly in other areas, or are a URM/female.

Another reason to retake it is if your 680 isn't near an 80/80 split.

MD8,

Why do you have to apply early decision? Thought it'd be disadvantageous with a 680 score as people with higher scores typically apply early decision. Yes/No?

Early decision at Columbia means that they are your first choice. Regardless of what other schools you get into, you will have to go to CBS. Chances of getting accepted in Early Decision are said to be better than first round. Someone correct me if I'm wrong....

Exactly, it would become very difficult to otherwise get in with a sub 700 GMAT. I'd imagine that borderline candidates would have a higher yield early-decision by signaling that CBS is their first choice. I've also heard of applicants reneging after being admitted first-round but this is extremely frowned upon.

Got ya. Thought only those with higher qualifications would apply for early decision as I have seen friends of mine with 750+ GMAT score apply through early decision at Columbia (both of my friends actually were declined surprisingly +.+).

Thanks a lot for sharing your insight.

One additional question. Can you also apply through early decision for multiple schools? I guess not if they require a statement of commitment as CBS does, but just wanted to double check. Thanks again & in advance!

What about NYU Stern? Are they are not as good as CBS?

Also anyone have thoughts for London Business School MBA?

ImPossible,

Depending on your background, I think you will struggle getting into your target schools. From all the material I've read and my interactions with admissions, you are generally compared to those with similar backgrounds rather than the "average applicant." You shouldn't assume you've checked the box because you're within the schools' 80% range. Ask yourself, what is the typical range of applicants with similar backgrounds? White male finance types are fighting a completely different battle than black female marketing directors. Keep this in mind when deciding which schools to shoot for.

Also, the number of attempts does matter. From my research, three typically is earmarked as the limit. You're below the 80%/80% Math/Verbal split benchmark as well, which will be another setback.

I'll add a couple things to the very informative dialogue other users have provided you 1) You should not worry about the "format change" - it's on the AWA only and is very minor - nothing effecting the Q or V sections, so that should be relevant to your decision 2) That said, you've taken this 4 times. A fifth time if probably a waste of $250 at best and indicative of poor judgement at worst. Schools will see all of your scores and if they see 4 scores in the 650 - 680 range and your fifth score as a 700+ they'll be likely to think you just luckboxed the 700+ and that 680 is closer to the "true" measure of whatever the GMAT measures 3) What is it you want an MBA for? This should factor into which schools you are targeting. Depending on your career goals there are many great schools that you are in good contention for with that score. Take a look at schools just outside the M7 (T15 or so). You'll see you are right around the median for lots of these schools.

Thanks to all of you for your feedback. To provide a little more color on me, I'm an Asian American male (immigrated to the country when I was in a high school). Have a 3.5 GPA from top undergraduate business programs (think Wharton, Ross, Stern, etc.). Have spent a year in syndicated/leveraged finance at a major lending institution (think CIT, GE) and three years so far as a healthcare M&A analyst at a middle-market i-bank (have recently gotten a direct promote to an associate). Would like to leverage the MBA degree to go back to Asia (Hong Kong, or S. Korea). Know that my score won't meet the 80/80 split to begine with, and even further concerned that my score is heavily weighted with higher math score than evenly split between math and verbal.

One thing I struggle with is the fact that there could be no point of going to schools whose MBA programs are ranked lower than the BBA programs for the undergraduate school I went to.

Would appreciate further feedback if anyone can better vet/evaluate the chance here with more info on my background

Thanks

yeah an asian american cookie cutter male with low gmat from finance is going to be tough.. there will be literally hundreds more of u applying with higher gmats and same backgrounds :|