GMAT score: How high can you push it up?

I scored very high on the lsat, I'm great at reading comprehension and analytical reasoning, and while not excellent at logic games I find them interesting and challenging. Is there alot of translation into doing well on the gmat?

Has anyone here say scored a 600, and by sheer tenacity raised it to 700. It seems like alot of people throw around 700 and up on this board like it's going out of style, is it that people here are top 1 percentile or that 700 is a realizable goal.

Notice: I've not taken the gmat yet.

Thanks for answering my question to those who care to respond.

 

i may be mistaken here, but ms ind I do believe you were saying that my comment was untrue when in fact, it is true.. bschools dont care about numbers after a certain point as they are only 1 part of the application - essays, recs, interview (if desired/required) are also part of it..

unless you assumed my comment to mean that i was only talking about numbers which i wasnt

 
Mis Ind:
IBanalyst, the weakest part of my fiance's application was the GMAT, which is why I believe the 710 wasn't good enough.

did he have very convincing essays about why he wanted an mba? did he have some sort of wow factor? the reason i ask is b/c ive seen people with lower gmats get into better schools. generally after 700, unless you score a 780 or a perfect, its a wash and the admissions committee will look at the other parts of the application. i know this b/c i had a friend go to a top bschool and worked in the admissions office as an interviewer.

 

Yes, he had everything he needed. I made sure of it myself, and I've got plenty of experience at finessing applications (after all, I finessed my way into a top private university, a top-5 BBA program, a MM bank, and two BB banks without high school or SAT's.) The GMAT was really the only thing that wasn't stunning. I'm pretty sure Stern is looking primarily at 720-plus these days, even though their average is slightly lower (a result of the diversity initiative).

 
Best Response
Mis Ind:
Yes, he had everything he needed. I made sure of it myself, and I've got plenty of experience at finessing applications (after all, I finessed my way into a top private university, a top-5 BBA program, a MM bank, and two BB banks without high school or SAT's.) The GMAT was really the only thing that wasn't stunning. I'm pretty sure Stern is looking primarily at 720-plus these days, even though their average is slightly lower (a result of the diversity initiative).

I don't know the Stern review process, so I can't be sure, but if you want my opinion I really don't think the GMAT was the real issue, Mis Ind. Stern may place more emphasis on them than my alma mater, since raising the average helps their rankings battle, but I very much doubt it was the decisive factor. Unless the stats are outside of the fairway, the battle for admission is won and lost with the essays.

Sometimes, young finance professionals write what they think are sterling essays, but unwittingly hit the exact opposite of what the adcoms are looking to hear. You'd be surprised by how many top, top candidates fall into that trap.

The dirty secret that no adcom wants to admit to, but is nonetheless very true, is that our process is geared and standardized to select for a particular type of application. It's why (another dirty secret) we hated application consultants with such a passion: they understand our selection criteria and are able to game it, and as a result, substantially improve a candidate's chances of acceptance. Am I condoning the use of them? Absolutely not. But I do admit they work.

 

would you say someone who has the following credentials would have a good chance at a top b-school (specifically stanford or harvard)?

3.8 GPA (phi beta kappa, magna cum laude) from a top liberal arts college (think amherst...) 760 GMAT (1530 SAT) 2 years at bain consulting

 

yeah man, what the fuck

3.8, 760, 2 years @ Bain, and you have a Fortress of an application. Provided you don't muck up the essays, and have decent extracurrics which i reckon you do if you got into Bain.

I'm sure you already know you have a good chance - don't doubt yourself so much.

 

i dont know where a lot of you are getting your info about bschools, but I got my info from someone who worked in admissions at a top bschool (HBS, Wharton, Chicago level). Its not a numbers game. They could probably fill a whole class with 4.0, 750+ GMAT applicants, but they dont. The entire application's strength is taken into consideration. Thats why a higher GMAT and great work experience can somewhat make up for a lower GPA.

ms ind, the range of scores at Stern is 640-750 with the avg being 700. that means your fiance fell in the upper end of the range which should have been more than enough on this part of his app. im not going to assume that i know exactly why he didnt get in, but i have to believe it wasnt b/c of a 710 on the GMAT, esp since he had a great ivy undegrad background.

to rtaylor, you got a solid start, but again it comes down to essays, recs, and outside activities that will make up the rest of your app. Also for HBS, there is an interview that is required which i have heard is very thorough.

 

As far as the LSAT translating to the GMAT, for me it transferred incredibly well. I got a 157 on the LSAT, hardly prepped for it. 1360 SAT (650v 710m). Hardly prepped for the gmat either, but pulled a 720 (96th%), with 97th% in verbal.

What you will find is that the verbal on the GMAT seems INCREDIBLY easy compared to the LSAT. My advice is to prep almost solely for the math, as all of the verbal will be cake if you did well on the lsat.

 

I made a 540 on my first practice test, and 6 weeks later (after intensive study) scored a 740 on actual test.

My practice tests (took one a week) were this:

Week 1 (cold test): 540 Week 2: 620 Week 3: 700 Week 4: 730 Week 5: 670 Week 6: 720 Actual: 740

Edit: sorry for reviving thread -- didn't notice date.

"They are all former investment bankers that were laid off in the economic collapse that Nancy Pelosi caused. They have no marketable skills, but by God they work hard."
 
CountryUnderdog:
I made a 540 on my first practice test, and 6 weeks later (after intensive study) scored a 740 on actual test.

My practice tests (took one a week) were this:

Week 1 (cold test): 540 Week 2: 620 Week 3: 700 Week 4: 730 Week 5: 670 Week 6: 720 Actual: 740

Edit: sorry for reviving thread -- didn't notice date.

WTF? That improvement is unheard of. I wish I improved mine that much.

 
peinvestor2012:
CountryUnderdog:
I made a 540 on my first practice test, and 6 weeks later (after intensive study) scored a 740 on actual test.

My practice tests (took one a week) were this:

Week 1 (cold test): 540 Week 2: 620 Week 3: 700 Week 4: 730 Week 5: 670 Week 6: 720 Actual: 740

Edit: sorry for reviving thread -- didn't notice date.

WTF? That improvement is unheard of. I wish I improved mine that much.

He did say cold test, I know if I took a GMAT right now I'd probably do terrible (at least on the quant portion) but after a week or so with the material I'd do much better.

MM IB -> Corporate Development -> Strategic Finance
 

Iure praesentium quis ipsam occaecati voluptatem et. Deserunt laboriosam nulla eligendi saepe sit et sed. Enim omnis sit voluptate occaecati asperiores laborum repellat. Itaque possimus asperiores eum eveniet nemo. Delectus omnis qui laudantium maxime illum enim.

Est dolor tempore mollitia dolores non ut. Voluptatibus dolor qui amet repellendus. Libero quo doloremque sint vel quod. Eligendi veritatis delectus saepe assumenda labore adipisci. Aspernatur tenetur qui voluptates voluptatem aut nemo. Ut sit consequatur excepturi accusantium dolor quae voluptatem. Ipsum impedit architecto fugit.

Nesciunt laboriosam in eum earum. Ut vel illum sapiente rerum. Sequi voluptatum et velit. Aut sequi consequatur tempora est autem.

 

Qui facilis animi fugit eligendi id aut qui. Nisi et possimus sequi ut ullam ut animi blanditiis. Aut porro voluptatem earum iste. Doloremque maxime dolorem id quae dolore.

Ipsa consequatur dolor molestiae qui magni. Quia ex tempora et dignissimos laudantium dicta. Cumque dolorem labore temporibus cumque harum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
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...”