Do I have a chance at Columbia
Can anyone please let me know if they think it will be necessary for me to retake the GMAT in order to get into a top business school (Columbia/Michigan/Chicago caliber?) Below are my stats. Thank you very much!!
GMAT - 690
Undergrad - Top 5 undergrad business program Graduated in the top 5 of the class, received the top finance award/graduated with highest honors
Participated in a varsity sport for 2 years and was the chair of the honor council
Experience - Worked for 2 years at a bulge bracket firm in banking - then moved to a start up financial firm where I have been for the last 6 months
I know my GMAT is low - but time is going to be close to retake. I messed up on the math section which really brought me down. Do you think I can get into Columbia/Michigan caliber schools?
Thanks again!
You want a GMAT score that doesn't distract them from the rest of your package (essays, recommendations, work experience, etc). All of the top schools could fill up 2-3 classes with applicants with scores of 750+, so a high GMAT is not the key to getting in. Take a look at the range for Columbia. The closer you are to the mean (when you're south of it), the less likely your score will be a distraction. I suspect 690 is ok, but messing up the math portion doesn't help. If you have other elements of your background that prove you've got reasonably strong quant skills, make sure tho highlight those or ask your recommenders to highlight that for you.
Here's some advice written by a Stanford MBA who has written a ton of MBA recommendations. Follow his advice to get the best recommendations and make it easier for the recommender:
How to get the best recommendations for your MBA program applications - http://bit.ly/Nj5A7
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Thank you very much for your reply. My split was 41 Verbal and 43 Math - which put me in the 67% for math which is a lot worse than i have done before.
Do you think my performance in undergrad will suffice in proving to ad coms that i can handle the work load (degree in finance from top undergrad business school with highest honors).
Most top schools really like to see at least an 80%/80% split between the Q/V. Depending on how many times you have taken the exam I would recommend taking the test again (esp. if you are cognizant of the fact that you f'd up the math and think you can do better). Schools like Columbia may also like to see a bit more work experience but overall I think you are at least competitive (assuming you craft solid essays and have a cogent story).
Thank you junksbondswap. I have heard that schools like to see that 80/80 split and that is why i am so upset that i messed up my math. This is the first time I have taken the exam - and would take it again but I really want to apply to Columbia early decision as it is by far my top choice.
Do you think applying early decision (binding) helps a substantial amount? Or would it be better for me to retake the GMAT and apply regular decision.
The reason I am so conflicted is that I do not think I will get above a 720 on the GMAT -which is only 30 points higher then what I currently have. I am not sure if 30 points would offset the chance of applying early decision which shows how committed I am to going to Columbia.
Early Decision allows you to have options. If you take your GMAT again, and do early decision, its a win-win. If you get into Columbia, great, if not, then you can always apply again next year / different school.
The only thing is the early decision deadline is October 7th and I need to wait at least 30 days before I can retake the GMAT (took GMAT yesterday). I am afraid that over the next 2 weeks in getting this application ready I will have forgotten a lot of what I knew for the GMAT.
Dude, they really do look at the whole picture, and if your GPA and WE and ECs are solid, then a 690 will not distract them too much. If you go ED I think you have a decent shot. I am applying RD because I really what Wharton/HBS, even though its a pipe dream. That is my humble opinion. The biggest thing to make sure for recommenders is that they talk about you 90% of the time in the recommendation. Luckily for me I got to look mine over before they submitted them. The first time I looked at them, they talked more about the situation at hand or the company I worked for, and then really only concluded with me as a topic. Its very important the letter emphasises strong qualities of leadership, character, and the ability to work with others in a team.
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