GMAT score on Undergrad CV for Consulting/IBanking

I'm currently a rising penultimate undergrad student studying at a target school in Hong Kong (University of Hong Kong), and I'm planning to apply for MBB or BB IBs within the region. However, I have a relatively low GPA (3.4/4.3: they usually say 3.7 or above is fine but as for me I'd probably get cut off from the first screening round) and given the fact that I haven't got much time left to make up for the low GPA, I'm planning to take GMAT to cover up for this low GPA. I know this is a pretty much a gamble considering the time investment and uncertain outcome, but if I happen to get a high gmat score would this "cover up" my low GPA at the target school? Thanks for the comments :)

9 Comments
 

What gmat score are you thinking of achieving?

I've heard two different schools of though on this: 1. if 760 and above yes with no other consideration whatsoever, else no. 2. if 720 and above and other aspects of profile are weak, i.e. low GPA, then yes.

So for you, I guess if 720 and above, then yes?

 

Of Course, I'm planning to achieve over 720 or above through intensive studying. So I guess you're saying as long as I do so, taking GMAT is a wise choice, isn't it? :D

 

Yes I agree. Personally, I did the GMAT over a year ago, and I found that studying for it over the few months that I did made a beneficial long term, perhaps permanent change in the way I assess problems. So go for it!

 

I just bought a GMAT 2017 Official Guide, and I'll pretty much start off from there and expand the books for other practice sets. I'm planning to stick to Word Smart for Verbal Sections. To be honest, I don't have a very determined plan but I might take some prep classes after diagnosing certain weaknesses myself after going through some practice. As for now, I'm currently serving in the military (my nationality is Korea) and got about one and a half year till I go back to school, so hope I can do all the aforementioned things during that time. If you have any recommendations, I would really appreciate it!

 

Yes, kim = korean = likely to be quite smart, not stereotyping, it's just my honest experience. I recommend a few of the Manhattan subject specific guides - Number Properties, Word Translations and Sentence Correction- don't worry too much about the advanced topics in this one. But this is just my view, and yes I agree that the OG is the best source!

 

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