Is my GMAT (730) high enough to land a job in PE and IB as an analyst?

Rich Capitalist's picture
O
Rank: Senior Chimp | banana points 16

Hey,

could some people tell me if my gmat score: 730, is high enough to land a job as an analyst in Goldman Sachs?
I have a 3,8 GPA (First Class Honours) in the BSc Economics from LSE.

I had summer internships in both Bain and BCG and the IMF.

Thanks for all answers in advance.

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Comments (52)

 
Mar 18, 2013

No, GS require you to retake the gmat in their offices and you need to get a 780+.

 
Mar 18, 2013
bengigi:

No, GS require you to retake the gmat in their offices and you need to get a 780+.

If you didn't realize, that isn't true.

"Now that I think about it...I never actually know when you guys are here in the office. Kind of like furniture...I just assume."

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Mar 18, 2013

How do you know that? Sounds a bit too high for me

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Mar 18, 2013

Non-public information.
Just practice more.

 
Mar 18, 2013

Too high?! it's too low, they increased the GMAT requirement for the next incoming class. It's weird how they removed all other criteria of their interview process and focused solely on the GMAT score, its almost like they decided they only want to hire quants with no creative insights or ability to review anything but a single number with a binomial interpretation.

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Mar 18, 2013

As if GS only hires 790 GMATs???? That would be insane, I mean Mckinsey and bain, hire from 720 onwards, one senior partner in switzerland in the private equity department has a 700 GMAT

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Mar 18, 2013

talked to a VP yesterday on this exact subject - it is true, 780 is the benchmark

i guess its not a big problem since they have so many applicants and so few spots...

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Mar 18, 2013

either get that GPA to 4.0 somehow, or your only hope is 780-790 GMAT

i didnt make the cut with 755
too many asians...

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Best Response
Mar 18, 2013

I think everyone here is being sarcastic. They are probably all exaggerating a bit.

To be honest, the cut off is probably closer to a 760. However, I have heard of a rare case of a Native American Olympian rower from HBS get into GS's Zimbabwe microfinance desk with a 740.

But that's just one data point, so take it with a grain of salt.

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Mar 18, 2013

Do they require such high GMAT in all "areas" or just in the quantitative areas like trading etc.? I mean for what would you need a GMAT higher than 730 in M&A? When I did the Internships in Mckinsey 80% of people had 720-750 gmats?

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Mar 18, 2013
Rich Capitalist:

Do they require such high GMAT in all "areas" or just in the quantitative areas like trading etc.? I mean for what would you need a GMAT higher than 730 in M&A? When I did the Internships in Mckinsey 80% of people had 720-750 gmats?

you said BCG and Bain

you wouldn't have made the cut for the McK based on your GMAT
perhaps in southern/eastern Europe

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Mar 18, 2013
Dimethyltryptamine:
Rich Capitalist:

Do they require such high GMAT in all "areas" or just in the quantitative areas like trading etc.? I mean for what would you need a GMAT higher than 730 in M&A? When I did the Internships in Mckinsey 80% of people had 720-750 gmats?

you said BCG and Bain

you wouldn't have made the cut for the McK based on your GMAT
perhaps in southern/eastern Europe

Mckinsey was just an internship I did before going uni in my gap year, which I got through contacts, but I asked around and as I said 90% had GMAT from 720-750. One senior bain partner in Switzerland has a 700 gmat by the way. Besides, from what I was told by a recruiter from Mckinsey in Boston, is that once you reach a certain intelligence which can be deduced by you GMAT score and gpa, interpersonal skills are far more important for job performance. He said that in their eyes a 720 is capable of doing the same as a 750 as consulting isnt I quote "rocket science".

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Mar 18, 2013
Rich Capitalist:
Dimethyltryptamine:
Rich Capitalist:

Do they require such high GMAT in all "areas" or just in the quantitative areas like trading etc.? I mean for what would you need a GMAT higher than 730 in M&A? When I did the Internships in Mckinsey 80% of people had 720-750 gmats?

you said BCG and Bain

you wouldn't have made the cut for the McK based on your GMAT
perhaps in southern/eastern Europe

Mckinsey was just an internship I did before going uni in my gap year, which I got through contacts, but I asked around and as I said 90% had GMAT from 720-750. One senior bain partner in Switzerland has a 700 gmat by the way. Besides, from what I was told by a recruiter from Mckinsey in Boston, is that once you reach a certain intelligence which can be deduced by you GMAT score and gpa, interpersonal skills are far more important for job performance. He said that in their eyes a 720 is capable of doing the same as a 750 as consulting isnt I quote "rocket science".

You do realize that this is GS and not some bushleague MBB? Goldman Sachs man, try saying that three times fast without succumbing to a raging orgasm and/or fainting.

And don't even mention Black-oh shit just crapped my pants. I hear they only take 800 GMATs, 790 if you're non-Asian.

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Mar 18, 2013
Rich Capitalist:
Dimethyltryptamine:
Rich Capitalist:

Do they require such high GMAT in all "areas" or just in the quantitative areas like trading etc.? I mean for what would you need a GMAT higher than 730 in M&A? When I did the Internships in Mckinsey 80% of people had 720-750 gmats?

you said BCG and Bain

you wouldn't have made the cut for the McK based on your GMAT
perhaps in southern/eastern Europe

Mckinsey was just an internship I did before going uni in my gap year, which I got through contacts, but I asked around and as I said 90% had GMAT from 720-750. One senior bain partner in Switzerland has a 700 gmat by the way. Besides, from what I was told by a recruiter from Mckinsey in Boston, is that once you reach a certain intelligence which can be deduced by you GMAT score and gpa, interpersonal skills are far more important for job performance. He said that in their eyes a 720 is capable of doing the same as a 750 as consulting isnt I quote "rocket science".

i highly doubt somebody told you that

anyway, submit the application online if you dare, and you will get dinged as soon as somebody reads it...
i dont understand why everybody is so lazy... if so many people in HK, SG, etc. can do it, so can you

there are many threads on how to prepare yourself well for the GMAT on WSO, do your research and retake that silly GMAT. i can PM you for some tips

P.S. - no, 720 is pretty average score even for the business schools. and while consulting is not a rocket science, there are more than enough candidates with scores over 750 to fill the places

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Mar 18, 2013

dont want to demotivate people...

but it took me quite some time to break the 770 plateau

its definitely doable tho, good luck

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Mar 18, 2013

You guys are fucking retarded. The 780 GMAT requirement is only for the HONG KONG offices. The head office in NYC is 760, there is no 780 GMAT requirement that would be insane. They're a little more lenient in NYC than in HK due to the overseas exposure.

Two of my buddies both scored above 760 and that was barely enough to land them first rounds at GS HK. Luckily they went to HBS and Wharton, so the prestige factor helped a lot.

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Mar 18, 2013

jesus christ, dude.

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Mar 18, 2013

Also heard that GS ask for 800 now in IBD. For S&T the cut-off is 430 I heard (from an IBD guy though, so not sure how reliable). For GS SSG you need 920.

 
Mar 18, 2013
m2:

Also heard that GS ask for 800 now in IBD. For S&T the cut-off is 430 I heard (from an IBD guy though, so not sure how reliable). For GS SSG you need 920.

SSG is 800 only
S&T is incredibly low, but i am sure that they dont even list their GMATs, trading really isnt a rocket science...
please dont make this into troll thread

thread has been going well so far, i love when i get opinion from GMAT and GS experts.
one of the few good things left on WSO

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Mar 18, 2013

.

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Mar 18, 2013

Yeah thanks for making this thread, Rich Capitalist, there are some really helpful replies (other than the obvious troll post by m2).

I was under the impression before that my 740 would be enough, but Goldman Sachs is a different beast entirely. I think it's probably worth taking a month off from work an bumping that up to a 770 to have a decent chance at a lateral.

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Mar 18, 2013

How about the London and Frankfurt office?
I mean 90% of people there dont even take the GMAT?

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Mar 18, 2013
Rich Capitalist:

How about the London and Frankfurt office?
I mean 90% of people there dont even take the GMAT?

Where's that? New Jersey?

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Mar 18, 2013
Rich Capitalist:

How about the London and Frankfurt office?
I mean 90% of people there dont even take the GMAT?

i just dont understand where you are pulling those numbers and percentages from

90% of the students in Germany search for their jobs only after they are done with Master studies
therefore, they all have to take the GMAT as it is requirement for the Master

not sure about London, but wouldn't apply with a sub 760 score

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Mar 18, 2013
Battleship:
Rich Capitalist:

How about the London and Frankfurt office?
I mean 90% of people there dont even take the GMAT?

i just dont understand where you are pulling those numbers and percentages from

90% of the students in Germany search for their jobs only after they are done with Master studies
therefore, they all have to take the GMAT as it is requirement for the Master

not sure about London, but wouldn't apply with a sub 760 score

Lol, I m from germany, and noone does the GMAT for their masters their. No university in germany requires the gmat for a master

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Mar 18, 2013

Just from talking with people I think anything above a 700 makes you competitive for top jobs once you're at a decent MBA program (which it doesn't sound like you are, in which case it's not obvious to me why you are volunteering your GMAT score at all and stressing about it generally?).

The reality is that 40-50% of students at top MBA programs get good jobs at prestigious finance/consulting companies. With a mean GMAT of 715 at the top 10 or so schools, it's just not possible for everyone who gets these jobs to have a 760+ GMAT. Also, sometimes I think MBAs let in super nerdy kids with no social skills but high GMATs just to increase the average.

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Mar 18, 2013

On what planet do you live? Everyone is making fun of you and even with a 3.9, you dont even get it. Bcg and Bain seriously, how did you get them? Are you trolling?
GS and all BBz dont give a single f to your Gmat. This is not a business school or a master application.

They just want a high gpa, good work experience and you should get it.

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Mar 18, 2013
nori90:

On what planet do you live? Everyone is making fun of you and even with a 3.9, you dont even get it. Bcg and Bain seriously, how did you get them? Are you trolling?
GS and all BBz dont give a single f to your Gmat. This is not a business school or a master application.

They just want a high gpa, good work experience and you should get it.

Listen I m in my last year of uni and have just taken the GMAT (of course I m not as well informed as you guys that spend your entire free time in these forums). And as I was interested in how things work in the US, I just wanted to ask a simple question (which you guys obviously cant answer, without "making fun").

I was asking that question because as I said before I talked to a Mckinsey recruiter who said that they ASK for GMAT scores of 720+ so its not too stupid to assume that GS might ask for GMAT scores as well.

So simple question, does GS fucking ask for GMAT scores or not and in case they do what scores do they want?

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Mar 18, 2013
nori90:

On what planet do you live? Everyone is making fun of you and even with a 3.9, you dont even get it. Bcg and Bain seriously, how did you get them? Are you trolling?
GS and all BBz dont give a single f to your Gmat. This is not a business school or a master application.

They just want a high gpa, good work experience and you should get it.

I can't tell if he's autistic or just foreign.

Rich Capitalist:

I was asking that question because as I said before I talked to a Mckinsey recruiter who said that they ASK for GMAT scores of 720+ so its not too stupid to assume that GS might ask for GMAT scores as well.

So simple question, does GS fucking ask for GMAT scores or not and in case they do what scores do they want?

They do -- when they're recruiting you from an MBA program.

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Mar 18, 2013
holla_back:
nori90:

On what planet do you live? Everyone is making fun of you and even with a 3.9, you dont even get it. Bcg and Bain seriously, how did you get them? Are you trolling?
GS and all BBz dont give a single f to your Gmat. This is not a business school or a master application.

They just want a high gpa, good work experience and you should get it.

I can't tell if he's autistic or just foreign.

Rich Capitalist:

I was asking that question because as I said before I talked to a Mckinsey recruiter who said that they ASK for GMAT scores of 720+ so its not too stupid to assume that GS might ask for GMAT scores as well.

So simple question, does GS fucking ask for GMAT scores or not and in case they do what scores do they want?

They do -- when they're recruiting you from an MBA program.

Great but my question (if you read what I wrote) and the entire point of this thread was to find out WHAT score they ask for you spastic, so much for being autistic when you cant even fully answer a question.

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Mar 18, 2013
Rich Capitalist:
holla_back:
nori90:

On what planet do you live? Everyone is making fun of you and even with a 3.9, you dont even get it. Bcg and Bain seriously, how did you get them? Are you trolling?
GS and all BBz dont give a single f to your Gmat. This is not a business school or a master application.

They just want a high gpa, good work experience and you should get it.

I can't tell if he's autistic or just foreign.

Rich Capitalist:

I was asking that question because as I said before I talked to a Mckinsey recruiter who said that they ASK for GMAT scores of 720+ so its not too stupid to assume that GS might ask for GMAT scores as well.

So simple question, does GS fucking ask for GMAT scores or not and in case they do what scores do they want?

They do -- when they're recruiting you from an MBA program.

Great but my question (if you read what I wrote) and the entire point of this thread was to find out WHAT score they ask for you spastic, so much for being autistic when you cant even fully answer a question.

800+

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Mar 18, 2013
holla_back:
Rich Capitalist:
holla_back:
nori90:

On what planet do you live? Everyone is making fun of you and even with a 3.9, you dont even get it. Bcg and Bain seriously, how did you get them? Are you trolling?
GS and all BBz dont give a single f to your Gmat. This is not a business school or a master application.

They just want a high gpa, good work experience and you should get it.

I can't tell if he's autistic or just foreign.

Rich Capitalist:

I was asking that question because as I said before I talked to a Mckinsey recruiter who said that they ASK for GMAT scores of 720+ so its not too stupid to assume that GS might ask for GMAT scores as well.

So simple question, does GS fucking ask for GMAT scores or not and in case they do what scores do they want?

They do -- when they're recruiting you from an MBA program.

Great but my question (if you read what I wrote) and the entire point of this thread was to find out WHAT score they ask for you spastic, so much for being autistic when you cant even fully answer a question.

800+

Dude stop trolling, general consensus is 780+ and it's confirmed by past post-MBA associates/HBS/Wharton.

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Mar 18, 2013
DaisukiDaYo:
holla_back:
Rich Capitalist:
holla_back:
nori90:

On what planet do you live? Everyone is making fun of you and even with a 3.9, you dont even get it. Bcg and Bain seriously, how did you get them? Are you trolling?
GS and all BBz dont give a single f to your Gmat. This is not a business school or a master application.

They just want a high gpa, good work experience and you should get it.

I can't tell if he's autistic or just foreign.

Rich Capitalist:

I was asking that question because as I said before I talked to a Mckinsey recruiter who said that they ASK for GMAT scores of 720+ so its not too stupid to assume that GS might ask for GMAT scores as well.

So simple question, does GS fucking ask for GMAT scores or not and in case they do what scores do they want?

They do -- when they're recruiting you from an MBA program.

Great but my question (if you read what I wrote) and the entire point of this thread was to find out WHAT score they ask for you spastic, so much for being autistic when you cant even fully answer a question.

800+

Dude stop trolling, general consensus is 780+ and it's confirmed by past post-MBA associates/HBS/Wharton.

this
/thread

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Mar 18, 2013

OP are you the new blumie?

 
Mar 18, 2013

Troll posts are getting a bit old after 20 replies to be honest.

MBB emphasizes more on GMAT scores than IBD, but both industries do not make a GMAT score a requirement for landing an interview. It's true that any score above 750 will increase your chances of landing an interview in MC, but if you have great work experience and GPA from LSE, you'll be more than fine.

If you have a high GMAT score, list it on your resume. 730 is good enough here to be honest. GS will not be impressed by it, but you obviously won't get dinged because of a 730 score.

Don't waste your time getting to 770 when you have a stellar GPA and equal college pedigree. Spend your time networking, preparing for interviews or learning how to detect sarcasm for that matter.

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Mar 18, 2013

trololol

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Mar 18, 2013

The thing with this site is that there are so many gullible finance grads is that one of them will make a life altering decision based on the content of this thread.

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Mar 18, 2013

Sadly, this fantasy world, where GMAT/SAT/standardized test scores actually matter beyond admissions, would benefit me a lot more.

Anyway, I just want to underscore what overpaid_overworked posted (for those future gullible finance grads):

overpaid_overworked:

The thing with this site is that there are so many gullible finance grads is that one of them will make a life altering decision based on the content of this thread.

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Mar 18, 2013
overpaid_overworked:

The thing with this site is that there are so many gullible finance grads is that one of them will make a life altering decision based on the content of this thread.

This.

MY BLOG

 
Mar 18, 2013
SirTradesaLot:
overpaid_overworked:

The thing with this site is that there are so many gullible finance grads is that one of them will make a life altering decision based on the content of this thread.

This.

I wonder what was the GMAT scores of David Rubenstein and Thomas Barrack. Surely to achieve such industry titan status they must have scored 1000/800 or something.

Or wait! They didn't take the GMAT and neither of them even has a MBA. How is this even possible??? Does not compute...error.error.error...

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Mar 18, 2013
brandon st randy:
SirTradesaLot:
overpaid_overworked:

The thing with this site is that there are so many gullible finance grads is that one of them will make a life altering decision based on the content of this thread.

This.

I wonder what was the GMAT scores of David Rubenstein and Thomas Barrack. Surely to achieve such industry titan status they must have scored 1000/800 or something.

Or wait! They didn't take the GMAT and neither of them even has a MBA. How is this even possible??? Does not compute...error.error.error...

Well, they both took the LSAT (and Rubenstein at least did pretty well, since he ended up at Chicago).

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Mar 18, 2013
holla_back:
brandon st randy:
SirTradesaLot:
overpaid_overworked:

The thing with this site is that there are so many gullible finance grads is that one of them will make a life altering decision based on the content of this thread.

This.

I wonder what was the GMAT scores of David Rubenstein and Thomas Barrack. Surely to achieve such industry titan status they must have scored 1000/800 or something.

Or wait! They didn't take the GMAT and neither of them even has a MBA. How is this even possible??? Does not compute...error.error.error...

Well, they both took the LSAT (and Rubenstein at least did pretty well, since he ended up at Chicago).

What is truly remarkable about these two individuals is that neither followed a traditional finance career path. No IBD->PE ritual for these two gentlemen. They are above that rat race.

Rubenstein worked in the Carter administration while Barrack was an attorney for President Nixon before leaving to work for Fluor in the Middle East.

Incidentally Barrack is also a huge fan of the Twilight series. He even wrote about the novels in a company memo and encouraged Colony employees to read the books and take inspirations from them. The man is truly a polymath.

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Mar 18, 2013
brandon st randy:
holla_back:
brandon st randy:
SirTradesaLot:
overpaid_overworked:

The thing with this site is that there are so many gullible finance grads is that one of them will make a life altering decision based on the content of this thread.

This.

I wonder what was the GMAT scores of David Rubenstein and Thomas Barrack. Surely to achieve such industry titan status they must have scored 1000/800 or something.

Or wait! They didn't take the GMAT and neither of them even has a MBA. How is this even possible??? Does not compute...error.error.error...

Well, they both took the LSAT (and Rubenstein at least did pretty well, since he ended up at Chicago).

What is truly remarkable about these two individuals is that neither followed a traditional finance career path. No IBD->PE ritual for these two gentlemen. They are above that rat race.

Rubenstein worked in the Carter administration while Barrack was an attorney for President Nixon before leaving to work for Fluor in the Middle East.

Incidentally Barrack is also a huge fan of the Twilight series. He even wrote about the novels in a company memo and encouraged Colony employees to read the books and take inspirations from them. The man is truly a polymath.

Da Vinci was a polymath. Barrack is just a guy interested in different things. It's quite a big fucking difference.

 
Mar 18, 2013
bengigi:
brandon st randy:
holla_back:
brandon st randy:
SirTradesaLot:
overpaid_overworked:

The thing with this site is that there are so many gullible finance grads is that one of them will make a life altering decision based on the content of this thread.

This.

I wonder what was the GMAT scores of David Rubenstein and Thomas Barrack. Surely to achieve such industry titan status they must have scored 1000/800 or something.

Or wait! They didn't take the GMAT and neither of them even has a MBA. How is this even possible??? Does not compute...error.error.error...

Well, they both took the LSAT (and Rubenstein at least did pretty well, since he ended up at Chicago).

What is truly remarkable about these two individuals is that neither followed a traditional finance career path. No IBD->PE ritual for these two gentlemen. They are above that rat race.

Rubenstein worked in the Carter administration while Barrack was an attorney for President Nixon before leaving to work for Fluor in the Middle East.

Incidentally Barrack is also a huge fan of the Twilight series. He even wrote about the novels in a company memo and encouraged Colony employees to read the books and take inspirations from them. The man is truly a polymath.

Da Vinci was a polymath. Barrack is just a guy interested in different things. It's quite a big fucking difference.

How well do you actually know Thomas Barrack Mr. big shot? Have you even met the man? Do you have any idea what else has he accomplished besides and before he built Colony into the distressed investment empire it is now?

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Mar 18, 2013

One of the funniest threads I've ever read on WSO.

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Mar 18, 2013

omg hahha this thread is ridiculous and I don't know who actually believes this stuff

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Mar 18, 2013

Why is this thread still going on? Stop feeding the trolls.

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Mar 18, 2013

troll humor standards amongst college freshmen (high school seniors?) are pretty low these days.

"no dude, i heard goldman requires a 790"....LOLOL this kid is so gullible. we got him good, bros!!

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Mar 18, 2013

Wow. Cannot believe this thread is still on the very first page

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Mar 18, 2013

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